How to Revise Effectively
Learn powerful techniques that top students use to revise smarter – not longer.
1) Why Most Revision Fails
Let’s be honest — most students think they’re revising, but they’re not doing it in a way that actually sticks. If you’ve ever spent hours rereading your notes, highlighting everything, or making beautiful revision cards… only to forget half of it in the exam? You’re not alone.
Here’s the problem: most revision mistakes fall into the same traps:
The good news? Revision doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right techniques and a solid plan, you can revise less and remember more.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to do that — using proven strategies, simple tools, and methods that actually work (no more guesswork).
2) How to learn effectively – The Big 3
The ‘Big 3’ are the core, evidence-based revision strategies that are ranked top by educational researchers.
Active Recall
Although reading and highlighting feels like good revision, studies suggest it is not that effective. Active recall is when you test yourself on information and check you were correct or add extra information. This helps you to remember better.
Step 1) Choose a topic.
Step 2) Either blurt, mind map or use revision clocks to write what you remember or use pre-prepared flashcards or answer exam questions.
Step 3) Check your writing and add extra information or mark your answers and improve.
Top Tips
Here are some easy ways to use active recall to revise.
1) Blurting
Blurting means writing down everything you can remember about a topic without looking at your notes. Once you’re done, check back and see what you missed. This helps you spot gaps and strengthen your memory.
It’s quick, active, and perfect in the run-up to an exam. Studies show that trying to recall information — even if you get it wrong at first — helps you learn better than just reading or highlighting.
Remember, this is not rewriting your notes. You are testing yourself.
Source: Karpicke & Blunt (2011) – retrieval practice improves learning more than concept mapping.
Source: Learn Geography Online, 2025
Source: Bberri
2) Mind maps
Mind maps are a more visual version of blurting. Like blurting, you’re getting everything out of your head without looking at your notes — but instead of writing a list, you draw your ideas in a way that shows how they connect.
Start with one big idea in the middle (e.g. “Tectonic Hazards”), then add branches with key facts, case studies, and processes. This helps your brain link information together and see the bigger picture.
Even though it’s visual, it’s still retrieval practice — you’re pulling information out of your memory without looking. And that’s what helps it stick.
Source: Buzan (2010) – Mind Mapping as a learning strategy; Weinstein et al. (2018) – Review of effective learning techniques
Source: Learn Geography Online, 2025
Source: Bberri
3) Revision clocks
Revision clocks turn a topic into a timed challenge. You split a circle into sections (like slices of pizza), each with a part of the topic. Give yourself 5 minutes per section to write everything you know from memory. The time pressure keeps your brain focused and boosts retrieval. This technique works well for building exam confidence.
Source: Based on retrieval and spacing principles – Dunlosky et al. (2013) recommend retrieval with time constraints for effective revision.
Source: Learn Geography Online, 2025
Source: Sharnbrook
4) Revision clocks
Revision clocks turn a topic into a timed challenge. You split a circle into sections (like slices of pizza), each with a part of the topic. Give yourself 5 minutes per section to write everything you know from memory. The time pressure keeps your brain focused and boosts retrieval. This technique works well for building exam confidence.
Source: Based on retrieval and spacing principles – Dunlosky et al. (2013) recommend retrieval with time constraints for effective revision.
5) Flashcards
Flashcards help you quiz yourself. You write a question or key term on one side, and the answer or definition on the other. Try to answer it before turning the card — don’t just flip it straight away. You can also use online tools like Quizlet or Anki to shuffle and repeat cards. The key is spacing them out and practising often.
Source: Cepeda et al. (2006) – spaced repetition improves memory over time; Karpicke & Bauernschmidt (2011).
6) Exam Questions / Quizzes
Doing past paper questions or topic quizzes without using your notes is one of the most effective ways to revise. Even if you don’t get everything right, the act of trying helps your brain strengthen the memory. It also prepares you for how questions will be worded in real exams. Research shows that frequent testing improves both memory and understanding.
Source: Roediger et al. (2011) – test-enhanced learning boosts long-term retention.
Studies show that active recall, also known as retrieval practice, helps you learn faster and remember for longer. In a famous study by Roediger and Karpicke (2006), students who tested themselves (instead of just rereading) remembered 50% more after a week.
Other research has found it can:
Source: Roediger & Karpicke (2006) study on test-enhanced learning
Why Does It Work? (The Science Bit, Simplified)
Your brain works like a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it gets. When you retrieve a memory, you’re telling your brain “hey, this is important. Keep it.” This strengthens your memory pathways, making it easier to find that information later — especially in a test. Just rereading or highlighting doesn’t do this nearly as well.
Retrieval practice works because it makes your brain do the hard work of remembering, not just recognising. Every time you try to recall something — like an answer to a quiz or a fact from a flashcard — you’re building stronger mental connections. It’s like training a muscle: the more you practise, the easier it gets to use that information when it really counts.
What the Research Shows
One of the most well-known studies on retrieval practice was carried out by Roediger and Karpicke (2006). Students were split into two groups. One group re-read the same text several times. The other group read it once, then tried to recall as much as they could from memory. A week later, the second group remembered 50% more — even though both groups had spent the same amount of time studying. This shows that how you study is more important than how long you study.
Source: Roediger & Karpicke (2006), Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention
Why It Works: What’s Happening in Your Brain
🧠 It strengthens memory pathways
When you work to recall something, your brain labels it as important. This builds stronger connections (called neural pathways) that make it easier to find the information next time.
🧠 It reduces forgetting
Rereading tricks your brain into thinking you know it (“I’ve seen this before”), but that’s not enough in an exam. Retrieval helps you find the answer, not just recognise it.
🧠 It improves understanding
Recalling information helps you connect ideas and spot patterns. You’re more likely to understand why something matters, not just memorise what it is.
🧠 It builds exam confidence
The more you practise recalling under pressure, the less scary it feels in a real exam. Your brain’s been trained to handle it.
Why It Works: What’s Happening in Your Brain
🔁 Use Active Recall and Spaced Repetition
Don’t just read your notes — test yourself.
Step 1) Choose a topic.
Step 2) Try writing down everything you remember about the topic without looking.
Step 3) Check what you got right and what you missed.
Step 4) Do this again a few days later. The more often you practise, the better it sticks.
You could use this technique by making mind-maps, writing bullet points, creating posters or answering questions (use exams or points from your specification).
📝 Focus on Exam-Style Questions
Want to get good at exams? You need to practise with real questions. Use past papers, mark schemes and timed answers to learn what examiners are looking for — and how to stay calm under pressure.
⏱️ Revise in Short Bursts (Pomodoro Technique)
Break your revision into focused intervals (e.g., 25 minutes), followed by a short 5-minute break. After four sessions, take a longer break. This method keeps your mind sharp and prevents burnout.
🔀 Mix Topics (Interleaving)
Don’t stick to one subject for too long. Rotate between different topics—say, 25 minutes on physical geography, then 25 on human geography. This approach encourages deeper learning by showing how topics interconnect.
📊 Practice with Quizzes and Mock Exams
Test yourself under real exam conditions. Online quizzes and simulated exam papers not only check your knowledge but also prepare you to manage exam pressure.
👩🏫 Teach Someone Else (Feynman Technique)
Explaining a topic in your own words, whether to a friend, family member, or even to yourself, forces you to understand it fully. If you struggle to explain it, you know where you need to focus your revision.