Revise while commuting

YOU have read the textbook and have been to class, but you are not sure how much you have taken in. The second time you go over your notes, you are parroting beautifully but a sentence out of context throws you for a loop.

So, now you are panicking: how much do you know and is it enough to pass the exam?

You could look for online tests, do past exams and find similar textbooks and do the exercises you find there, or you can try this: pick a question that you think will appear in your exam.

Make it short, sweet and standard, for example: “What three factors make an online advert popular?” or “Name six scientifically proven ways to manage stress.”

Now, do something that is completely routine such as swimming laps, jogging, bicycling in a gym, or taking the train to school.

Whatever it is, it has to be something you do automatically without company, and it has to last at least 15 minutes.

Start your activity and talk your way through your answer. If you can list the three factors and support your ideas, or if you can name six ways to produce calm, with supporting evidence, then you know you have it down pat.

If you get stuck, that is also great because it means that you have identified an area where you need to do a bit more work. Just make a mental note of what you need to repeat, hit the books again and repeat the exercise.

If you have a pile of work or you are taking a long course, make your morning commute your revision time. Just think about it: if you have a 15-minute journey, you would be adding five hours of quality study time to your schedule per month.