We often focus solely on the content of our student’s academic careers
and sometimes forget about the form. While we must encourage students
to study, especially with mid-terms coming up, we must also teach them
how to study effectively. You may also find that study methods that worked
for your students before need to be revised as the volume of work they
have increases.
While your student may have the time to read through all the texts in the
lower grades, as they progress, they need to be able to summarize and
revise effectively. Talk to your student, to their teacher and to theirin-home tutor to find a revision method that suits their learning style. Here are some
tips on how to revise effectively:
Q and A
Reading through notes over and over is not a very effective way for your
students to remember information. It’s best to utilize the facts
in different ways. Get your student to read through their notes, and then
ask them questions that they might encounter in the exam. Moving from
a written to a verbal form of communication helps them to use the knowledge
they have gained in a new way.
Mind maps
Students who have a visual learning style will remember information when
they have a visual representation of the facts. Here a
mind map will help to show all the information and the relationships between different
aspects. Students who are more visually orientated will also do well to
take videos of lectures or experiments or watch videos on their subjects
while studying.
Talking it over
Discussions are helpful in getting students to organize their thoughts,
remember facts and show the relationships between different aspects of
the subject they are studying. Having to explain functions to other people
is often a very good way to memorize things for yourself. Discussion also
helps students to coherently communicate their knowledge; a practice that
will stand them in good stead when they have to write essays during exams.
Past Paper Practice
Taking a few practice runs at past test or exam papers will really help
your student to revise. They can also see just how well they know the
material and where the gaps in their knowledge are. Doing past papers
helps them to remember the facts and get accustomed to the way in which
questions are asked. Doing a multiple choice exam requires different skills
from writing essays.
Exam performance is very often a matter of confidence and doing well on
past papers will help students to feel assured that they have the skills
and knowledge to do well. Nothing compensates for time and effort and
you need to start your revision with plenty of time to spare. Help your
student to create a realistic timetable and stick to it. Revision is a
skill that can really help to boost your student’s performance.
Work with your in-home tutor on revision skills to help your student to excel.
