What are the best revision tips for exams that are only a month away?

A month is sufficient time, but requires a structured approach. Take stock of what you've covered and identify knowledge gaps. Create a clear plan, breaking down the syllabus into manageable chunks. Prioritize understanding and use active recall and spaced repetition consistently.

How do I learn new material quickly when I'm behind on my course?

Focus on broad brushstrokes and testable knowledge, avoiding excessive detail. Use an 80/20 analysis to pinpoint the most critical content. Prioritize past papers and identify 'unknown unknowns' – the topics you dread are often the ones needing the most attention.

Is active recall just about flashcards?

No, active recall is a broader concept. Anything that actively retrieves information from your brain counts, including mental rehearsal, practice questions, and attempting problems before looking at solutions. The key is forcing your brain to work to retrieve information.

How can I use flashcards effectively for essay-based subjects like History or English?

Use flashcards to memorize specific, high-quality paragraphs, killer quotes, and even introductions. These memorized blocks can be adapted and used across multiple essays, providing strong foundational content and powerful openings.

What's the most important technique for A-level Maths revision?

Actively engaging with past papers is crucial. Don't just look at answers; attempt the questions and then analyze the solutions to understand *why* you made mistakes. It's also beneficial to interleave different types of math problems within a single study session.

How important is handwriting for essay exams?

Handwriting is surprisingly important, potentially affecting marks by 3-5% at Cambridge. Clear handwriting ensures examiners can read and understand your ideas. Invest time in improving it; it's a practical way to boost your essay performance.

Key Moments

Last Minute Study Tips, Flashcards, Essays & Maths - Exam Revision Q&A with Cambridge students

Ali Abdaal

Education3 min read25 min video

Apr 14, 2018|235,935 views|7,907|346

study with me study tips revision tips how to study how to revise cambridge university effective study motivation to study exam revision revision techniques revision advice how to do well in exams

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Students share study tips: embrace active recall, use past papers, and work collaboratively.

Key Insights

Learning and revision are intertwined; understanding precedes recall, but recall itself drives learning.

Active recall is not a rigid method but a principle of actively retrieving information from memory.

For essay-based subjects, flashcards can be used to memorize key paragraphs, quotes, and evidence.

For maths, mix topics when revising and attempt past paper questions fully before consulting solutions.

Collaboration with peers is beneficial; treat studies as a team effort against the world, not a competition.

Last-minute revision should focus on identifying and filling knowledge gaps, prioritizing broad over deep coverage if time is short.

UNDERSTANDING AND ACTIVE RECALL: THE FOUNDATION OF LEARNING

The initial discussion challenges the idea that one must fully learn material before attempting recall. Instead, understanding is paramount, tested by the ability to explain a concept to a five-year-old. The process of attempting to explain inevitably involves active recall, highlighting that learning and revision are not separate. Retrieving information, even when imperfect, is the fundamental driver of learning. Therefore, engaging with material by trying questions or explaining concepts, even before feeling fully prepared, is crucial for effective learning.

THE POWER OF ACTIVE RECALL AND COLLABORATION

Active recall is not about rigidly following a specific formula, but about actively retrieving information from one's brain. Whether through creating notes or using existing revision guides, the aim is to make the brain work. Past papers are a prime example of active recall; attempting questions before checking answers is vital. Furthermore, collaboration with peers is highly encouraged. Viewing studies as a team effort against the external world, rather than individual competition, fosters a supportive environment that enhances morale and learning outcomes, outweighing any perceived individual advantage.

STRATEGIES FOR LAST-MINUTE REVISION

With only one month until exams, the advice is to avoid panic and take a structured approach. It's essential to step back, assess what has been covered, and identify significant knowledge gaps. For topics not yet thoroughly covered, focus on broad overviews rather than attempting deep dives, as time is limited. Creating a clear plan, perhaps by listing all syllabus topics, helps visualize manageable chunks of work. This process helps overcome the fear of overwhelm and ensures a more systematic approach to covering the material.

LEARNING CONTENT QUICKLY AND ADAPTING TECHNIQUES

When needing to learn content quickly, the focus should be on broad brushstrokes and testable knowledge, often informed by past papers. Applying the 80/20 principle, identifying the 20% of content that yields 80% of marks, is a smart revision strategy. As exams approach, revision techniques should adapt. Spaced repetition and active recall remain key, but with increased frequency. It's important to identify and focus on topics where one commonly makes mistakes or feels uncertain, addressing these 'sinking feeling' topics directly to solidify understanding.

