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Revision at Chiltern Hills Academy
Revision is an important part of learning at Chiltern Hills Academy. It helps students revisit key knowledge, strengthen memory and build confidence ahead of assessments and examinations.
Effective revision is active, regular and varied. Students are encouraged to use a range of strategies including retrieval practice, cue cards, revision clocks, mind maps, exam questions and revision timetables to support long-term learning and understanding.
Explore the sections below for revision guidance, downloadable resources and useful study support materials.
Why Revision Matters
Regular revision strengthens memory, deepens understanding, and boosts exam performance. It’s about making the most of what you already know – and building on it. Research shows that revisiting topics little and often is far more effective than last-minute cramming.
Tip: The earlier you start, the less stressful it becomes.
The C.R.A.V.E. Approach
Our students use the C.R.A.V.E. method to make revision more effective:
- Creativity – turn facts into rhymes, drawings, or mind maps.
- Repetition – review content regularly over time.
- Activity – explain concepts aloud, quiz yourself, or teach a friend.
- Visuals – use pictures, diagrams, and colour coding.
- Environment – find a quiet, tidy space, free from distractions.
Popular Revision Strategies
Revision Strategies – Part 1
These resources introduce a range of practical revision techniques designed to help students organise and remember information more effectively.
Resources
Revision Strategies – Part 2
These resources focus on planning revision, memory techniques and creative approaches to independent study.
Resources
Revision Reel
Our Revision Reel shares revision ideas and examples created by students and staff to promote different ways of revising effectively.
The collection will continue to grow throughout the academic year.
Revision Day
Students in Years 7–13 have taken part in a Revision Day designed to support future assessments and develop life-long learning habits.
During the day, students explored learning, memory and retrieval practice through a range of evidence-based revision strategies supported by cognitive science.
A parent webinar was also delivered to support families in understanding how students learn and revise most effectively.
Revision Day Resources
- Parent Webinar Slides
- Student Booklet
- Revision Clock Template
- Toolkit for Modern Life (referred to in the webinar)
- Revision Strategies Summary
Revision and Study Skills
The C.R.A.V.E. Approach
Creativity
The more creative revision becomes, the more engaging and memorable it can be.
Repetition
Students need to revisit learning regularly over time to strengthen memory and understanding.
Activity
Active revision strategies such as self-testing, explaining ideas aloud and practising exam questions are far more effective than simply rereading notes.
Visual
Using colour, diagrams, images and visual links can help students organise and remember key information.
Environment
A quiet, organised workspace with limited distractions can help students focus and revise effectively.
Scanning and Skimming
Scanning and skimming are useful techniques for quickly locating important information when revising.
- Scanning helps students locate specific words, phrases or facts.
- Skimming helps students identify the main ideas and overall meaning of a text.
These techniques can help students prioritise information before moving into more detailed revision activities.
Make Revision Active
Reading through notes alone is not effective revision. Students should aim to do something with the information they are learning.
For example:
- Turn notes into questions and answers.
- Create cue cards and test yourself.
- Summarise a topic in 150 words, then reduce it further.
- Create a mind map from memory, then check what is missing.
- Explain a topic to someone else.
- Turn information into a flow diagram, cartoon strip, poem, model or short presentation.
- Create your own exam questions and model answers.
- Use past questions to practise applying knowledge.
The aim is to process information more deeply, making it easier to remember and retrieve later.
Memory and Retrieval Practice
Students forget information over time if they do not revisit it. Regular review helps strengthen memory and makes knowledge easier to recall.
This is why revision should happen in short, repeated sessions over time. Every time students review, test and correct their understanding, they make the learning stronger.
Knowledge Organisers and Curriculum Resources
Students can also access subject-specific Knowledge Organisers and assessment preparation materials through the Curriculum section of the website.
Useful Links
All of the following resources can be found on our Assessment Maps page, under the Knowledge Organisers section:
- Year 7 Knowledge Organisers
- Year 8 Knowledge Organisers
- Year 9 Knowledge Organisers
- Year 10 Knowledge Organisers
- Year 11 Knowledge Organisers
- Sixth Form Knowledge Organisers
- Assessment Preparation Resources
Useful Revision Websites
The following websites may support independent revision and study:
- BBC Bitesize
- Seneca Learning
- Quizlet
- Get Revising
- StudyStack
- GCSE.com
- S-cool
- Linguascope
- MyMaths
- NRICH Maths
- Oxplore
Please note that some online resources may not always match current exam specifications. Students should check with subject teachers if unsure.
Healthy Habits for Exam Success
Examination Preparation
Students should make sure they have everything they need before they begin revising. This includes:
- A copy of the specification for each course.
- Class notes and exercise books.
- Knowledge organisers.
- Revision guides where appropriate.
- Past papers and exam-style questions.
- A clear revision timetable.
Students can also use the following resources:
During Revision
Students should try to:
- Revise little and often.
- Take regular breaks.
- Drink water and eat well.
- Vary revision methods.
- Build in time away from screens.
- Keep a good sleep routine.
- Ask for help if they are unsure.
During Examinations
Students should:
- Check the examination timetable carefully.
- Plan revision around the order of their exams.
- Focus on the subjects and topics that need most attention.
- Avoid comparing themselves with others.
- Speak to a teacher if they are worried or need support.