13th May 2025

6 smart revision tips to help your pupils succeed this summer

Exam season is a daunting time for both students and teachers, with a year’s worth of hard work boiling down to a few short hours of tests. Revision plays an important role in helping students to fill knowledge gaps and grow their confidence, but many students don’t know how to revise effectively. This blog discovers the best revision techniques to introduce to your pupils and find out how you can incorporate them into your teaching. 

Supporting students during exam season

It’s important to remember that every student experiences exam season differently. Even the most diligent students can be intimidated by exams and struggle with the format. As a result, revision techniques are as much about understanding the timing and types of answers needed to get top marks in an exam as they are about retaining knowledge. Think about how revision techniques can be adapted to suit the subject you’re teaching and the exam they’ll be taking.

What are the best revision techniques

Help your students to solidify their knowledge by making revision fun and challenging. Here are our top 6 effective revision techniques:

1. Build revision time into lesson plans

Building revision into your lessons, plenty of time before exams, is a great way to introduce students to revision techniques in a supported setting. This will give students the tools they need to revise independently at home or during their breaks, using the methods that you have shown them in class.

2.  Cater to different revision styles

One of the best ways to keep students engaged in learning and ensure they revise is to create revision tools and formats that cater to different learning styles. Not all students learn in the same way; some prefer a more visual learning method, whilst others prefer to take detailed notes. Revision for SEND pupils can also add another layer of complexity, where revision tools should be tailored to their individual needs. Revision for different learning styles could include: 

• Colour-coded flash cards with key facts, dates or figures 
• At-home quizzes  
• Interactive games with points for remembering key information 
• Audio/video learning resources

3. Break down information

The most effective way to revise is to break key topics into bite-sized chunks. Trying to take in too much at once can be overwhelming, so smaller, manageable sections help students absorb and remember things more effectively. Mind maps, bullet points and short summaries are a great way to simplify complex ideas. Spacing out revision sessions in class and focusing on one chunk at a time can also make the process feel less stressful and much more productive, giving students time to rest and relax during the busy exam season. 

4. Lean on technology

Don’t underestimate how much technology can help to make revision more fun and engaging for students. From quizzes to educational games, there are plenty of free revision tools available online, with BBC Bitesize offering tailored revision resources for both students and teachers. Students may also find video tutorials helpful, using them to simplify complex topics and break them down into digestible chunks. With the use of digital resources, you can help to make the revision process more interesting and effective.

5. Make it interactive

In the lead up to exams, it’s a good idea to mix things up and find fun ways to slot revision into everyday lessons. Interactive activities can make a big difference in keeping things fresh and helping students stay focused. Try using live quizzes, games or team challenges to get everyone involved. Even simple activities like peer teaching can make revision feel less like a chore and more like a fun and different task.

6. Encourage questions

Whilst it’s great when students are focused on their revision, it’s important to encourage them to ask questions, especially if there’s a topic or skill they’re struggling to master. Some students may only need a brief reminder, whilst others might benefit from a more focused revision session on the subject. Creating a classroom environment where questions are welcomed will boost a student’s confidence, helping them to go into exams feeling prepared. 

Help students succeed in their exams this summer

Students rely on their teachers more than ever during exam season, trusting them to provide support and give them the tools they need to ace their exams. At Engage Education, we specialise in matching talented educators with their perfect school fit, with an extensive reach in thousands of schools across the UK.

Register to teach with Engage Education, and help children and young people to achieve their full potential.