How To Revise

I’ve been putting it off, but I finally acknowledged it this week: It’s exam time again. This year - AS Levels. Only a handful of weeks remain till my first paper, so I’ve moved inside and begun hitting the books. Reluctantly.

Revision is never fun. Given a choice of studying algebra all day or slouching in front of the telly, there’s only one winner. Spending hours at a desk flicking through old notes and books is not an ideal way of passing the time. Though at least one thing's in my favour this year: AS’s shouldn’t be as tough as GCSEs were.

By that I don’t mean that the papers will be easier. They almost won't, given the superior knowledge and understanding they require. However, in terms of numbers there will be far fewer, which should help a lot.

This reason for this is that two of my four subjects are under the Cambridge pre-U exam board. This board, unlike almost all the others, requires every candidate to sit their exams at the end of the second year - B block or year 13 - rather than over both years. For me, this means a reduced timetable this year (although a packed one next summer.)

There is something to be said for having all exams at the end. Consecutive summers of revision and cramming is a drag. Moreover, time that could have been spent learning new things is taken up by revising.

It's not surprising, therefore, that the government plans to change the system on this point, and have all A Level students sitting their exams at the end of year 13. This will not only give people a break, but will also keep everyone motivated throughout both years. I remember, with regards to this second point, being surprised back in E block by one B blocker who spent the whole summer playing football outside with the rest of us. Unlike the rest of his year, he just didn't seem bothered about revision, even though he had a place at Oxford contingent on good grades. However, when I asked him what he was up to, he explained that he had done so well in his AS exams the previous year, achieving such high modular marks, that all he needed now to meet his offer was mediocre C's. Which he could have got blindfolded.

Another reason why I'm not so worried this year is that I have the experience of GCSEs under my belt. I can now look back and judge where I went right and wrong. What I can improve upon and what I should keep doing.

Exam season is always a nerve wracking time. The constant worry of underachieving, of the wrong question coming up, and of not getting to a good university is draining. Then there’s the work you have to put in; hours inside poring over textbooks while outside the weather's lovely. And finally, the exams themselves - ninety minutes of scribbling and glancing at the clock.

However, these were not the most vexing parts of doing exams last year. What irritated me above all else was in fact the deluge of advice that poured in from all quarters about how exactly to revise. Irritating, because it fluctuated so wildly in content depending on the person talking to you. If such and such beak was suggesting you revise this way, another beak was suggesting the opposite. If an older boy told you to split revision into half hour chunks, your house master favoured marathons sessions. Which in turn was different to what your parents believed, and pretty much anyone else you came across! After having to suffer all this, and having my brain reduced to the inside of a tumble dryer, I am determined this year to do my own thing, drawing on my experience and observations.

Which is why I’ve come up with my own guide for revision, designed to offer a fool proof way of navigating the exam period. These ten tips will prove invaluable to any student.

THE ETON BOY GUIDE TO REVISING

1. DELAY REVISION: remember: a month is a long time. So is a week. Think back on all the things you’ve achieved in a week. In a day even! So when the thought ‘maybe I should start revising’ pops into your head, ignore it! It’s probably too soon. 
2. CREATE EXTREMELY DETAILED REVISION PLANS: never forget: if you fail to prepare you can prepare to fail. Spend hours creating personalised revision schedules, detailing exactly when and where you’ll do your revision. Colour-coordinate them, and if a mistake appears, rip it up and start again. Never start revision until this is perfect. 
3. VALUE THE LIE-IN: revision is exhausting. Sitting in an arm-chair all day reading books is hard work. So don’t overdo it. Leave the mornings for relaxing, and only begin work post-lunch. Don’t study after supper. 
4. TAKE WEEKENDS OFF. And other days too. Do nothing work-related in this time. Chill out, watch films, go outside. Don’t worry if your exam’s next week, you can never spend too much time recharging your batteries. 
5. REVISE WITH FRIENDS. Especially your really chatty friends. That way you can distract each other from your work and lighten the mood. Aim for a 1:20 ratio: one bit of work-related conversation for every twenty about gossip. This is optimal for learning. 
6. LISTEN TO LOUD MUSIC. First things first: always listen to music. Then turn it up, and turn it up again. Don’t worry if others can hear. Choose music that's agressive: head-banging house or rap. Ignore Mozart. 
7. NEVER WORK WITHOUT YOUR PHONE. That way you’ll never be disconnected from the outside world. Check it every five minutes, and reply to all WhatsApp messages. Keep your mates informed on your progress. Arrange trips to get food and complain about how boring work is. Send Snapchats to birds and check BBC Sport. 
8. CHECK YOUR STRESS LEVELS. Never, ever, ever underestimate your stress. If you think you’re fine, and that this revision lark isn’t too bad, you’re going mad! These exams are the hardest things you will ever, ever do! Seek help regularly. Take frequent breaks. 
9. CARE ABOUT YOUR IMAGE: Relates to all of the above. Don’t get known as the swot. Or the loner who works alone. Or the guy who never replies to texts. Remember: your friends are with you for life, your exams aren’t.
10. REMEMBER THAT IT’S NEARLY OVER! Survival is the key to this game, not how well you do. Once you’re near the end, relax! Only a few days more and it’ll be over. Concentrate on the finish line, not the race.

Ok, it’s a little sarcastic. But before I’m accused of self-righteousness and of uber-judgmentalism, let me first confess to hypocrisy. Because every one of these points is something I was guilty of last year! It was a masterclass in how not to revise. Learn from my mistakes!