How do I revise using

www.johndclare.net?

remember

for goodness sake:

DON'T JUST READ THROUGH YOUR NOTES

YOU WILL LEARN NOTHING

1. Revising is tough.    It takes time and hard work.     

     

2. Never just read your notes.   You must always be DOING something with them to FIX the information in your brain.

    

3. Sort out your learning style before you start revising by visiting this webpage.  

    

4. MIX THE INPUTS - eg: Walk around while you try to revise your notes/ make your notes into diagrams/ write down your notes on postcards.

     

5. PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS - WORK ON YOUR WEAKNESSES   [Visual learners may prefer to use also the revision spidergrams on the schoolhistory site.]

    

6. Use visual images as 'hooks' on which to hang factual knowledge.

    

7. Notes on notes on notes

   Make a paraphrase of your notes, then a paraphrase of the paraphrase, and so on, until you have compressed your notes into 6-8 cryptic headings/words.   Not only are these easy to learn, but by writing and re-writing the words you have helped to embed them in your brain.

REMEMBER

How to use:   

Revision Sheets

1. Use the notes-on-notes technique to paraphrase the sheets.

2. Use the hard-copy sheets to convert them back into proper longhand prose

3. Invent visual images which act as a 'hook' for the mnemonics.

4. When you think you have learned the sheet, stick the hard copies up on a wall where you can read the titles but not the words, and then go through each sheet, rehearsing what each section says.  

5. Use the 'collapsible lists' on the revision sheet webpages to 'test' your learning, by making yourself rehearse what the notes say before you 'reveal' the text.  

6. Take the sheets downstairs, and ask a family member to 'test' you on them.

- Revision Sheets

Self-tests

1. Use the 'collapsible lists' on the 'self-test' webpages to test your learning of the revision sheets.   If you find that you cannot answer the questions properly, go back and learn the revision sheets more thoroughly.

2. Use hard copies of the sheets to learn the answers, or to get a family member to test you.  

Smartass lists

1. (More able pupils) use the 'collapsible lists' on the 'Smartass' webpages to learn and test yourself on the key specialist terms.   If you find that you cannot answer the questions properly, go back and learn the revision sheets more thoroughly.

2. Use hard copies of the sheets to learn the answers, or to get a family member to test you.  

Exemplar essays

1. Read the 'exemplar' essay;

2. Use the 'notes on notes' technique to parapharse the essays;

3. Learn the prompt words using a visual 'hook';

4. Practice listing the prompt words and writing the essay/ telling the story to a family member.

Green box' questions

Do these online (making sure you use the accompanying markschemes to help you do the best answer possible), print them off, then give them to mark to your teacher or a competent adult.