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These days no matter how much we try to deny it, we are constantly glued to a screen. However, although this can sometimes have a negative impact, it can also be used to our advantage by providing easy access to a constant stream of learning and revision which we can incorporate into our busy everyday lives.
It is important to recognise that there is a big difference between learning and revising: learning is about gaining new knowledge whereas revising focuses on reinforcing your knowledge and drilling into your long-term memory.
One of the hardest things I find as a student is trying to find the most effective way to revise, and after much trial and error, I have found the following five sites really helpful in offering a variety of study methods:
1. Physics & Maths Tutor (flashcards, summary notes, mind-maps and exam questions) - PMT is my favourite revision resource to use for the sciences. This website provides detailed flashcards which I regularly use before tests, summary notes which help to give me an overview of the knowledge needed in particular areas and mind-maps for each topic, unique to the exam board you are using. By accessing a combination of techniques to revise, you will find that you are able to not only recall information quickly, but apply it to more complicated, multi-step exam questions because you will have developed a deeper understanding of the topics and gain confidence in knowing the connections between different areas of different topics.
2. Quizlet (pre-made and customizable flashcards) - Quizlet is a free resource easily accessible as a website or an app on your phone. It is easy to navigate and all you need to do to get started is create an account, which then gives you access to pre-prepared digital flashcards. These cover a vast selection of topics across all levels of academic study. Additionally, the most useful tool I found on this site is the ability to create your own sets of flashcards with ease. This way, you can adjust your revision specifically to subject areas you may struggle with, allowing you to focus on what will really benefit your studies. This is also a great way to help memorize vocabulary due to its helpful translation tool. As a quick tip, I would recommend making your flashcards as soon as you have completed the topic to ensure that you get the maximum use out of them – it's pointless making them and only using them a couple of times. Once you have created them, they are automatically saved so every time you get a few extra minutes (on a car journey or bored at home) you can really drill into your knowledge with consistent practice.
3. GCSEPod (short summary videos of every GCSE subject and follow up questions) - GCSEPod is a website comprised of short 2-10 minute videos breaking down each part of a GCSE course into smaller, more digestible chunks. The videos are recorded by experienced teachers who explain everything you need to know in a simplified structure, which allows you to understand the key information and will help in answering general knowledge questions about each topic. By building a greater knowledge base you will find it much easier to tackle more wordy exam questions. You can also create a playlist of videos for a certain topic you want to revise and download it so that it is accessible when you’re offline.
4. Seneca (interactive questions, videos, key knowledge bullet points and exam-styled questions) - Seneca’s website contains courses with in-depth questions and support. This is a very interactive site which makes revision a lot more engaging for all students. It gives information in bullet points between tailored questions depending on your strengths and weaknesses, which provides more focused revision and allows you easy access to the correct information needed to answer the questions. This helps to reduce the time constraints and stress you get from exam questions. as it focuses more on drilling down into the technique of answering an exam question without the pressure of an exam. Once you feel more confident in a subject, there are a set number of exam questions that you can use to test yourself each day, which includes a detailed mark scheme allowing you to understand your errors. Additionally, you can pay for a subscription which unlocks unlimited access to exam-style questions and further tailored testing to enhance your progress, but I believe the free courses provide enough guidance and help needed.
5. BBC Bitesize (podcasts, videos, notes, exam questions) - BBC Bitesize is an incredibly detailed website and app that provides help at any level of school learning. All topics covered provide exam questions with answers and podcasts which will equip you with a unique way to recall information. It is really useful if you have missed any classwork or are struggling to understand a certain topic because you can find out everything you need to know in the detailed notes. Although it can sometimes be a bit daunting looking at a full screen of text, all the subjects are broken down into smaller sections enabling you to maneuver the content in a stress-free manner.
So, whether you're approaching your GCSEs, preparing for mocks or just need to gain confidence in a certain subject area, why not give these websites a try to see if they can help you unlock your full academic potential, whilst maximizing the efficient use of your time!