5 Ways to Revise Smarter NOT Harder

As exams approach, too often students will commit multiple hours to over-revising on the idea that more
hours = better exam outcomes. In fact, effective revision isn’t a matter of how long you get your studies—it’s
how well you manage your time. Working smarter, not harder, allows students to learn more quickly,
remember information better and go into exams feeling confident. Here are 5 evidence-based methods for
better revision:

1. Start Early and Plan Ahead
Students find that last-minute cramming might seem productive, but its often stressful. Instead, start
earlier and break your revision down into smaller more manageable chunks, over several weeks.

Apply a revision timetable that involves a mix of material,
breaks and relaxation – stick to a revision plan. Aim for 30–50
minutes of study each session with short breaks in between.


2. Spaced Repetition
Simply reading notes or highlighting textbooks feels safe but isn’t effective. Active recall — testing
yourself without looking at the material — comes so much stronger than just pulling an instruction
manual.

Turn your notes into flashcards, practice with past papers,
or cover key terms and quiz yourself out loud.

3. Use Active Recall, Not Passive Reading.
Recalled information is stored better. Your brain takes into better retention when it’s revisited at
increasing intervals. This method, called spaced repetition, is effective in transferring knowledge from
short-term to long-term memory.

Apps like Anki and Quizlet can help with this!


4. Mix up your Subjects
Instead of learning a single subject for hours, experiment with switching topics. This is known as
interleaving, and it forces your brain to remember so that, by stretching across different kinds of
information, your memory becomes stronger.

Spend 40 minutes on Biology, then Maths and then return to
Biology later. The variety will help keep your brain alert and
build flexibility.

5. Teach what you’ve learnt
The easiest way to test knowledge is by describing an idea to someone else. If you cannot make it clear,
you have to go back over it.

Pretend you’re teaching a younger student, or actually
explain it to a sibling or friend

FAQ Section

Q: How to revise for exams?

A: Each student is different, to find the best method for you take a look at our guide on “How to find the best revision technique for you” in which we outline how you can find what techniques work best for you.

Q: How long should I revise each day

A: It depends on what exams you are taking, here are our rough guidelines:

For GCSE’s (Year 11 Students)

September to January
1 – 2 hours per week per subject

This means that if you are doing 10 GCSE’s you’ll need to fit in 10 – 15 hours of revision per week

Focus on understanding the core concepts, keeping up with classwork/homework and making detailed notes that you can use later in the year.

February to March
2-3 Hours per week per subject

This means that if you are doing 10 GCSE’s you’ll need to fit in 15- 20 hours of revision per week

Focus on past paper questions and active recall

April to June (Exam Season!)
You are most likely to get a study leave around this period, during this time you want to try and do an hour a day per subject for revision.

Rotate through 3-4 subjects in a day and aim for 5-6 hours of revision in a day.

A LEVELS

September to January
3-4 hours per week per subject

This means that if you are doing 3 or 4 A levels you’ll need to fit in 12 – 16 hours of revision per week

Focus on understanding the core concepts, keeping up with classwork/homework and making detailed notes that you can use later in the year.

February to March
5-6 Hours per week per subject

Focus on past paper questions and active recall. Identify weak areas and revisit the content. Start working on application questions and essay based questions.

April to June (Exam Season!)
You are most likely to get a study leave around this period, during this time you want to try and do 2 hours a day per subject for revision.

Rotate through all 3-4 subjects in a day and aim for 6-8 hours of revision in a day.

Make sure you are taking breaks to avoid burnout throughout the day.