Build a realistic timetable

Include free time and other commitments – use Hermann Ebbinghaus’ spaced revision curve to revisit notes from previous sessions.

Prepare your body and mind

Start the day with a nutritious breakfast (try to include foods that improve brain function); stay hydrated; ensure night routines are healthy (no blue light exposure 60 minutes before bedtime etc); factor in exercise during the day to help improve memory and cognitive performance.

Manage your time efficiently

Use timer apps and look up the Pomodoro Technique which helps gauge how efficient revision methods are.

Try out different techniques to see what works for you

Literary technique mnemonics; mind palaces; the Feynman technique; mind mapping; flashcards (brainscape and quizlet apps); colours (post it notes, highlighter pens). Remember the key is to move information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory to make it easier to access in the stress of an exam situation.

Beat the urge to procrastinate

Focus, set realistic time frames and then get on with it!

Space to learn

The school library has been reimagined to

Reed’s School knows that developing good study skills allows pupils to improve their academic performance, manage their time more efficiently, and reduce anxiety levels. These skills are also transferable to life after school, at work, and in achieving personal goals, making them significant attributes to acquire for lifelong success. The Head of Library at Reed’s, Cathy Horton, refined these essential skills in her prior role in the Academic Support department. She also has repurposed the Library into an area that teaches pupils how to learn by bringing it into the 21st century with spaces to work collaboratively and independently and a host of digital resources alongside the traditional printed ones.
Pupils have a range of learning approaches to use, signposted in a programme called ‘Revision Hacks’, producing a set of cards that are clear, concise, colourful and easy to use. They’re available in printed format as well as via an app, which all pupils have on their iPads. Pupils also have a dedicated lesson each week, Study Skills, to fully immerse themselves in finding out which of the different 25 skills work for them.
An exhibition space at the back of the Library reinforces these skills and makes them relatable for pupils. reeds.surrey.sch.uk