Brandon Learning Centre: British Education - process, preparation and practicalities

Common Entrance and Scholarship exams are almost upon us... Easter is a brilliant time to consolidate all your hard work and make a final push before the Common Entrance or scholarship exams. Try these steps. Get a copy of the Common Entrance syllabus from iseb.co.uk. Print out each subject. Choose three coloured pens. Go through the syllabus and use a different colour to mark each topic depending on your knowledge level (e.g. red - 'I am confident with this topic', green - 'I need to revise', yellow- 'I have no idea!') Plan your revision based on your findings. If you have identified big topics which are confusing (e.g. tectonic plates) start with those. In the next update, I will give you some ideas for planning each study session. In the meantime, and importantly, don't panic! I have had students whose grades have gone from Ds to As after Easter revision sessions. There is still time, you just need to use it wisely.

As I try to finish my thesis, I am reminded of all my poor study habits! Including: Procrastinating Overworking when I am on form resulting in exhaustion  Distraction... jumping from one topic to another All the above are common experiences. I suggest the following remedies! Get on with it. You know you have to start! The arranging of your desk/books/papers isn't really preventing you from studying. Try to work in blocks with some flexibility. Give yourself breaks. Run around the room to get the blood flowing. Add exercise/eating/time out into your study plan.  Create a study guide. As you think of new topics, write them in and schedule them within your existing plan. That way, you are acknowledging that there may be something you need to also study but you are not neglecting existing work.  If your plan is too rigid, you will find sticking to it challenging. If you do get behind, rework your plan, don't panic and try to cram everything in. Most importantly; be r