Name: Form:

PSHE at MGS

Revision
Year 9
 What affects exam success?

Exam success is the result of a combination of many factors, not a single cause.

Factors that effect exam performance:

1. Subject knowledge
2. Your exam history
3. Exam preparation
4. Writing skills
5. Use of time
6. Attitude and approach

Task 1

a) Which of these factors do you think have been your strengths in previous exams?

b) Which factors have been the areas which let you down?

c) What, in general, do you think made your exam marks lower than they needed to be?

1. Subject knowledge
The better you know the subject the easier it is to understand what must be included
and what can be left out when revising and writing exam answers. You will also be
better equipped to identify links and connections between different aspects of the
subject.

2. Your exam history

If you have been successful in previous exams, this can help you approach future
exams without excessive stress. However a history of exam failure can undermine your
confidence, but that does not mean you can’t be good at exams in the future. You can
improve exam technique!

Task 2: Consider whether your exam history has left you feeling ( or X) :

 Confident about exams?

 With a taste of success?

 With a good understandings of how to improve?

 With sufficient experience that you can enter exams without excessive nerves?

 Ready and keen to find ways of improving your marks?

3. Exam preparation
If you want to be really sure of doing well in exams, then it is essential to prepare well
for them.

Remember exams are about presenting specific aspects of what you know – in a
particular way – at speed – from memory. That is too much to do to leave it to chance!

Preparation includes:
 creating the right state of mind;
 knowing your weak points and working on them;
 finding support;
 taking care of yourself so you are physically able to perform;
 organising your life so that you can cope with the lead-up to the exam.;

Task 3: Think about how you revise:

a) Do you need to start earlier?

b) Do you need to do more?

c) Do you need to make it more varied and interesting?

4. Writing skills
For all written exams, exam success is affected by:
 Style: using a clear, easy to read, writing style.
 Vocabulary: Having the vocabulary to express yourself quickly, succinctly and
accurately.
 Composition: using well-structured, reasoned arguments.
 Technical writing skills: Using grammar, punctuation and spelling accurately in
order to express yourself more clearly, and to ensure the person marking your
paper remains focused on the quality of your argument, not on the errors!

5. Use of time
The way you manage the time available can be more important than the overall amount
of time you spend revising.

Task 4:

a) How can you create more time for study and revision in the lead up to the exams?

b) Consider HOW you can use the time you spend on revision and exam preparation
more effectively.
6. Attitude and approach
Your mental preparation for exams is perhaps the most important aspect of all. Your
ability to think clearly and logically is affected by factors such as:
 How calm you are feeling;
 Whether you have a sufficient level of interest;
 How easily distracted you are by emotions and feelings, rather than focusing on
the task in hand.

Your performance is further affected by your attitude in areas such as:

 Your motivation and endurance
 Your self-understanding: knowing what is likely to be a barrier to good
preparation and the steps you need to take to overcome these.

Task 5:

a) What barriers stand in the way of you completing effective revision? How can you
address these?

Task 6:

a) Underline the characteristics below that provide a desirable environment for

your exam preparation.

b) Then circle the characteristics you consider to be essential to the environment

for your exam preparation.

sociable quiet places without distractions

well away from school where I can play music

where I can eat where there are books somewhere with lots of space

where I can talk about my ideas in creative chaos away from my computer

while traveling in an organised space at home

where I can walk about away from home away from my mobile

the same place each time a good view inside

outdoors with computer access away from a game console

where I wont be disturbed around others who can help

Exam Myths

Task 7: Consider the myths below and identify any that have concerned you

1. Other boys are ‘naturally good at exams’ 

2. Other people don’t mind exams 
3. Everyone hates exams 
4. Exams are the most important aspect of assessment 
5. If I fail exams, this proves I am stupid 
6. Other boys are not doing any revision yet 
7. You can prepare too much for exams 
8. If you have a bad memory, you fail exams 
9. If I don’t do any revision at least the result will show my natural ability 

Do you have a personal myth concerning your own performance?

Myth 1: Others are ‘naturally good at exams’ – A large part of the success of other
boys can be attributed to factors that are well within your control, i.e. a) systematic
preparation & practice, b) sufficient time spent in study, used effectively, c) self belief.

Myth 2: Other people don’t mind exams – Because people prepare for exams on their
own, it is easy to imagine they are coping better then you. Even those who are
successful in exams don’t enjoy them! Talk to others and ask them how they manage,

Myth 3: Everyone hates exams – This isn’t true, only some people do. Others will see
them as an opportunity to show what they know. There is no advantage in hating
exams. The energy that goes into thinking negatively about them can be better directed
into exam preparation.

Myth 4: Exams are the most important aspect of assessment - Although exams are a
main part of your assessment, they are not necessarily the most important.
Understanding the subject, developing your knowledge and thinking abilities and
developing broader skills that you can transfer to life are also important.

