Help with Revision

By the time they arrive at Oxford, many students will have worked out a revision strategy that suits them.  But, it is never too late to devise one.  Reviewing study habits for exams is a good idea for everyone; the techniques needed to do your best in Oxford exams may differ considerably from those you have used in the past.

If you are new to Oxford, it is worth making an effort to practice the unique essay-based exams.  If your college does not set collections for your course (which may be true for a lot of graduates) consider practising past papers under timed conditions and asking your supervisor/tutor to mark them or at least to make some comments.

Effective revision does not consist of cramming for three weeks before an exam.  Try to review your notes regularly throughout the year.  If collections are offered for your course, preparing for them can be a good way to make yourself do this.  Whether you find your notes helpful or irrelevant in revising for the paper, the experience will highlight what extra work needs to be done and whether you need to improve your note-taking method.  The best way to cope with exams is to be prepared.  A lot can be achieved with organisation and motivation.  However, if you do reach a stage where you feel that time before the exams is running out, try to plan the time you have remaining as efficiently as you can.  Little is achieved by starving yourself of sleep, but many people do achieve a lot in the last few weeks.  For exams other than finals there won’t be a long revision period; it is particularly important to bear this in mind with mods and prelims, which happen at the end of a long, tiring term and with only a week off for revision.  It is crucial to be realistic about time if you are going to plan your revision effectively.  Graduates usually have fewer exams than undergraduates and more coursework, but most taught courses will have an examination element, perhaps spread out over the duration of the course.

Exam Stress

Most people will experience the pressure of exams at some point during their time in Oxford. This can sometimes be healthy and motivating, but when it gets out of control it can leave you feeling panicky and isolated.  Doing something positive to try to resolve your particular anxieties may make you feel more in control, and less panic stricken.  Consider speaking to your tutor or a college advisor about your fears and find out if he or she can offer any practical help, such as extra tutorials or helpful reading lists.

Some Revision Ideas:

• Sort out your work into subject areas.  This will enable you to see how much information you have collected and give you some idea of where your weak areas are.
• Many students in Oxford seem to prefer completing revision for one paper before going on to the next.  This has the advantage of allowing you to focus on one topic at a time.  Alternatively, if you prefer variety you could try changing papers from time to time.  Work out which method works best for you.
• If you are revising for a series of exams, try starting with a paper you feel more confident about; you will get through this quickly and feel more motivated about revision as a result.  Then go on to one of the papers you feel least confident about, so that you do not leave the worst papers until last and spend the whole revision period worrying about them as a result.
• Revise actively; summarise your notes as you go along.
• Cut down on other commitments before exams.  Learn to say ‘no.’
• Figure out where and when you work best and most efficiently. Organise your work day around the times that best suit you. Some people find that varying the place where they work helps.
• Take lots of breaks. You will probably need a short break every 45 minutes and a longer break for meals.
• Try to maintain a normal routine during revision. Eat well and regularly, get enough sleep and take some exercise to keep yourself going.
• Use past papers and examiners’ reports to help you decide which are the most important topics.
• Look over old exam papers (available here) and consider practicing or planning past questions.
  
• Have some time off in the evening between finishing revision and going to sleep, even just to read a favourite book, watch some TV or meet friends for a quick drink in the college bar.