I'm writing this whilst I should be revising for a Biology exam. I'm sure you're all thinking that I'm an idiot, but there is a reason why I'm on a break... I wanted to talk to you guys about revision today, because I think I've finally settled a decent routine for revision (at least for Bio and subjects where you can be handed 100s of things to revise in a week) that seems to be working. So, I thought I'd share some tips that have been working for me :)

Try something new
If you just keep making flashcards, don't be surprised if you get bored. Even if one method is working really well for you, make sure to try new ways of revising once in a while so you're not just staring at a never ending pile of flashcards for finals. I've really enjoyed making colorful posters and spider diagrams for Bio the past month, and have found that my grades have improved since I started doing something a bit more fun with my work.

Breaks
You need to take a break or you'll burn out. It's really that simple. If you're planning to do 2 hours of work for one subject and then some more for another, you need to have a break between the two. Otherwise you'll end up mixing business with maths or something ridiculous like that. (Word from the not so wise, don't do French and Spanish homework on the same day, you'll end up handing in your French to the Spanish teacher and vice versa. True story.) Even if it's just a five minute walk to and from the fridge to grab a snack, you need to clear your mind before diving back in.So, instead of working on things in large segments, split one hours work into two or three (or even four) segments, if possible. For example, with Biology revision, instead of writing up my notes on the whole chapter in one big go, I've been splitting everything by topic and sub-topic. It makes it easier to understand the overall concept if you can understand each little part.

Take an afternoon off
As much as I can't believe I'm saying this, a few hours off isn't that big of a deal. I'm the type of person who just ploughs through for hours on end and ends up forgetting everything I've worked on. I've started to take Thursday afternoons off, just to have a nice end to the school week and prepare myself for a weekend camped up in my room.

It's always important to remember that you relax (I know that sounds so patronizing), but honestly, I've relaxed so much and sorted myself out (kind of), and it does seem to be paying off. Different people have different methods of working, but don't be afraid to try a new way of revising, especially if you're getting bored.

What methods are you using to revise? Let me know in the comments, and maybe I can try it!