No apologies for recycling this blog from last May – it’s still relevant!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22565912 This link is to an interesting article questioning whether some of the techniques we teachers suggest for revision actually work. They have rated techniques’ effectiveness low, medium or high. However, a word of caution! We all have different learning preferences and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. For example, some people have very visual memories so re-reading texts and notes works well for them. Some respond well to auditory prompts so recording crucial facts and replaying them can be effective. Others find mnemonics (Richard of York etc) useful, although as the study points out, these aren’t going to be appropriate for complex theories. The associative memory technique has never worked for me. Also, the study is very negative about last-minute cramming but I found it always worked for me! Perhaps the best approach is to try all the methods and that way, hopefully, you’ll be covered! As you take more exams and study more you will discover which method suits you best. And if it works for you, who cares what a research professor says!
Sue Smith Private Tuition 