Top GCSE & A Level Revision Apps for iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch

Whether preparing for GCSEs or A-Levels, developing a good revision technique is essential.

However, it goes without saying that what works for one person, may not work for somebody else.

Trying out different techniques and using them for a range of subjects will allow you to get a good feel for what works best for you.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a selection of tips to help you get the most out of your revision time, plus a range of resources designed to support your learning.

We’ve found that most students rarely just stick to the one technique, equally so when it comes to resources; most students we’ve spoken to use a whole host of them; textbooks, papers, apps. It really is down to personal preference, your learning styles and the subject you’re studying for.

Plan Ahead

• Before starting any revision, sit down and create a plan of the exams you are taking and when.
• Create yourself a visual representation, such as an exam countdown or a timetable so you can work out how long you have before your exams.
• Also look at the topics that need to be covered within each subject, and perhaps look to cover topic areas you most struggle with at the beginning of your revision, to ensure you leave yourself enough time for any necessary extra revision.

Create Your Revision Resources

Once you’ve selected the topic area you’re going to focus on, have a think about which resources best suit the subject you’re revising for, or indeed your personal preference.

Summary Notes

• Write brief notes that summarise the main points of your topic.
• Repeat this process several times, each time aim to use your original notes less and try and write as much as possible from memory.
• This process is a good way of testing how much you actually know, and those bits that you’re struggling to remember which either require more time, or using a different technique.

Timelines

• A good aid when revising history, timelines allow you to visualise a series of events in chronological order, promoting a higher rate of retention when it comes to exam time.

Annotations

• When revising for English, be it a play, poem, prose or text, it can help to annotate content to highlight important quotes or verses that you need to remember. Annotations can also act as a reminder to why they are important; i.e. do they symbolise a pivotal theme, is a particular style of language used, etc.

Visual Aids

• It’s well known that our visual memory is particularly strong, which is why many people find converting revision notes to pictures, diagrams and mind maps a big help. This method may not be of use in every subject, but it’s definitely worth bearing in mind.

 Mind Maps

• Mind maps give you the versatility to express and articulate information in an original and easy to understand way.
• Mind mapping can help you to approach information in an alternative manner, which may help you to learn and retain the information more efficiently.
• Alongside assisting your studying, mind mapping is also a good way of developing your planning skills.

Diagrams

• In some instances you’ll find that you can summarise a whole page of notes with one diagram.  Take a look through your notes, and see which notes can be summarised with a picture or diagram.
• Add up to 3 colours to the picture as colour stimulates the mind, however don’t use more than the 3 colours. This can prove to be overwhelming and a distraction. Recalling this image in an exam will be far easier than a lengthy block of text!

Ikea Sketch – Free
Compatible With: iPhone & iPadThis app lets you easily draw a diagram such as a concept map or flow chart, just by entering your text and moving shapes around. The app lets you copy text from another document, import it, and automatically create this as a visual representation. Diagrams can be also customised with different colours, shapes and fonts.

Testing Yourself

• A good way to gauge how well your revision is going, or where you need to spend more time revising is by testing yourself. This can be done by a family member, friend or alternatively by yourself.

Past Papers

• Once you’ve spent a considerable amount of time revising your subject, try some past papers. Not only are these a good way of testing your knowledge so far and gaining an understanding of any gaps, past papers also help introduce you to the style of questioning in the exams, what examiners are looking for, and also for practising on your essay writing.

Look After Yourself

When revising for exams it’s imperative that you look after yourself by following the steps below:

Get A Good Night’s Sleep

• Getting a good night’s sleep in the run up to exams may feel difficult and you may feel it’s more important to be cramming in some extra study time. However, research indicates that sleep deprivation can impinge academic performance, and in fact the sleep process can help new information “stick”.

Take Regular Breaks

• It’s important to take lots of regular breaks when you’re revising, aim for every 45-60 minutes.  In that time go and have a wander about, listen to some music or get some fresh air.

Listen to Music

• Listening to music can be a good way to relax in between revision sessions and can equally be helpful as background noise whilst revising.

• The benefit of listening to music whilst revising is regularly debated, however it’s often agreed that it’s primarily down to personal preference and ways of working; some people need to work in complete silence whilst others find it harder to concentrate in a silent room.

• Most people seem to find instrumental music more appropriate for revising rather than songs with words, or songs that you like and will sing along to.