Most Students Revise Ineffectively
Research shows that the most popular revision methods — re-reading notes, highlighting, and copying out information — are among the least effective techniques for long-term learning. If you want to make the most of your revision time, you need to use methods that are actually proven to work.
The Three Pillars of Effective Revision
Decades of cognitive science research point to three core techniques that dramatically improve exam performance: active recall (testing yourself), spaced repetition (reviewing at intervals), and interleaving (mixing topics). Everything else is secondary.
Active Recall: Test Yourself Constantly
Instead of reading your notes, close them and try to write down everything you know about a topic. Then check what you missed. This retrieval process strengthens memory far more than passive review. StudyVector's practice questions make active recall effortless — pick a topic and start testing yourself immediately.
Spaced Repetition: Review at the Right Time
Don't cram everything into one session. Review material at increasing intervals: 1 day later, 3 days later, 1 week later, 2 weeks later. Each review strengthens the memory and slows down forgetting. StudyVector's spaced repetition system automates this process.
Interleaving: Mix Your Topics
Instead of spending an entire session on one topic, mix different topics together. This feels harder but produces better results because it forces your brain to distinguish between different types of problems — exactly what you'll need to do in an exam.
Practice Under Exam Conditions
At least once a week, sit down and complete a past paper or set of questions under strict timed conditions. This builds the stamina, time management, and stress resilience you'll need on exam day.
Track Your Progress
Keep a record of which topics you've revised and how well you performed on practice questions. This tells you where to focus your remaining time. StudyVector's dashboard does this automatically, showing your mastery by topic.
Quality Over Quantity
Three hours of focused, active revision is worth more than eight hours of distracted note-reading. Aim for shorter, more intense sessions with proper breaks. Your brain needs time to consolidate information between sessions.
Start Revising Effectively Today
StudyVector automates the most effective revision techniques so you can focus on learning. Create a free account and experience the difference that evidence-based revision makes.