FLASHCARDS AND ESSAY-BASED SUBJECTS

For essay-based subjects like English Literature and History, flashcards can be effectively used to memorize crucial building blocks for essays. This includes specific paragraphs, compelling quotes, and supporting evidence that can be adapted and applied across multiple essays. Memorizing introductions and conclusions, especially for exam markers who read numerous scripts, can create a strong initial impression and secure better marks. The goal is to have well-rehearsed, impactful content ready for deployment within essay structures.

A-LEVEL MATHS AND ESSAY EXAM TECHNIQUES

Revising for A-level Maths involves actively engaging with past papers by attempting questions before viewing solutions. It's beneficial to mix different types of problems rather than focusing on one topic exclusively each session, as this variety can improve performance. For essay exam techniques in general, a strong introduction is critical for capturing the examiner's interest and outlining the essay's direction. Furthermore, legible handwriting is surprisingly important, potentially impacting marks by 3-5%, as it directly affects the examiner's ability to read and appreciate the content presented.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Exam Revision Cheat Sheet

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Prioritize understanding a topic before attempting to recall it.

Use active recall not just for known material, but as a way to learn.

Practice questions, even if you feel unprepared; this is crucial for learning.

Teach concepts to friends or explain them simply (even to a 5-year-old) to check understanding.

Collaborate with friends rather than compete – treat exams as a team effort against the world.

For last-minute revision (one month out), take stock, identify gaps, and focus on overviews.

Create a visible plan or syllabus overview to manage workload and break it into manageable chunks.

Apply the 80/20 principle: focus on the 20% of content that yields 80% of the marks, often found in past papers.

When using past papers, actively attempt questions before checking solutions.

For essay subjects, memorize key paragraphs, strong quotes, and introductions using flashcards/Anki.

For Maths, interleave different types of problems in a single revision session instead of focusing on one topic.

Improve handwriting – it can significantly impact essay marks (estimated 3-5% at Cambridge).

Focus on 'unknown unknowns' – the topics you dread are often the most important to tackle.

Avoid This

Don't think you must learn everything perfectly before starting revision; active recall is part of learning.

Don't shy away from practice papers or questions because you feel underprepared.

Don't just read answers without first attempting the problems.

Don't get bogged down in excessive detail when time is short; focus on core knowledge and testable areas.

Don't avoid difficult topics; face them head-on as they are often high-impact areas.

Don't only make passive notes; ensure active recall is integrated into your note-taking or resource usage.

When using mark schemes, don't just read them assuming you'd have known the answer; actively attempt questions first.

Don't create an overwhelming number of flashcards, especially on trivial details.

Don't solely rely on note-making; leverage existing high-quality revision guides and online resources.

Don't limit active recall to digital tools like Anki; mental rehearsal, flashcards, and practice papers all qualify.

Don't just look at the answer for Maths problems; understand the solution process.

Don't neglect essay introductions and conclusions; they significantly influence grading.

Don't underestimate the impact of poor handwriting on exam scores.

Common Questions

Focus on understanding the material first, aiming to explain it simply. Then, use active recall and practice questions, even if you feel underprepared. Trying to answer questions is a key part of the learning process itself, not just a revision tool.

Topics

Spaced Repetition Active Recall Learning & Education Mindset & Self-Improvement Study Techniques Exam Preparation Career & Skills Essay Writing Mathematics Revision

Mentioned in this video

Books

Romeo and Juliet

A play used as an example for applying memorized paragraphs and quotes in essay writing.

Make It Stick

A book cited for its principle that retrieval drives learning, emphasizing active recall.

Concepts

Sodium pump

A physiological concept discussed as an example for writing essays, referencing experiments by Hodgkin and Huxley.

A-level Maths

The subject for which specific revision advice, particularly regarding past papers and interleaving topics, is provided.

Hypothyroidism

Used as an example to illustrate the process of understanding and explaining a complex medical topic.

Tricuspid regurgitation

A cardiology term used as an example for teaching and active recall among friends.

Companies

CGP

A publisher whose revision guides are recommended as a resource for making active recall questions.

Instagram

The platform where viewers sent in their questions for the Cambridge students.

People

Hodgkin and Huxley

Scientists whose experiments on the sodium pump using the giant squid in 1942 are mentioned as an example for memorizing evidence in essays.

Sampson and Gregory

Characters from Romeo and Juliet mentioned as an example for using memorized paragraphs in essays.

Software & Apps

Anki

Flashcard software for active recall, discussed as an alternative to spreadsheets, with pros and cons for setup and usage.

Organizations

Cambridge University

The university where the speakers, including the host Ellie, are studying medicine.

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