6 ways to keep students revising in run-up to Christmas

As we approach the festive period, not many people’s first thoughts are of revision and study, but many students will be sitting exams when they return in January. It’s not always the easiest thing to do around Christmas!

We took these 6 top tips from an article on that you may find useful on TES:

1. Have a study timetable

One big problem students face when revising is knowing what to do, and when to do it. This can lead to procrastination and doing nothing, or even doing too much. The best solution is to plan a study timetable – but this must include time off to relax.

2. No distractions

Some people like to tell themselves that having a TV on in the background or checking their phone will help them concentrate and stay on task. Simply put, it won’t. Ideally, students should have all of these devices switched off, preferably in a different room. This means they can fully focus on their work. Break times are for these distractions.

3. Past paper questions

Answering past paper questions (which can be found online) is probably the best single task that students can do. Not only does this give an idea of the type of topics and questions which might be asked, but it also allows them to develop skills in answering exam questions.

4. Flashcards

We find flashcards an active way of revising that can be used in different ways to help students. The process of making the flashcards and choosing relevant facts will in itself help students.

5. Ten words

If a student has lots of topics to learn, it’s often a challenge to know where to start. A good idea is to have a full list of all study topics, then try to write 10 words that summarise the key points of each topic. This quickly shows students which topics they know about – or don’t – and can help them manage their study time.

6. Breaks and relaxation

It’s important to do some work – but not too much. Everyone needs some downtime, whether after school, at the weekend or during the holidays. Building leisure time into a study timetable is crucial.