Myth 5: If I fail exams, this proves I am stupid – Exams only test the kind of knowledge
and understanding that lends itself to be examined. Some forms of intelligence, such as
creativity, social skills and aspects of emotional intelligence are not easy to put in a
written exam. However, if you avoid complacency, remain calm and prepare sensibly
you will do reasonably well.

Myth 6: Other boys are not doing revision yet - It does not matter what other boys are
doing (or say they are not doing!) you must revise what you need in order to achieve
your objectives.
Myth 7: You can prepare too much for exams – This is very unlikely and only believed
by those who are treading the path of least resistance! It is important though to
consider what the absolute essentials you need to know on each topic are. Remember
though it is reassuring to be able to enter the exam knowing what you may need to
omit, depending on the wording of the questions.

Myth 8: If you have a bad memory, you fail exams – Passing exams is about more
than memory. There are ways of working with information to make it easier to
remember. Even if your memory is poor, you can make steps to improve it. Memory is
not a static entity!

Myth 9: If I don’t do any revision at least the result will show my natural ability – And
prove what? You can guarantee boys less able then you will revise and get a better
grade. It’s no good earning a poor result and stating – ‘well I didn’t revise’, thus
deluding yourself that you would have done better if you had. Too late, nobody is
listening to the runner who states he could have won the gold medal if he had trained
harder when they are watching the guy who did train stand on the podium!

What is revision?

It’s a word you hear a lot. But what actually is revision?

Revision is a process of revisiting material that you have already covered, in order to:
 Refresh your memory – reminding yourself what you know so far;
 Check that you understand what you were taught;
 Reinterpret material in the light of other topics you have covered;
 Test your recall of each subject.

Task 8: Use the columns to identify which are true of your own revision strategies

Common Mistakes My revision 

Occasionally Often A lot
1. Leaving all revision to the last minute
2. Finding there is always something more important to do than revise
3. Spending too munch time planning revision and too little doing it
4. Working alone too much
5. Meeting other people to revise but not actually doing any
6. Avoiding revision because it is boring
7. Revising, but then not remembering any of it
8. Spending a long time on the same subject without making progress
9. Not being able to identify the really key points about each topic
Avoiding common mistakes in revision

1. Leaving all revision until the last minute

Plan your revision in your diary. Set a date to start early and share this information with
someone who will help keep you on track.

2. Finding there is always something more important to do

Set yourself short sessions to revise. Put time aside in your diary to do these at specific
times before and after revision. Leave your books open when you finish each session
so they are ready and open for you to start again.

3. Spending too munch time planning revision and too little doing it
Make a rough plan, focusing on when you will study each subject. Amend this when
needed instead of rewriting the whole thing.

4. Working alone too much

This is fine if it suits you, however consider asking someone to test you, or revise with
others if you feel isolated.

5. Meeting other people to revise but not actually doing any

Before you meet, agree start and end times and decide on areas to study. Don’t be
concerned about reminding your ‘revision buddies’ of the task in hand if you feel they
are not focused enough.

6. Avoiding revision because it is boring

Revision does not have to be boring – so consider how you can make your sessions
more engaging. Generally varying your methods will add interest. Setting specific tasks
with deadlines also helps.

7. Revising, but then not remembering any of it

This is a sign you are not sufficiently involved with the task, because it is either
repetitive, too routine, or not challenging your mind enough. Break your revision into
specific tasks. Back check at the end of each session to see what you have learnt.
Avoid simply reading through you notes. Do something which involves you thinking
about the information.

8. Spending a long time on the same subject without making progress

Use a ‘little and often’ method, rather than trying to cover the subject in one session.
Set specific goals for a session or a series of sessions, so you can measure your
progress.

9. Not being able to identify the really key points about each topic
This is often a sign of having not understood the subject sufficiently well in the first
place. Go back and see your teacher or ask a peer to explain it to you (this may help
with their revision!)
Task 9:

Set out in bullet points methods you plan to use to help you prepare for your exams

Task 10:
Tick the strategies you could try and would consider adding to your list of methods:

 Revise with others

 Use colour to highlight and link connected points

 Vary the time so revision does not become predictable

 Invent likely questions to test yourself regularly

 Find the links – look for connections between different parts of the subject, this
may help with your understanding and/or answering questions which have been
worded specifically to look at one aspect of the subject.

 Chart it out – make a collage/drawing/picture board that illustrates key points

 Put it to music – link specific topics to different songs

 Change location – home, library, and different rooms in the house. Go for a walk
to clear your mind.

 Set personal challenges.

Where will it go wrong?

 Waste time – find other things you want to do which will wait until after you have
revised.
 Work too hard and become exhausted.
 Keep postponing revision until a later date.
 Revise late at night – you can’t retain information when you are tired.
 Allow friends to distract you with non revision activities.
 Plan poorly, so you run out of time to cover all your subjects thoroughly.
 Spending times worrying rather than just getting on with revision.

Task 11:

a) What other things might hinder your revision?

b) How will you over come them?