Revising for exams over the Christmas period may not be the most exciting prospect, but with January exams or mocks on the horizon, it’s essential to get started.
Try a few of our tips to help ease the pain:
1. Bite size sessions
If the thought of tackling an overwhelming amount of work is too daunting to get started, set yourself bite-sized tasks instead to start chipping away at the mountain ahead. This could involve learning five dates for history, revising one case study for Geography or doing 20-minutes of practice questions for mathematics. And once you’ve achieved a little you’ll like be inspired to do more.
2. Plan around the xmas stuff
It’s often unrealistic to set aside whole days of revision over Christmas. They’ll inevitably be a party to go to, film to watch, shopping to do or relatives to visit. Plan ahead around these events, so you can slot in an hour’s revision before Santa Claus the Movie, or a few practice questions after lunch at Aunty Pam’s.
3. Work with a private tutor
When you’re struggling to motivate and discipline yourself, a private tutor can be a god-send. Organise two or three sessions over the Christmas period, so you can focus-in on the task in hand and won’t have any excuses to wriggle out of the commitment. Your tutor will also set you homeworks and deadlines, keeping motivation levels up throughout the hols.
4. Set aside a whole day
If you find that chipping away at it isn’t working for you, set aside a whole day to cover a big chunk of work. Say ‘no’ to any Christmas or New Year commitments, switch off your phone, step away from Facebook and get your head down. December 30th or 31st can often be the best bet as, with New Year’s Eve on the horizon, most people will be taking things easy.
5. Leave the house
Being house-band can be distracting, and it’s often hard to settle, particularly if you have lots of family and friends around, vying for your attention. Leave the house and head to the library or a quiet coffee shop, where you can out your nose in a book for an hour or two without being disturbed.
