It’s that time of year again in English schools – exams are approaching.
BUT
Why oh why are some schools actually perpetuating the “NOW is the time for revision” myth?
Approaching the final month or so of any examination course attention should be directed towards celebrating what has been learned rather than what still needs to be crammed into the heads of the learner.
During the last three weeks I have had the pleasure of working with a number of Year 11 GCSE students, teachers and parents in a number of different schools and whilst the focus has been on ‘preparing for the exams’, there is still the idea in the minds of some parents and students that the forthcoming exams require more an more revision to be done. In most cases the word ‘revision’ can be replaced by ‘cramming’.
Revision is not something that is done at the end of a course or programme of study; it is part and parcel of an ongoing ‘review cycle’ that is embedded within the learning system.
Preparing for exams, I feel, has three major components…
1) Preparing intellectually for examinations – putting the forthcoming assessment within the framework/context of longer term, personal goals
2) Preparing emotionally for examinations – exploring stress and emotional management techniques; managing anxiety, building confidence
3) Preparing practically for the examinations – ensuring that exam timetables and requirements are understood; exp0loring examination techniques and approaches; managing time – prioritising, planning.
The ‘revision’ that most students seem to want to engage in is not about cementing or revisiting learning but more about trying to ‘remember things’ and ‘learn more stuff’.
Over the next week or two I will be putting on line some of the review, learning, planning and motivational tools I have been sharing in the latest round of workshops. I hope you will register on this blog for updates so if this series interests you you will be able to keep informed of its publication.
Alan
