Effective Revision

The following information is specifically for the benefit of my students who are studying the AQA A-Level Physics course, 7408, for examination this summer (2025). That said, the principles of revision are well known and apply much the same to every subject at every level. With that in mind, here are my top six tips.

1. Create a Revision Timetable. You should already have one but if you haven’t then you must make one right now! Don’t just focus on your favourite subject(s): create specific time slots for each topic and stick to the timetable. There is a nice online tool at https://getrevising.co.uk/planner and three free editable timetables (Excel format) at https://edumentors.co.uk/blog/your-guide-to-revision-timetable-template-3-free-templates/.

Make sure that your timetable includes regular breaks but keep the breaks short and avoid doing things that can become distracting. Many people find 5-10 minute breaks are about right for each hour of study.

2. Divide your revision into small chunks. Work through the chapters of your Physics textbook by looking at the sub-headings and verbalising what each one means. For example, what is Stopping Potential and what factors affect it? What is the Time Constant (for capacitance) and how can it be found; (a) by calculation, (b) using a suitable graph?

Be sure to tick things off as you go along to record how much (and what) you have covered. If you have created a detailed revision timetable then this will just be a matter of ticking each session when it is completed.

3. Make your revision “active”. Some people prefer to write notes as part of revision whereas others prefer to “say” things in their head. Do whichever is best for you – but don’t simply copy notes from your textbook: it is much better to write summaries in your own words. Concept maps are a great tool for linking ideas together in a way that makes sense to you whereas flashcards can be useful for social revision (see Tip 5).

4. Answer questions, especially past papers. Past papers and mark schemes are on the exam board’s website: the following link should give you a list of papers https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physics/a-level/physics-7408/assessment-resources?secondaryResourceType=Question%20papers&q=pap. To access mark schemes, tick the appropriate box (untick Question Papers to make the Mark Schemes easier to spot). For a nicer way of locating past papers and mark schemes, try https://revisionscience.com (free registration required).

Don’t forget to complete any pages that were previously left blank in your Daily Workout book(s). Lewis Matheson, creator of the Daily Workout books, has a great range of free resources and short videos on his website (as well as lots more Premium content) so head over to https://www.alevelphysicsonline.com/aqa during one of your 5-10 minute breaks to see what is available.

Make full use of the Data Sheet: it is possible that looking at the available equations for a particular topic might give you an idea about how the question in front of you could be answered. If you have lost your Data Sheet, a copy can be downloaded by clicking here.

5. Make revision a social activity. If you have created flashcards then you can use them with your friends to test each other. Having somebody else to talk to is also helpful if you get stuck when trying to answer practice questions. If all else fails, email Mr Tarrant for assistance.

6. Other tips;

When memorising pure facts, try to find links. For example, hadrons come in three types;

• baryons (the heavy ones, with three quarks – “bary” is associated with heaviness, as in bariatric surgery to promote weight loss)
• mesons (the medium ones, with two quarks – “me” for meson and for medium mass)
• leptons (the lightest ones, with no quarks – “l” for lighest and for lepton).

Stay healthy: eat sensibly, drink lots (but not alcohol) and get plenty of sleep. If you know you focus best in the mornings, do as much revision then as possible. Relax in the afternoon. Or the other way around. If it’s your thing, relax by going for a walk, cycle, run, swim or do yoga.

Try not to be revising late into the night as you need to get your brain used to working hardest during “normal” hours. Remember that you have no control over the examination schedule so make sure you are “match fit” at those times.

Aiming for a grade is valuable motivation but, whatever grade you get, it is important to be able to look back on your revision and know you made every effort to get the best possible outcome. Good luck!