Are you planning to take resits? Are you wondering how best to study to prepare well?

If you have questions about resits, you can check the guidance available on Essentials.

Also, check the Study Advice website for their excellent online resources.

If you haven’t managed to get into a revision pattern yet, this is a good time to develop a study routine so that you can have time to prepare for your resits.
It may feel it is an enormous task to learn all the material you need to cover in time for the exams. Although this may be a difficult task, it can become more manageable when viewing it as a challenge. 

You are likely to have done a lot of work already when you prepared your notes for the May/June exams. Review your notes and check what you need to add/change to cover the material in each module. This exercise will reinforce learning and memory. 

When we have to work on difficult tasks, we often find ourselves thinking a lot about them as we wonder how we can get them done. The more we think about these tasks, the more tired we get. 

To manage your energy, and to be productive, choose a task and break it down into very small steps. Then, decide that you will start with one step and continue until you complete it.

We may find that we delay getting started, and this can cause frustration and worry as we see the time going by without making progress. If this happens, take a moment to pay attention to what you need to do. This will focus your mind and energy.

For example, “I will look at pages 3-5, and will make a note of key points/definitions/formulas to use to support an argument/make calculations/experiment”. Observe your progress as this is what motivates us to persevere with our efforts. We derive a sense of achievement when we see that we are getting something done (no matter how small the step).

It is helpful to create a flexible timetable to plan when you will revise during the week and include time to take breaks. Make sure that you have time for your meals, social contact, exercise, and housekeeping activities. Looking after yourself is essential. 

Plan to revise each day, even if only you include 2 or 3 half hours. It all counts. If you miss a day, get started as soon as you can. What matters is to get into the habit of doing something each day.

As you persevere with your efforts, you will gradually get used to a routine that will support your learning.

With each step that you take, your belief in your ability to follow through with your intentions will increase, and so will your confidence. If you experience setbacks, view them as learning opportunities: what can you learn from them? What do you need to change? 

In the webinar, we will review some strategies to manage pressure and keep well during your revision.

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” (John Quincy Adams)

“Preparation is the key to success.”  (Alexander Graham Bell)

Keep well, and keep learning

Best wishes to all