Revision Guide 2025

SELF-REGULATION

Distraction In order to learn best, you should aim to remove as many distractions as you can to free up cognitive capacity. This includes not listening to music and removing your mobile phone from your study area. Only have your laptop when you actually need it. Think about what the exam environment will be like as a guide to the environment you study in.

Phones • We all know how distracting phones are – even the mere presence of a phone in the room can be distracting • Put your phone in another room • Use the ‘Do not disturb’ functions during revision periods • Support your friends by resisting the urge to message Laptops • Only use them when necessary • Make sure you turn off any messaging notifications while you are revising

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TEST SCORE

30

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28

DESK

OTHER ROOM POCKET/BAG

PHONE LOCATION

Notes on music… • There is a lot of evidence

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Displacement Displacement is when you are doing an activity which takes up time allocated for revision but when you are not learning or are delaying learning. Here are some examples to watch out for: • Unnecessary internet research beyond the subject or only tangentially relevant • Creating revision aids for information that is already stored • Making excessively time-consuming memory aids (such as beautifully decorated flashcards) • Postponing more difficult subjects

showing that music reduces how much you learn when revising • Music with lyrics that you like appears to be the most distracting • Whether or not you think music helps you study, you will not have it during the exam • It’s not all bad…listening to music when relaxing or exercising can boost your mood and motivation

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% OF CORRECT ANSWERS

30

SILENCE

NO LYRICS

DISLIKED LYRICS

LIKED LYRICS

STUDY ENVIRONMENT

A clear revision timetable in combination with a list of what you need to learn will help with getting through all the right material.

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