What good is it to make a revision schedule for your next exam (bac / patent or other) will say some. If you don't need to revise, too strong! But if not, is chance the best guide? HASdo you have time to waste your time?
Give me six hours to chop down a tree, I'll spend four preparing my axe.
Like a top athlete in search of perfection and leaving nothing to chance, I will tell you some golden rules which should guide your reflection on the success of your test. To achieve your goal and make your victory a reality, what could be more essential thana selection of the best tools to make your revision schedule.
Golden rules for your revision schedule or how to pass your exams
Principles of Laborit: We do spontaneously what requires the least effort and not what is good for us! So plan your reviews and set your priorities!
Procrastination or what does the Laborit principle say?
The human nature may not help in making the right choices to prepare for your exam. Yes, because we will spontaneously prefer:
- What we like BEFORE What we don't like
- What is easy BEFORE What is difficult
- What goes fast BEFORE What takes time
- What we know how to do BEFORE What's new
- What is urgent BEFORE What is important
- What others impose on us BEFORE What we have chosen
Defining the right revision priorities by subject
1- Evaluate your priorities for maximum points in minimum time!
What is important? There is no point in spending hours reviewing a subject on a subject with a coefficient of 1 while other subjects have coefficients of 5 to 10!
Do your calculations, predictions and set your low/high/average point target per subject or subject based on your known skills and ease…
You will thus evaluate the work to be provided (Number of hours of work), ie the distance between where you are today and where you have to go!
2- Detail the list of subjects to be worked on by matter
- Identify the materials to be worked on
- List major chapters by subject
3- Plan the difficult and new as a priority in your day before the easy and known
Detail your revision schedule to assess your day-to-day progress and reschedule if necessary
Supreme guide in your quest for the grail, your schedule should be able to show you the way to success.
But be careful because you will have to be ready in time: neither too early, nor tadpole!
To avoid getting lost in the maze of revisions, here are some tips:
- Do not overload the schedule: our natural tendency is to underestimate the volume of work and therefore the time to carry it out. Plan some margin so you don't get overwhelmed at the last moment!
- Be clear and precise! It's hard to find your way around at sea without a lighthouse, so remember to detail your preparation schedule sufficiently to be able to assess your progress and the path still to be covered...
Illich's law: Beyond a certain threshold, efficiency decreases. Plan regular exposure times in your revisions and sleep well!
The time allotted to review should be free from distraction and entirely dedicated to it. This time must be as auspicious and in tune with its natural rhythm. A few rules apply:
- cut off cell phone during these revision hours
- Work in a peaceful placee, familiar and comfortable without distraction
However, it is about being efficient. There is no point in spending 10 hours straight on one subject. Working longer is not linearly associated with higher output.
In intellectual work, work without rest releases mental fatigue that reduces abilities. If it lasts for a long time, emotional symptoms of anxiety, depression, irritability, etc. also appear.
In order not to reach a very high point of fatigue, according to Illich's law, it is best to constantly alternate work and rest.
To this end, Illich proposed the existence of “time boxes”. These “boxes” collect and describe ways to organize time so that performance is affected as little as possible by fatigue.
The three main time boxes are:
- 2 minute break every 10 minutes of work. Although it may seem short, this time box has proven to generate great efficiency.
- 5 minute break every 25 minutes of work. It is the most popular and many people recommend it after trying it.
- 12 minutes of rest for every 12 minutes of work. This is a mode that has proven to be very effective for very mechanical or very unmotivating tasks.
The best review schedules are those that help and serve every day!
#1 Magnetic board of my editable week to put on the fridge - Ideal for your revision schedule
Nothing could be easier to plan your revisions:
Register your daily forecast tasks on magnetic boards to put in the center of your kitchen on the fridge.
Delete and correct without moderation.
At a glance, I have a global vision from where I am and what I have left to accomplish!
The program for your week is clearly displayed and allows you to re-evaluate your revision schedule every day and to modify at will.
#2 Monthly magnet to plan your revisions by subject
With this magnet, plan your revisions over a whole month until the day of your exam.
To be legible and clear, 1 color per material!
Delete and Reprogram at will...
Over a month in a single glance, I see further and better...
#3 Weekly magnetic paper notepad to put on the fridge
#4 A printable, free and downloadable revision schedule for your A4 exams
You can free download and print in A4 format a revision schedule pre-filled and to be completed to organize yourself.
Enter in the first column the days (2 lines per day) and in the first line, your subjects (Math, History, English, Physics) according to your exam: One box per subject and half-day.
#5 The post-it method for the most valiant
If you have a large wall, this solution is visual and extremely efficient:
- A Post it = a job / a task
- One color of Post it = one material
- A shape / color of writing = a high / medium or low priority …