Going back into education as an adult or taking a training course through work can be demanding.
Even though it may be necessary for your job, studying for a qualification is often very challenging. It was a bit different when you were in education because that was likely your full-time focus. Whereas with work, family and other adult commitments, studying certainly isn’t easy.
This is why creating a revision timetable is so essential.
Project Skills Solutions offer a wide range of different courses and have an incredibly high pass rate.
In this weeks’ update we are going to look at:
- Why you need a revision timetable
- How to create a revision timetable
- Using technology to help you revise
So, before we get into creating a plan for your studying – why do you need to do this anyway?
Why have a revision timetable?
Studying as an adult is a lot harder for most people than when you are younger.
Between work itself and having a family or other commitments, finding the right time to study is hard. This is why a revision timetable is vital.
It allows you to set aside the right amount of time so that you can study for your exams. If you take a more laissez-faire approach to your revision, you probably won’t dedicate enough time. Remember those last-minute cramming sessions we’ve probably all done at some point? Not good.
So, really a revision timetable is necessary because it creates a structured approach to revision and gives you the best chance to pass your assessment.
3 ways to create a revision timetable
There are different ways that you can create a revision timetable, and there are also some things that you need to take into consideration too.
Find your learning style
Different people have different ways of learning.
For example, some people prefer more visual learning, so creating mind maps and diagrams with a lot of colour can help to ‘connect the dots’ and revise more effectively. Other people are better simply reading over text and studying the old fashioned way.
You might even find it useful to revise for an exam like you are delivering a presentation. Memorise key points and then practice on your own as if you were telling a group of people about the topic.
Whatever your learning style, try to tailor your revision timetable to suit. Get an idea of your learning style by taking this quiz.
Allocate your time
OK, so you know your learning style, and now you need to create your actual timetable.
A problem many people fall into is devoting too much time to subjects that they know quite a bit about and not enough time to topics that they are weaker in. Let’s say you are studying for the IOSH Managing Safely qualification.
If you are pretty well versed in controlling risks but perhaps not as clued up on your responsibilities as a manager which includes what you are required to do from a legal standpoint, it makes sense to focus more on that part of the course.
That isn’t to say that you should ignore the aspects you think you do know quite well, just that you should divide your time up so you can focus on the areas you need to brush up on.
Use an app
There really is an app for everything these days and revising for assessments is no different.
It doesn’t necessarily even need to be a revision specific app as something like Planner Pro can help you to organise your time effectively. If you have reminders coming up on your phone telling you that it is time to revise, then you’ll be more likely to stick to it.
There are other apps out there too, which can help you to create a revision timetable and allocate the time you need.
Creating a revision timetable for success
Most of our courses have an assessment, and while some will be completed on the day itself, others require study time.
This is especially true if the course that you are undertaking spreads over several days or weeks.
Creating a revision timetable is essential if you need to study. Not only does it give you a clear plan to revise, but it will also motivate you to start studying as well.
You can go ahead and revise for your assessment without a timetable. Still, it’s likely to be disjointed, and you probably won’t spend as much time on specific topics as you should do. With a revision timetable and finding out what way you learn, you can put yourself on the best chance of passing your course.