Are you feeling overwhelmed by concepts taught by school teachers in schools, and concerned about your grades? Does the thought of having to do extra work to cram in those last-minute facts leave your heart racing with dread? However, there are ways to make exam revision easier for students, and ensure that learning becomes something you can better manage – techniques that go beyond regular ‘cramming’ sessions or rushed late-night shows of memory-recalling before an exam. In this blog post, we’ll be delving into some efficient revision sessions which you can do after tuition commitments.
What are revision studies?
Revision studies are an essential component of any learning process, and are most important when it comes to exam preparation. Revision is a way of repeating or reviewing what has been taught (and hopefully learned!) in order for it to become more deeply embedded within the mind. Revision also refines understanding and strengthens memory recall, as well as allowing for concepts to be repeated until they become second nature.
Why do revision studies after tuition?
Depending on what stage of education you’re currently in, there are several types of tuition that a student in Singapore typically attends at home or at a tuition centre. For example, PSLE tuition is suitable for primary school students preparing for their PSLE exams, while secondary school tutoring focuses on helping secondary school students excel in their secondary school and N/O Level exams. A-Level tutoring covers topics such as mathematics, economics and sciences at a more advanced level for tertiary students. However, tuition fees for a private tutor or lessons at a tuition centre can be expensive, making them difficult for some families to afford. So, why not make use of that tuition time by doing revision sessions afterwards?
The most important reason to do revision studies after tuition is to ensure that information learned during tuition sessions and classes is retained, so that it can be recalled when needed. It is also an effective way of consolidating information, rather than learning it in the short term only to forget quickly afterwards. Revision studies are a great way of improving grades by investing extra time in understanding the most difficult concepts, as well as taking the time to identify any gaps in knowledge.
Doing revision work after tuition alone or with the help of a tutor can also be advantageous because it enlightens you on topics which may have been confusing during class. Additionally, the revision studies can often be tailored to your needs and interests, making them much more efficient than traditional ‘cramming’ methods which tend to be too broad and unfocused.
How do you do proper revision studies after your tuition sessions?
While revision studies after tuition are important, it is also important to do them properly in order to maximise learning. Here are a few tips that can help you make the most out of your revision studies:
1) After you finish your tuition lessons for the day, do a quick revision of what you have learnt. This could include going through the learning materials and writing short summaries. Review the important points of each lesson and write down suitable questions you can ask during your next tuition lesson to better understand what is being taught.
2) Try your best to understand what has been taught in school and your tuition sessions. This will help you focus on specific areas that need more focus during your revision studies. Make notes of any doubts or confusions that you have about the subject matter, and ask your tutor questions during the next lesson if there are any concepts that you still don’t understand.
3) Don’t forget to take notes as a way of understanding concepts better; they also make great reference material for exams! Taking notes also helps to build your attention span and focus, which is essential for effective studying.
4) Use mind maps or other visual tools to keep track of topics covered during tuition so that you can easily revise them afterwards. These visual tools are more effective than just writing down everything, as they can help to better identify relationships between different topics.
5) Do more research to supplement your tuition lessons. Make use of resources such as textbooks, websites on the internet, or even other students to help you along in your revision work.
6) Use assessment books, revision guides and past papers to track your progress and adjust the topics that need more attention. Constantly do past year exam papers to get an idea of the types of questions asked and the difficulty level. Additionally, repeat and practice difficult concepts or problems that you found challenging and confusing. Remember that constant practice is the best way to master a topic and ensure you are exam-ready.
7) Break down complex problems into smaller pieces so that they can be solved more easily. Doing this allows you to get a better understanding of the underlying concepts, and makes it easier for you to tackle challenging problems.
8) Set revision and study goals for yourself and review your goals on a regular basis to measure your progress. Ensure that your goals are as realistic as possible such as trying to focus on understanding the subject matter, rather than memorising facts and figures.
9) Reward yourself after completing a revision session – this will keep you motivated! You can reward yourself with small treats such as a walk outside, a healthy snack or even an extra episode of your favourite show.
10) Finally, remember to take regular breaks – especially if it’s a longer session – in order to stay refreshed and motivated! Breaks can be helpful for your mental health, as long hours of studying can lead to burnout and fatigue.
In a nutshell
Revision studies can be an intimidating concept – especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by school work – but with the right guidance, they don’t have to be so daunting. Taking part in revision sessions after tuition is one way of ensuring that subjects become easier to understand and recall. Use these tips as a foundation for starting out on your journey towards academic success! Good luck!