5 tips for using resources to support revision

We’re now in the Easter Holidays, which is when revision really gets underway for most GCSE and A-Level students. There’s so many different revision methods your child can use to consolidate their knowledge and improve their exam skills.

With the internet, there are now heaps of free resources which can streamline the revision process, and make it more efficient. However, it can be easy to get lost in all of the content available online. We offer FREE downloadable resources for GCSE and A-Level students − but it can often be confusing for students to work out the most efficient way to use them.

If your child is struggling to get started with their revision, or unsure which techniques to use, then try out some of our handy suggestions in this article. Similarly, if you’re unsure about how much time your child should be spending on their revision this Easter, head over to our handy guide here!

Mix up your methods! Relying solely on flashcards or only doing past papers is not a hugely effective use of your child’s time and will also get boring quickly! By mixing up their revision methods, you’re getting your child to use their memory in different ways. 

1. Flashcards

Flashcards, when used well, can be a great tool for key terms and information recall − but it’s important that students use them repeatedly over a longer period of time for them to work best.

Websites like Quizlet can even be used to create banks of flashcards that your child can use on their phone, on the go!

Though we offer flashcards for most subjects and exam boards (GCSE and A-Level) on our site, if your child has time it can often be best for them to write out their own cards − this aids muscle memory. 

2. Mind maps

There are loads of ways to use mind maps in revision. You can use them to create a nice visual aid your child can put around their room or refer to when completing past paper questions. They’re especially helpful if your child is studying more science-based topics, where they’re looking at lots of inter-connecting concepts. 

There are also more active ways students can use mind maps for revision. For example, they could do an activity where they mind map as much as they can remember from a topic (they could even do this in a set amount of time!) and then go back with the textbook and add in everything they missed with a different coloured pen. If they do this regularly, they should be able to improve the amount of content they can recall each time.

Though it’s best for muscle memory that they make their own mind-maps, if they’re low on time they can check out our colourful, pre-made science mind-maps, downloadable free on our website here. 

3. Past Papers

Past papers are a must for students to get into the habit of understanding the format of the exams they’re sitting and crucially, what the exam boards are asking them to remember and write. Often, exam papers will phrase questions drastically differently to those set out in textbooks or worksheets made by teachers − this is why it’s important that students regularly use past papers to go over content.

We have banks of topic questions as well as past papers for most A-Level and GCSE subjects (and we also cover most exam boards!). You can use these in conjunction with our brand new video solution walkthroughs on YouTube (for Maths, Science, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry − OCR, AQA and Edexcel). We’re releasing more videos soon but we already have around fifty up, so it’s likely we’ll have something your child will find appropriate and can use! 

The best way to use past papers is to attempt the questions without notes, and then go through the mark scheme after completing the paper/a bulk of questions. Or, using our step-by-step video walkthroughs! Even better if they’re able to complete questions in ‘exam conditions’ (e.g. no phone, timed, no talking!)

4. Youtube explainers 

If your child is really struggling with a topic, and just needs someone to explain it through with them, then Youtube may be your best friend. Just by typing the exam board, topic, subject, and exam level into YouTube, you should find some decent explainer videos.

5. Revision Courses 

We also run revision courses over Easter, covering many A-Level and GCSE topics, both online and in-person. This can be a fab way for your child to bolster their existing GCSE or A-Level knowledge and ask tutors any questions they might have over the holidays. Check out what we have on offer here.

On our Youtube Channel last year we also had ‘live lessons’ for GCSE and A-Level Maths and A-Level Physics.

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Hopefully these help you support your child as they embark on their revision this Easter! Resources or tips we missed? Feel free to drop them in the comments below.