A friend of mine wrote this for her personal website, but she didn’t renew the domain, so this info is only available on the Wayback Machine.
Thought it was a pity + the info might be useful. Sharing a portion below, and you can follow the link at the end to read the full archived post!
If you have different views on effective revision methods — do share as well!
Having taught many kids, I realised that many did not know “what to do” when it comes to revision for an exam. Before the examinations, they had completed all their homework and read through their textbooks, so why couldn’t they just answer the questions in the exam paper?
Yes, the student could certainly pass and know 50-70% of their subject by listening in class and doing class homework. However, it’s not possible to score (80% and above) if they just do this ONLY.
I helped a few of my tuition students raise their scores to more than 10 marks after a few tuition sessions with me. Before, they were averaging 60-70 marks. After a few sessions and taking a new school test, they jumped up to above 80 marks. What does this show? Simply put, the children did not need a new super brain, they just did not study the right way!
If the student wants to score and get 80 marks and above, these are my recommended 9 steps the students need to take for Science Revision.
Note that: Revision isn’t a one-off thing just before the examinations but instead, the student should make it a regular routine to take at least one day, a few hours each week to work on a topic in the subject for revision. If there really isn’t time, then at least do these steps 2 weeks before the exam date.
1. Summarise the Key Concepts of Each Topic
Way long before the examination, after the teacher had taught the subject in school, the student should look at the overview of the topic and pick out important key concepts he/she must learn. It’s usually found in the beginning or end of each chapter. In assessment books, they usually summarise the key concepts well for the students too.
Things the student could do with these summarised points:
Create a graphical Mind-map or several mind-maps of the Key Concepts of the Topic.
Write out a List of the Summarised Sentences on a piece of paper with different headings.
Present huge chunks of scientific information in any graphical clear way – boxes, huge headings, drawings, summarised points.
Side-Note: My tuition students get these type of documents frequently from me and I also teach them how to create their own graphic organiser/mind-map.
2. Memorise the Definition / Functions
All scientific terms must have a definition or serve a function (what they are used for).
For example, in Units of Life – Cells, we must understand what is the function of a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm and chloroplasts. Without knowing the basics of what the scientific items do, we would not be able to answer the questions.
The student could create definition notes in graphic, summarised form:
Place them in a TABLE format with two columns, with the Scientific Term on the left, definition or function on the right side. Test yourself by typing out definition/function on the left and then fill in the Science terms on the right.
Put them in boxes on one piece of paper with all the boxes linked up.
Write out on small cards with the picture, function and do them like a booklet.
Information presented in a summarised format is easier to digest and remember, than large chunks of text. The student have fun creating their own notes and could make the notes pretty with different colours.
Interesting fact on Memorisation:
We remember text in Blue better than in Black! And Red is the Best ink to use when trying to memorise anything. A study found the color red helped people improve cognition and productivity, while the color blue sparked creativity.
3. Note down all the Science Keywords
A key point that average students forget when answering Science Exam Questions. It is NOT English. The examiner is not testing for their English Grammar or Vocabulary. They want Scientific Keywords in the Science answers!
How To Answer Science Questions – For example,
Do not write “thing” or “It” in Science Answers. You must answer the question beginning with “The name of the object – Object A / The Plant / Magnet C.
You must compare all the qualities of the object with another object and list out what it has or does not have clearly. Do not answer with “but it can’t / it don’t have”- instead write, Object A does not have nucleus but Object B has a nucleus. In English, this would be repetitive and not acceptable but in Science, this is necessary!
Keywords Example:
Parts – Nucleus, Chloroplast, Spores, Ovules, Ovary,
Processes Names – Fertilisation, Pollination, Dispersal, Condensation
Connecting Words – Flows, change into, produced by, releases, removes, moves into, fuses, is absorbed, to support, to provide
Rate Terms – Higher, Lower, More, Less, Increases, Decreases
Thus, noting down all the keywords in a topic is important. Grab a piece of paper and write down all the scientific words associated in the topic. Understand what each word means and how to use them in a sentence.
4. Remember Diagrams / Scientific Labels
Draw out the Scientific Diagrams during revision time and label the parts with the Scientific Names. Do this on Paper/Word document/Powerpoint, so that you are confident with how the object looks like and it is easier to remember when you see them listed in the diagram.
Read the full article on the Wayback Machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230307110529/https://ourlearningclassroom.com/2022/08/26/9-steps-to-p5-p6-science-exam-revision/
