The Most Effective Revision Techniques For Students
University students often find themselves in search of effective study techniques that can propel them toward success. At Student Luxe, we recognise just how important revision techniques can be to help individuals focus and in turn, receive good results.
As providers of high-quality student apartments, we not only offer comfortable living spaces but advice on various aspects of student life. Many of us have moved countries, studied abroad and can share a wealth of experience and tips on university and in this post, we’re excited to share valuable advice and proven strategies (many of which we have used ourselves) to help you maximise your study time and (we hope) achieve outstanding results. Let's dive in!
Feynman Technique
‘Although it may require some effort, the Feynman technique is valuable to learn’
The Feynman technique was invented by Richard Feynman, an amazing physicist, and is a highly effective approach to revision that ensures a deep understanding of a topic. This technique, which I am a big proponent of, involves a four-step process.
Consume the information you want to study and then hide it.
Challenge yourself to write down everything you know about that topic on a single page of A4 paper, using simple terms. This step forces you to articulate your understanding in a concise and clear manner.
Check the source material and compare it with your own explanation. Take note of any gaps or areas where your explanation wasn't as clear as the source material.
Hide the source material again and add or amend your explanation to address the missing or unclear parts. This really helps to identify any points you don’t understand!
Ben
Music and handwriting notes
‘Electronic music and handwriting notes! Two things I found really helped me revise’
During my study sessions, I always found that working or studying with music, especially electronic music, was incredibly beneficial for me. It helped me get into the zone and acted as a sort of background soundtrack, drowning out distractions. Of course, it doesn’t have to be just electronic music, any kind can help. Another technique that played a crucial role in my revision was handwriting my notes. I found I absorbed information more when I wrote it rather than typed it out.
Josh
Exercise and eating well
‘Exercise, eat, revise, repeat..’
One thing I found helped me revise for exams was doing a quick workout and having a nice meal beforehand. Exercising gave me a great buzz of energy, and once I had eaten a nice salad - with a coffee in hand - I usually felt energised to start revising for a few hours.
Emily
The Pomodoro Technique
‘The Pomodoro technique is one of the most commonly used and widely recognised study techniques, and for good reason’
As a fellow student, I highly recommend incorporating the Pomodoro technique into your revision routine. During my time at university, we were encouraged to use this technique, and it proved to be incredibly effective. The concept is simple yet powerful: dedicate 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. I found it really helped combat procrastinating and I stayed productive - especially when there was a lot to study!
Shraddha
Movie soundtracks
‘Movie soundtracks - potentially more peaceful than classical..?’
I found listening to movie soundtracks really helpful when studying - anything by Hans Zimmer helped me to zone out and focus on revising. 10/10 would recommend.
James
Mind maps
‘Making mind maps with different colours works best for me’
I found that writing down different topics in various mind maps, and changing the colours depending on the subject really helped me remember key points.
Mo
Daily goal checklist
‘Set daily goals and try to achieve them by the end of your study session’
I found writing a list of daily tasks kept me motivated and I felt really good when I was able to tick so many things off. Make a commitment to yourself that you won't stop until you've accomplished those goals and you can always treat yourself to something small if you complete everything that day!
Maria
The Forgetting Curve
‘You won’t forget the forgetting curve…’
One of the techniques that helped me a lot was a concept known as The Forgetting Curve, or the Ebbinghaus Curve of Forgetting. Essentially, it focuses on transferring information from short term to long term memory by repetition. I dedicated intensive revision sessions for the first two days, revisiting vocabulary as often as possible and then, gradually I lowered it to two or three times per week. It really helped!
Rongrong
Of course, everyone has their own unique study preferences, so it's essential to experiment and find what techniques work best for you. Give these strategies a try, and who knows, they might just help you more than you think.
