Rebecca Kesler Tutors

When Should You Revise? This is a continuation from my previous blog post on revision ( 5 tips to start revision the way you want ).  In this post we are going to talk about when you should revise. Last Minute Revision - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Good, Bad and Ugly of Revision We all know the stories of Joe Bloggs, the student, who decided to stay up last minute and cram for his exam because he wanted to go out partying the night before and every night before that.   It is a typical University story.   Is it the best way to revise? Firstly, I'd like to talk about memory.   Please note I am no expert on the subject and these are just some of my thoughts.    There are lots of different sorts of memory.   Memory for ordered lists, memory for images and amongst these different sorts of memory is working memory and long-term memory.   Long-term memory are the things we remember and never forget.   They are stored away so securel...

How to Learn - Revision Tip 1: Be Prepared The number one tip I have is being prepared.   The more prepared you feel the less anxious you are likely to be in your exam.   It is normal to feel a certain amount of nerves but it is managing and controlling them that is actually half the battle.   This is why I am writing this blog post at the beginning of the year because this will definitely mean you have lots of time to revise and get prepared.   For further information on designing a timetable click here . Tip 2: Where You Revise Some studies have found that actually revising in the type of situation or place where you are going to sit your exam can actually boost your results.   This is why you may sometimes see someone revising in a hall where an exam is going to be.   However, this can actually be a little too far for some people. Thomas Frank produced an excellent YouTube video that is an  overview on preparing your study space bef...

Creating a Timetable in 3 easy steps When you want to do Maths revision or memorise any subject, for that matter, creating a timetable can be super helpful as it gives you a plan on how you are going to revise.  Taking some time to create the plan of action and then (of course) implementing it can keep you on track. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this blog post we will discuss: Revision timetable - getting started STEP 1: Log your subjects STEP 2: Apply your revision list STEP 3: Add exam topics to subject entries ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to get begin a revision timetable Build a revision timetable that suits you Creating a revision timetable can be as simple or as complex as you like.   It could be created by you or someone else.   It is however a highly personal thing.   I would probably ...

It is hard enough with exams but if you have special educational needs or are disabled it can be that much harder.  Below I have included my top 5 tips for SEND students to help when sitting examinations. Tip 1: Plan ahead Make sure that you know how to access the examination room and that if you have special requirements (e.g. wheelchair access) the examination centre or school staff know this. Tip 2: Know Your Rights This sort of follows on from Tip 1.  If the school or examination centre has been made aware that you as a SEND student have certain requirements for sitting the exam and it has been agreed before the exam date this special measures will be put in place then you have the right to complain.  Also if the measures haven't been followed and you couldn't sit the test this can be taken into account by the exam board under extenuating circumstances.  See my blog-post on missed exams . Tip 3: Use Your Entitlement Some students (Dyslexic, Autisti...

Top Tips for the Day Before Test Day Below are some suggestions for what to do the night before sitting an exam.  Please note this list is not exhaustive and what works best for one person may not work best for another.  These are just suggestions.  If you have any suggestions or advise feel free to add them to the comments below.  Don't go stay out late the night before - you will probably be tired and unable to concentrate during the exam.  There will be plenty of time to party over the summer. Eat a healthy meal, avoid stimulants (e.g. caffeine) and drink plenty of water Make sure that you have all the equipment you need for the exam.  If you need a black pen make sure you have two in case one breaks.  Check your calculator is scientific, meets specs and is working.  Make sure the equipment is standard exam issue.  By doing this the day or week before you should have time to go to the shops/order on-line if necessary. Lay o...

Do exams define you and the rest of your life? When applying for jobs or University most candidates will have to fill out job applications with detailed descriptions of your examination results.  Many employers and interviewers will look at your results and for most our job path is defined by whether we passed an exam or failed it.  Indeed certain Universities (e.g. Oxford or Cambridge) won't even consider a student with below AAB A-level results.  Consequently my question is are we defined by examinations and how do our results affect our lives? Indeed passing exams is important.  For example, you wouldn't want a doctor operating on you if they hadn't passed their surgery exams and gone through medical school.  However many famous entrepreneurs and famous people will openly admit to having failed some if not all of their exams. Jon Snow, Channel 4's news presenter, took two A-levels the first time round and failed one whilst only getting a C in Engli...

What do you do if you miss an exam? And the reasoning for missing you exam is... Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances an exam has to be missed.  For example, maybe you got seriously sick or heaven forbid you were involved in an accident on the day of the exam, a close family member dies, there is a domestic crisis.  These circumstances are counting as extenuating circumstances.  The first port of call is to contact your teacher/school and they will be able to help you through.  If you are seriously sick you may be asked to prove this with a doctor's note or medical records.  Death notes may also be required.  You may then be able to sit the exam at a later date or sometimes marks are decided from coursework and other exams in the subject including classwork. It should be noted that sometimes the exam centre or where your sitting the exam messes up.  For example, you may be given the wrong paper, their may be a disturbance in the exam...

Exam Paper Technique for 11+, GCSE etc. So you are going to sit a paper.  How do you maximise the marks in the shortest time possible?   Step 1: Make sure your name is on the paper and you follow the instructions when sitting your paper. Step 2: In the first 2 minutes of an exam flick through the paper and check how many pages there are and where all the questions are.  Check the back page and see if there is a question there. Step 3: You want to maximise your marks in the shortest time possible.  Answer all the 1 and 2 mark questions first that you find easy.  Skip over other questions to begin with. Step 4: Go through the paper again.  Answer all the questions worth more than 2 marks that you find easy.  Skip over other questions. Step 5: Now you should be left with just the trickier questions.  Answer as many as you can.  Remember often you will get marks for trying a question so it is better to try your best and show s...

Do parents put undue stress on their children to perform well in exams? With students sitting or about to sit their GCSEs a rising level of tension and stress is probably looming over the household in anticipation of the coming day.  For some students there is no such thing as stress where for others it is comparable to the time of the apocalypse.  However, is it only the students who are stressed out about the exams?  I mean most parents want their child to do well in the exams and probably feel a level of tension themselves.  Yet do parents actually contribute to student exam anxiety because they want their child to perform well?  What is good exam parenting and what steps can be taken to reduce exam stress?  Below I will discuss this further.  If you have any comments please feel free to leave them below. For further information on my tutoring service visit www.rebecca.kesler.co.uk Parents and exam stress In March 2017 the BBC p...