6 Revision Techniques & Why They Work

There are many different revision methods for students, any of which could be the one that works for your child. By now, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that everyone learns differently. This means that if a certain revision technique works for one person, it may not necessarily work for someone else. We all have different learning styles, each responding to one or more revision techniques better than others. While this can seem like a curse if you don’t know what your child’s most effective revision style is, it can be an absolute dream when you figure out what works!

So how do you revise effectively and quickly if there's no set way to recap what you've learned? This very question is why we've created this overview of the most effective revision techniques for your kids and students to try out for themselves.

Why Is Revision So Important?
Regardless of whether you’ve just started school or you're finishing university, revision is an important part of learning. Revision is a way to recap and recall material you have previously learned to ensure you still understand it well and put the knowledge to use. Most students usually read through their notes to revise what they've learned, but this isn't the best way to study – it’s certainly not the quickest or easiest course of action.

So, what is the most effective revision technique? Well, there’s no single answer here, because no two people learn in the same way. Generally speaking, there are four different types of learners:

• Auditory learners
• Visual learners
• Kinesthetic learners
• Reading/writing learners

Each type of learner will need a different way to revise, and it's our goal to teach you which technique may work best for which learning style.

What Types Of Learners Are There?

• Auditory Learners
  An auditory learner is a student who learns a topic best by listening to it. This type of learner would prefer listening to a long lecture rather than having to read through endless notes and textbooks to gather the information they need.

• Visual Learners
  Visual learners are individuals who learn best when seeing and observing whatever it is they’re learning. A whiteboard or chalkboard is a visual learner's best friend when it comes to studying. Most visual learners find it easier to revise when using pictures and diagrams.

• Kinesthetic Learners
  A kinesthetic learner is a student who needs to be able to touch and/or manipulate the material in order to learn. Most kinesthetic learning techniques are paired with visual and/or auditory techniques to create a multi-sensory learning experience. 

• Reading/Writing Learners
  Reading/writing learners are happiest when presented with written material to study. This type of learner can easily comprehend and memorize what they have read and often enjoys writing.

What Are The Best Revision Techniques?
Finding out which revision technique works best could take some trial and error, but eventually, you'll find the right one. Below we've compiled a list of the six most common revision techniques that the four typical learners tend to get the most out of.

• Flashcards
  Flashcards allow students to practice summaries and identify any possible gaps in their knowledge. Most students use flashcards as a way to test their knowledge by writing a question on one side of the card and the answer on the other. They then have someone else read the question to them so they can try to correctly answer it. Flashcards will work best for visual learners.

• Mind maps
  Mind maps are a great way to learn the connection between different ideas and can be used to recap just about anything. There are many ways to create a mind map, but they are most commonly hand drawn, though there are computer applications you can use to create one. When drawing/creating a mind map, be sure to use bright colors and pictures, as they can aid memory retention. Mind maps work well for visual learners but can also work well for some reading/writing learners as well.

• Recording notes
  For auditory learners, listening to things is the best way to both learn and recap information they have previously learned. Therefore, it may be best for auditory learners to record themselves reading the information they’re trying to study and then listening to the recording to revise the material.

• Study groups
  As the name suggests, a study group is a group of students that come together to learn and revise the same topic. It’s said that if you can teach someone else what you’re trying to study, you have learned the subject well. Study groups allow students the opportunity to explain topics to their fellow students, which has been proven to help with understanding and comprehension. Study groups tend to work best for kinesthetic learners.

• Practice tests
  If you can find old exam papers or quizzes for the subject you’re trying to revise, they can be an excellent way to test your knowledge. Students can use the papers as actual exams or go through each question with their notes on hand. Try asking a teacher or professor if they have any old papers they could give students to study with. Otherwise, you can always make your own. Practice tests work well for reading/writing learners.

• Reflecting
  By reading through your essays and old assignments on a topic, students can get themselves in the right headspace to start studying. It’s a good chance to reflect on the feedback they’ve previously been given, both good and bad, and use it to identify the areas where they could improve. For reading/writing learners, reading through past notes can work well for revision.

If your child has been struggling with revision and is starting to feel like nothing is working for them, it could be that the revision technique they’re using just doesn’t match their learning style. Take the time to investigate learning styles to see which works best for your child. When they land on the right one, they’ll find that studying “sweet spot” and there’ll be no looking back!

Featured image by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash