Mastering Mocks: Powerful revision techniques for struggling students

Mock exams play an important role in building strong revision habits and are a powerful tool for preparing effectively. A dress rehearsal before the real thing.

Mocks offer a chance to get realistic practice, improve knowledge and skills, and allow for effective self-assessment to be better prepared for final exams. It’s often the first time a student faces the challenge of revising vast amounts of content within a limited time, and this dry run is a great opportunity to experiment with revision strategy.

Rapid recall techniques can help enhance memory retention and retrieval by focusing on active recall and structured repetition, which have proven more effective than passive re-reading.

We’ve rounded up five of our favourite strategies to help students master their mocks.

1. Blurting

Yes blurting. This effective rapid recall revision technique with a brilliant name enhances retention and comprehension by encouraging active engagement with the material. This method involves quickly verbalising or writing down everything you can recall about a topic without filtering or self-editing. By doing so, learners can identify gaps in their knowledge, reinforce connections between concepts, and improve their ability to retrieve information under pressure.

Blurting helps solidify information in long-term memory through active retrieval practice, making recalling details during exams or discussions easier. This technique can also reduce anxiety associated with timed assessments, as it trains the brain to quickly access and articulate information, boosting confidence and performance.

2. Flashcards

Flashcards are a popular revision tool for a bunch of good reasons.

Firstly, they use active recall, prompting learners to retrieve information from memory rather than passively reviewing it.  Flashcards also allow students to break down information into digestible pieces so they can focus on specific facts or concepts, and their simplicity makes them versatile across various subjects, from vocabulary to complex theories.

Most importantly, flashcards are fun, providing an interactive experience with quick feedback loops that mimic game mechanics and foster motivation through small, frequent wins.

Techniques like spaced repetition further optimise their effectiveness by adjusting review intervals based on how well a student remembers content, revisiting difficult material more often while spacing out easier concepts.

By mastering material in small doses, students increase self-belief and improve their ability to quickly retrieve information - strong skills for smashing those summer exams.

Sign up for a free trial to support your students’ revision

By combining Luna with our expert human support, we aim to help struggling students to do better in their exams.

Here's what we offer:

• Our neurodiversity coach runs an online revision masterclass for your students (live and recorded)

• Your students are given free access to our Luna revision software for 4 weeks, with comprehensive onboarding help to get them started

• Students are then supported for the duration of the trial through email and video calls, as needed.

To find out more, book a call with our team.

3. Study buddy

Social support while revising, such as partnering with a peer, can motivate students to stay on task and show up for study sessions, reducing procrastination. Buddying up promotes interaction - discussing topics, quizzing each other, and explaining concepts, all proven methods for reinforcing knowledge and boosting memory recall. In addition to providing motivation, accountability, and encouragement, a study buddy can offer different viewpoints or explanations that resonate better, enhancing comprehension of tricky subjects.

A collaborative learning environment like this can make the revision process less intimidating and more enjoyable, helping to reduce anxiety related to studying or exams.

4. The Feynman Technique

Named after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, this technique involves explaining a concept in simple language as if teaching it to a child. If you can explain it clearly, you understand it. If not, you can identify gaps in your knowledge and target them directly. This method involves actively verbalising information aloud, which engages both auditory and cognitive processes. By speaking the content, learners reinforce their comprehension and strengthen neural pathways associated with the material.

Recitation can be particularly beneficial during study sessions, as it allows individuals to identify gaps in their knowledge and address them promptly. Overall, verbal recitation is a powerful tool for learners seeking to optimise their study efforts and improve their recall abilities.

5. Mindmapping

Mind mapping is a great way to organise information visually. By transforming complex topics into structured diagrams, students can break down content into manageable segments, making it easier to understand and remember.

One of the key benefits of mind mapping is its emphasis on visual learning, with colours, images, and branches stimulating the brain and boosting memory retention. This multi-sensory approach engages students more effectively than traditional linear notes, allowing them to create mental associations between ideas and aiding quicker recall during exams.

Students actively engage with the material as they create their maps, summarising concepts and identifying relationships between topics. This process reinforces understanding and highlights gaps in knowledge, enabling more targeted revision.

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By incorporating these techniques into their study sessions, students can optimise their preparation for mocks and approach their final exams with confidence. Remember, the key to success lies not only in what you study but also in how you study. Start using some of these strategies today and launch learning to the next level.