Just like the world’s many cultures, revision styles differ from person to person so it is always important to choose a regime that suits your personality the best. The first thing that most people do is to set out the goals they want to achieve for their exams. Goal setting is crucial because it provides a guideline for the way you plan your revision schedule.

The next step is to gain control of the environment and yourself. Why is this so important? The place you choose to study determines how much information you absorb, put simply what helps all this information stick to your brain cells! If you are the kind who likes a quiet environment, perhaps studying in your school library will be an ideal option. If public places make you uncomfortable, you can choose the comfort of your bedroom. A quiet environment aids better understanding because there are few interruptions and distractions.

Of course quiet can also lead to sleep for some. Sopacing around when you study definitely keeps you alert. It is scientifically impossible for us humans to sleep while standing up.

There is also a group of students who prefer to have some sort of music playing while revising. It can be as simple as tuning the radio to your favourite channel or listening to your favourite singer.

Now that we have explored the varied choices of venue people prefer when they study, let’s look at the specific techniques some muggers employ to help them revise better.

Our attention span is usually between 45 minutes to an hour. Any revision that goes beyond that timing may be inefficient. This also means that within the span of an hour, you need to maximise the soaking up of information. For that to happen, you require effective, efficient yet simple techniques of learning and retention.

Our brain assimilates information that comes to us by organizing them into categories. A specific part of our brain analyzes the information and decides where to store it.

Students who are visual learners, meaning people who use images, pictures or maps to learn information, generally find mind maps extremely helpful. Mind maps require students to organize information and reproduce it into branches of related and interconnected relationships. You can use different colours to represent different types of information or categories.

Another simple technique people employ to remember better is through the use of mnemonics. Mnemonics are simple devices or memory aids to help us retain and retrieve information. For example, to recall the seven colours in the rainbow, we can use the sentence: “Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain”, where the first letter of every word represents the corresponding colour in a rainbow. You can create your own unique mnemonic and make it as witty as possible for you to use.

Amidst the craziness of revision, do take note that sufficient rest is crucial. As the old Chinese saying goes, “A short rest, a longer journey travelled.” After a 45-minute revision session, get up from your desk, walk around, look outside the window or do some stretching exercises to help you relax and soothe your mind and eyes.

Remember don’t let yourself be dictated to about which study method to use. You decide what methods are best for you. Studying can be fun when you take it upon yourself to make it interesting.

Best wishes for your exams! All the hard work will pay off.