In an ideal world, revision would be unnecessary. We would all sail through our courses, understanding everything we have been taught perfectly and possessing the ability to recall all of it at a moment’s notice.

Of course, life isn’t like that!

As the time for exams approaches, it is common to experience self-doubt, to panic about being unable to remember things and to feel overwhelmed. In many respects, exams are as much a psychological test as a means of showing your understanding of the subject. And, for that reason, it is well to be prepared as much as you can.

Being prepared involves revision of what you have learnt. This can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be! With a few simple principles in place, you can turn the experience into a positive one that yields results. Here’s how.

Be prepared.

Returning to our ideal world for a moment, we would have a perfectly concise (and legible) set of notes to return to. Preparing for this moment all through the year, we would have been thinking about how we would feel when revision was necessary and have prepared by keeping good notes as we went along.

Not you? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! And there are ways to make up for lost time.

If you’ve kept up some kind of note-keeping system*, you should return to it now. Try to organise those notes as much as possible into manageable chunks, separating out subjects and related texts into groups. Simplify them as much as you can: it will help you remember things more easily and help you stop feeling overwhelmed in the process. (Consider using a flash card system – more below.)

Review the course.

At the same time, review your course material.

Look through the Units and sessions you took part in, You should be able to identify specific subject areas and themes – use the Course Handbook (if you have one) to help with this.

There is likely to have been a set of learning outcomes provided for each section. These will be particularly helpful now as they can provide a sort of blueprint for what you need to know before taking the exam.

This is a time when cultivating a positive relationship with your tutors* will bear fruit. If something isn’t clear or you have forgotten why something was relevant, now is the time to ask your tutor. If you have built a good relationship, they will be happy to help.

Think about types of questions.

You can also ask your tutors about the kinds of questions* you will be asked. As your tutors will be marking the exams, this can be very helpful in guiding your revision.

Exam questions tend to fall into certain types:

• Skills-based tasks – looking at a particular source and deconstructing it.

• Narrative/Analysis – describing and/or accounting for a particular historical event or process.

• Compare and contrast – judging how something is like another thing or unlike something.

You will usually be able to look at previous exam papers – these can be really useful for providing examples of question types (as well as for many other practical issues discussed below).

Return to essay writing principles.

Think about how you will go about answering these questions.

Many of the techniques used in writing good essays* remain relevant to coming up with good exam answers.

• You should keep your answers concise and clear.

• You should cover as many issues involved in the question as possible BUT keep every discussion relevant to it.

• You should always use the correct terminology and avoid colloquial language.

• You should use signposting to help your marker understand what you have written (or attempted to write). This is very important as (1) you might not finish an answer completely and (2) you need to consider the ease of reading and understanding your answer.

• You should demonstrate understanding not simply repeat memorized phrases.

• You should demonstrate critical thinking – especially in the uses of evidence to make a case.

In addition, there are things about exam answers that are unique.

• Short, high-quality answers are better than long discussions. They are easier to write within the time frame and easier to read for the marker.

• While it is helpful to acknowledge the arguments of historians it is not necessary to learn quotes (but you must show you understand the significance of their views).

• A bibliography and a precise referencing system is unnecessary – although referring to specific works is recommended.

Practice, practice, practice.

Practice is part of the revision process. The more you do it, the easier you will find the exam itself.

One of the most useful tools you have are previous exam papers – make sure you use them. Select a few questions and plan out outlines of answers. Take the types of question and apply them to other subjects – see what types of question (and potential answer) this generates. Time yourself writing answers and use that to work out how to use time effectively in the exam itself.

Because you’ve been used to writing on a word processor, you need to practice writing itself. There are many exercises you can try to build up your strength but anything you write will help, even nonsense! Just keep practicing and your effort will be rewarded.

Practical Advice.

There are several ways in which you can ease your workload and stress levels.

• Plan your revision using a timetable and/or a wall planner to help your time management.

• Schedule breaks to avoid burnout – pace yourself!

• Don’t cut back on relaxation and sleep – you won’t be able to write well under pressure if you are worn out.

• Put some short notes on Flashcards to help you recall things.

• Spend some time revising with others to avoid feelings of loneliness and despair.

• Try to keep a positive mindset and – where possible – avoid people who have a negative attitude towards studying and exams.

Remember: thousands of students go through this process every year. Most of them – especially those that prepare well – don’t just survive but prosper. You can too. Believe in yourself!

This article written by MTL Bennett in May 2024 and revised in April 2025.

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