how to revise for unit assessments

:cloud: 🌧 :cloud:

hello everyone! it's cirrostratus! :joy:

so in my school we've always been getting unit tests after a term of learning, now I seem to always be getting them since it's our GCSEs now.

and in KS3 (aged 11-14) i never really bothered to revise my small tests because i would get good levels anyway (especially maths and sciences) and the lowest sets I've ever been in is Set Two (out of 6). So I never really felt the need to, or even knew HOW to, revise effectively. and to me they were mere trivial Tasks that teachers did to annoy us.

but since KS4 has started (and I ed in Studying Amino :grin: ) I've started to realise just how important those tests were, and that making my revision resources in short bursts over two years is WAY more effective and practical than waiting until my GCSEs and cramming both resources and actual revision into the last two months.

and this drove me to start revising for each test, starting with my Biology assessment (actually two months ago, during the first half term :joy: ). As I had no experience with revision I felt inclined to grab my huge CGP biology textbook and take notes upon EVERY page of that topic (Topic 1a Cells or something …). this was because my bio teacher hadn't taught us a THING on that topic – and even wanted to give us the test the next day too – so we had to spend entire half term "revising" (or self-TEACHING) the topic.

Which leads me to my first tip:

Do NOT go over EVERYTHING in your textbook/revision guide!

no matter how many (or little) colours you use, it gets boring, tiresome and tedious. it takes forEVER! Whether you're ively reading or actively summarising – just please don't do that!

Instead, do PRACTICE QUESTIONS

(closed book, unless you're really confused then you can open your (text/revision/class)book but DON'T COPY IT

and I mean exam-style ones! since your teacher will give you an exam-style assessment. if you haven't a exam style workbook or practice papers then you can get some free ones online. for example, for GCSE students, you can go to the website of your specific exam board and print out questions, and the mark scheme.

ask your teacher for a REVISION LIST

. That way you definitely know what to revise.

– if your teacher tells you "everything you've been taught this term" then go through your book and write down each heading onto some paper.

now once you've done your questions, you cannot just leave them!

MARK your answers!

there's no point im answering questions if you aren't doing to mark it. it helps you see what you need to improve/revise on.

I use a :vertical_traffic_light: traffic light :vertical_traffic_light: system as I mark my work and see what I understood:

RED

I don't understand ANYTHING!

GOLD

halfway/almost there!

GREEN

I 100% get it

just a spelling mistake/numeracy error – I'll fix it!

PLAN your study sessions!

– featuring: Time Management Skills

check in your journal for the date on which you'll take your test and plan ahead! maybe every evening you'll do half an hour, and test yourself on the weekends, or perhaps in the morning you'll do a little and on the evening you test yourself!

so obviously you're not going to go over what :green_heart: magnification calculations :green_heart: when you don't understand what's :heart: therapeutic cloning :heart: is! so prioritise your :heart: s over your :yellow_heart: s and :green_heart: s.

for the :heart: s I suggest you watch videos online (MyGCSE science, MathdWatch, Mr Salles, whatever :joy: ) just so someone can explain things to you. Or you COULD ask an Animo citizen! :joy:

personally I find it best condensing all those words into flashcards without words like "the", "a" etc. as it makes it easier to look quickly scan your info to refresh it, without pondering for hours over pages and pages of notes.

t's also great for the long term as you aren't just relying upon a single 30min session to all of your knowledge of a title, but instead your bringing together everything onto a set of index cards, or a mindmap, for you to take into school on the day and go through while your colleagues absent-mindedly pour over huge wordy Collins revision guides :joy: (it feels great, trust me). plus if you have KEY EXAMS coming up in a year's time you'll already have things to help you.

use your class book! (if you want)

you might want to go over your class book if your teacher tends to give you extra info that isn't in a text book (my bio teacher is low key obsessed :joy: ) because they may test you on that extra knowledge.

REVIEW your hard work

if you have spare time left (bruh I never do :sob: ) then you can do more practice questions at the end (CLOSED BOOK) after reading your revision resources over. notice any improvements? if so, CONGRATS! and, you're welcome. :smirk: :wink:

if not, then it's fine! don't get all upset, because you now know in the future that if flashcards aren't helping it sink in, you should try mindmaps next time. Or audio notes!

and don't forget:

bring your notes to SCHOOL PLEASE!!

even if they're so BORING and UGLY and MESSY and INCOHERENT! At least you have something which you have made, and chances are, halfway through your assessment, you'll probably , in your inSCRUtable handwriting – the formula for Magnification :joy:

BAIIII~ *diffuses through the atmosphere*

#studythis