Coping with exam stress

Managing revision
Planning is one of the most vital revision skills.

• Start by making a list of all subjects, and topics within those subjects, that need to be revised. Teachers will help you draw up the list. They will also highlight areas of weakness that need extra attention. And they will know the grades a student is aiming for, which dictates how deeply a subject has to be revised. A student aiming for a C grade at GCSE needs to know less than a student aiming for an A grade.
• Count the number of revision topics. Allot 15 minutes to each and then look at your daily routine to decide when and where you want to revise.
• Now you can start making your revision timetable, filling in your revision slots with topics until you have a master timetable, which details everything you have to do.
• Start with a little revision time and build it up as your concentration levels improve. At the end of each week, allow a few minutes in your timetable to review topics.
• Always start revision with topics you dislike most and finish with those that you like best.

Getting started at all is often what students find most difficult. Try this very practical 10-minute rule from Dr A Level at the QCA.

Dr A level's 10-minute revision tip
Forget four-hour sessions where you do only 10 minutes in that time. Get real - and start with the 10 minutes that you know you will do. Have a 10-minute break and start again for another 10 minutes.

No phoning friends, looking out the window or playing with the cat in that time. And your room can wait for another few years before you tidy it up.

So now you've started and doubled the amount of work you normally do in the evening, all within 30 minutes of starting. But don't stop there. Build up the working periods to 30 minutes or so at a time - and keep the breaks at 10 minutes. Sorted!

Dr A level is answering students' A level queries throughout the exam season. Email him with your questions at alevel@qca.org.uk