This past Easter holiday, my year and I had more than enough time to revise for each of the exams taking place during the first week of term. With no hint of doubt, I can say that a considerable number of my peers revised none of the exam subjects at any point in those fourteen days; I can also say that I was close to being one of those. Being both a persistent procrastinator and required to write this advice article on revision technique, I will have to imagine certain elements to give any kind of balanced report.

I was told once that there are just two ways to revise: spread all aspects of the work out over a fairly lengthy timeframe (such as the Easter holiday), or work solidly over a comparatively short period like the weekend. The only other option that I see as viable is that of beginning your rereading within twelve hours of the start of the first exam, but this method tends to work marginally less well. Of these three, there is often a pattern in the train of thought of a doomed student...

You will plan a seemingly simple task of a maybe half an hour of work each day through the holiday. This will change after a few days, as you realise that the original strategy was completely unfeasible, and the second theory will be adopted with more concentrated revision. At this point, it is still possible to convince yourself that you only have the best of intentions. However, by the time the final weekend of the holiday looms, little drive has blossomed to give you the will to start. By now, you realise that all concerted effort is futile, and that you will have to desperately try to refresh your knowledge of the subject on the night before the exam.

This may be merely my experience of the nightmare that is self-management, but it would be a good idea to prepare yourself with a greater amount of willpower than I have ever shown. Preparation is the key to any preparation, and exercising some initiative is a good idea if you have any designs upon a relatively painless exam experience.