Killer last minute exam revision tips - 10 ways to revise in final 24 hours

It's exam season and that means there's little time left to get revising, so here's some tip tips to make the most of every minute before you enter the exam hall.

Start early

Get going from the moment you're up: You don't want to waste practice time! Grab a healthy bite to eat and get stuck into your first revision session right away. Not only will you find it easier to get it done and out of the way, it'll allow you to relax later in the day and avoid having to rush anything.

Get rid of distractions

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Get rid of all outside contact: Turn off the TV, your phone and tell your parents or housemates not to disturb you. Even lock your stuff up if you have to. SelfControl (for Mac) and ColdTurkey (for Windows) are apps that will stop your procrastination when on your computer in its tracks by blocking you from visiting certain websites.

The fewer distractions you have not only the better you will work and focus but you'll also find you work harder.

Revise EVERYWHERE

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Even the shower isn't off limits.

Make a cheat sheet

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The night before make yourself a small cheat sheet covering bitesize information that is either important to remember (such as formula) or simply something you're struggling to with. Use mnemonics, diagrams and the like to avoid just ending up with a page full of text. Writing the cheat sheet itself will also help you revise and you'll be able to refer to it in the lead up to your exam.

Struggling to remember something? Make it your phone lock screen

If something is just not sinking in, plaster it everywhere: Make it your desktop wallpaper on the computer, your phone lockscreen and even shove a post-it note in with your lunch so it's drilled into your brain.

Don't just read

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Last minute revision isn't going to be helpful if you just reading through your text books or looking over notes, especially at A Level and definitely at University level. Test yourself with past papers, write cheat sheets (see above), study with friends and watch videos to add some variety to your revision.

Take a break

Even if you've waited until the day before the exam to start your revision, you can still take a break: Your brain will probably be very thankful! Revising non stop will eventually just wear you out and while you may be reading or writing, chances are none of it is actually sinking in and will be forgotten about by the next day when the exam paper is in front of you.

Even enjoy a nap

Talking of which, take a nap. Yes - we're actually counting this as a revision technique. It's been shown that sleeping improves memory so that 30 minute afternoon doze may be helpful!

Get ready for the exam

Revision shouldn't just be about going over the content of your course, also make time to revise your general exam technique to get the best marks.

Read more: > Improve exam technique: Top Exam Tips

Get motivated and think positive

Try and get a positive attitude and keep yourself motivated. Stress can lead to mistakes so relax, take deep breaths and remind yourself: At the end of the day, it is only an exam.

About the author: Thomas Brella

Thomas Brella is the founder of Student Hacks, starting the website in 2013 while studying at the University of Brighton to share tips and tricks on life as a cash-strapped student. He's now spent over 10 years scoping out the best ways to live on a budget

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