It may only be the start of the school year, but it is never too early to get into a study routine. JLife goes back to the classroom to learn about the most effective ways to exam success.
Students…
We have the rise of technology to thank for a wealth of helpful tools to aid revision, as well as a wave of distractions for them to compete with (we’re looking at you, CandyCrush!). So, delete Instagram, sign out of Snapchat and let JLife give you a rundown of some of the best mobile apps and online courses to help you get top marks…
Up Learn
Marketed as the ‘learning system for achieving A* at A-level’, Up Learn is an online learning course that creates a personalised learning experience by detecting a student’s strengths and weaknesses. Using artificial intelligence, educational neuroscience and world-class tutors, Up Learn provides interactive videos and exam-style questions to build knowledge and understanding, whatever the subject or exam board. Over 1,790 students have already signed up.
Visit Uplearn.co.uk.
Gojimo
Exclusively for secondary school students, Gojimo is a free revision app that covers A-level and GSCE qualifications. Available online or via the mobile app on iOS and Android, Gojimo is one of the most popular revision tools out there. Choose your subject, the relevant exam board and take it from there.
Support for maths and science is also available with Gojimo Tutor, which connects a student with a subject specialist who can provide one-to-one tutoring to help with homework and exam preparation.
Visit Gojimo.com.
Download from Apple Store or Google Play.
Studytracks
Studytracks aims to make revision and exam prep enjoyable and effective. The free app for students features over 46 songs, with the lyrics of each track relating to a specific exam theme or topic, such as trigonometry, and at the end of every track, learners can test their recall using the in-app quiz. It’s easy to use and convenient, allowing students to revise anywhere and everywhere: at the park, on the train or even on their bike.
Visit Studytracks.education.
Download from Apple Store or Google Play.
Doodle
Doodle is a ‘group scheduling service’ app that is taking the university community by storm. The app essentially helps students to organise meetups for study and social events. After signing in through the app, you set up an event for free and suggest times and dates for your friends or seminar class mates. Once they have picked the times they’re available, Doodle works out the best slot for everyone and notifies you, the organiser. No more endless Facebook or WhatsApp messages to decide on one date.
Visit Doodle.com.
Download from Apple Store or Google Play.
Re-visioning Revision
JLife’s Top Tips for Successful Revision
- Revision should be active, so make fact cards, draw mind maps, make lists and highlight with bright colours.
- Don’t work for hours without a break as memory and recall becomes increasingly ineffective. Plan your revision in hourly sessions and take short breaks in-between.
- Try to change topics each session. This is hard to begin with, but is a very effective strategy. It focuses your mind to get a task done in a set time, and makes the time spent revising really count.
For revision sessions to be useful and worthwhile you need to make a few sacrifices…
- Find a quiet place to work, leave the TV switched off.
- Put phones on silent and move them out of sight. Switch off social media too – you can do it!
- Make sure you include lots of essay plans, past questions and past papers; application of knowledge has more marks than recall in some subjects.
- Look at mark schemes and examiners’ reports. That is how you will learn how examiners expect you to answer questions, what gains marks and, equally and importantly, what does not gain marks.
Mums, dads and carers…
You can help too! The run-up to exams can be a tense time, whether you know the subjects or not, you can be a great support. JLife spoke to Matt Croft, head of teaching at Hazelwick School, the former school of teacher-turned-comedian, Romesh Ranganathan, in Crawley, about how parents can help…
The first thing to do is ask your young adult how you can help. You can start the conversation by asking: “Have you planned your revision, do you need any help with your plan? How can I support you?”
It’s important to remember teenagers and young adults need routine, at home as well as in school and university, especially where a lot of independent study is required. They need the right environment to work in at home, such as a quiet space and a tidy desk. There’s a lot of pressure on them, so comforting advice and support is much appreciated, as well as boosting confidence.
Parents should always have high expectations of their children, but they should also be aware of their anxieties and their need for regular breaks. Parents should also understand their kids are thinking about their next steps – GCSE to A-level, A-level to university, university to career. These are important months and big changes in their lives are about to happen; sometimes it can feel as though the earth is shifting right under their feet.
It’s also important for parents to recognise where their children’s motivation lies. It can sometimes come from being the first person in the family to go to university. So remember most children just really want to make their family proud.
This notebook is the perfect gift for a fresher starting university. Personalised with the graduate’s name, university and degree, it is bound to be loved as a gift and can be used to write down university memories or used as a practical notebook for study.
£14.99
Notonthehighstreet.com
This stylish wall planner runs from September 2016 to August 2017 and has plenty of space to write in appointments, deadlines, holidays and birthdays. Perfect for the start of a new school year or as a gift for someone about to head off to university.
£13
Notonthehighstreet.com
Make your scribbles, slip-ups and blunders vanish with this apple eraser from Danish company, Flying Tiger.
£2
Uk.flyingtiger.com