To aim for success, one needs to plan and start working on it from the start. And since the new academic session is in full swing, students need to start working towards doing well from now, even though exams are still a few months away.

Dedicated students embrace countless effective study habits and strategies, unwaveringly, throughout the entire year. Not all, but some non-serious students have no proper study routine or method to help them understand, learn, and apply the knowledge they are being imparted in school. The latter do not have an academic plan to follow or it is flawed. One common flaw I observed in students’ academic plans is either the absence of revision or an inefficient way of revision.

Often underestimated, revision plays a vital role in the academic journey of students as it stands as a formidable ally. If you are unaware of the benefits of revision, this piece of writing is for you.

What is revision?

Revision means reviewing and re-examining the previously studied topic of any subject. It is a tool that helps students strengthen the already learnt concepts and makes it easier to study deeper about the topic. Though the benefits of revision should be obvious to any student, there is still a need to check out what they are, so that proper and continuous revision becomes a habit to them.

Identification of grey areas

When a student revises, he is able to identify the areas he is weak in, the concepts that are not clear, and what further research he needs to do and notes to make.

Consider a student who learns the rules of basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division at school. At home, when he reopens his book and starts solving mathematical problems pertaining to the learnt concepts, the areas he struggles in are the ones he should focus on and practice. Revising the concepts introduced and taught at school helps students to reinforce and remember them well. The sooner the revision is done, the easier it is to retain the topic.

Learning is consolidated

Revision plays the role of a bridge between initial learning and long-term retention. The revision of earlier knowledge solidifies comprehension of the content. It also aids in transferring knowledge from short-term to long-term memory.

For instance, a student learns about the phenomenon of the water cycle. He comprehends how water evaporates, resulting in precipitation. Upon studying the topic of atmosphere in a higher grade, his former knowledge of the water cycle would be the prerequisite.

Increased retaining power

Effective revision assists a student in reinforcing memory. Research indicates that information revised after spaced intervals is more likely to be retained for the long term. In addition, it helps a student to perform well in examinations. More importantly, the knowledge gained and revised remains in the memory even after the school years.

Enhanced confidence

When students revise effectively, they can see how much they’ve improved, and this makes them feel more confident in what they can do.

This growth in confidence is crucial during examination days. A confident student has better potential for tackling complex problems. His ability to recall the required answer to the question in the exam is more accurate.

Expertise in applying the learned knowledge

Good revision enables students to apply the knowledge that they have gained to real-life situations. Using what they have learnt in the real world shows that they are making progress. Because practical application goes beyond rote memorisation.

Exam anxiety is minimised

Fear of exams is a common concern that students face. This issue is addressed by a concerted revision. Spending enough time revising the subject reduces the anxiety that students may experience due to exams. Revision is the panacea to the anxiety of students in exam halls.

From weekly revisions to final revision

Basically, when it comes to revising, you can break it down into two parts: weekly and yearly. For students in any grade, reviewing what they’ve learned on weekends is a good idea. This helps them remember things better in the months ahead.

On the other hand, when schools announce annual vacations (usually for two or more months), and students are promoted to the next classes, it is pertinent that students plan a schedule of revision of all the subjects they studied in the previous year. This should equip them with all the prerequisites required before the commencement of the new class.

Better revision leads to brighter performance

In the short term, revision boosts students’ test and exam scores. However, in the long run, it sharpens cognitive skills, which is even more valuable. Developing these skills is more significant than just achieving high grades.

Different ways of revision

While this is an open-ended technique, there are some approaches that students can use. Reading a topic and summarising it in one’s own words is one way. Instead of reading the whole material later, reading the summary saves time and assists in recalling the whole concept.

Another method is creating flashcards. This technique is particularly beneficial in remembering mathematical formulae and equations in science. Similarly, this technique is applicable to the subjects of English and geography; however, students can discover suitable methods for themselves.

In short, the effectiveness of revision directly correlates with the effort put into it. Therefore, the more focused and efficient your revision, the better the outcomes and rewards.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 23rd, 2023