5 Revision Tips That Took Me From Low Grades to Real Results
Revision advice is everywhere, but most of it feels either unrealistic or impossible to stick to. What actually helps is hearing from students who’ve tested different methods and figured out what really makes revision effective.
In this video, Vera, a former GCSE student shares five revision techniques that genuinely helped improve her grades; from focus tools to smarter ways of revising content without burning out. These tips are practical, easy to try, and perfect if you feel distracted, overwhelmed, or unsure how to revise properly.
Watch this before you change your revision routine again.
Five Revision Tips That Helped Improve My Grades
Here are five revision tips that genuinely helped me when I was revising for my exams.
1. Use App Blockers to Stay Focused
One of my biggest tips is using app blockers.
They're so helpful because they block distracting apps on your phone while you're revising.
My favourite one is YPT - it really helped me stay focused, and you can still allow important apps if you need them.
2. Try the Whiteboard Method
The whiteboard method is something I wish I'd learned about earlier.
You basically write down everything you can remember on a whiteboard from memory - usually in a timed session.
This helps you spot gaps in your knowledge quickly and forces active recall.
3. Past Papers Are a Game-Changer
Past papers helped me massively.
They're what helped me improve from a low grade to a much higher one.
With subjects like English, past papers help you understand how to answer questions properly. With subjects like Maths, questions often repeat in similar forms.
Just make sure you're revising the correct exam board.
4. Use the Lightup Hub for Support
Using the Lightup Hub was another huge help for me.
Seeing Grade 9-level responses made it much clearer what examiners were actually looking for.
It's easy to use and really helped me understand how to improve my answers.
5. Use Spaced Repetition Instead of Cramming
Instead of cramming everything into one day, use spaced repetition.
This means revising smaller topics regularly over time - for example, one topic from each subject per day.
If you want to understand this properly, searching "spaced repetition" is a great place to start.
Quick Recap - Smart Revision Tips
- Use app blockers to remove distractions.
- Revise using active recall like the whiteboard method.
- Practice with past papers.
- Use tools that show high-grade answers.
- Revise using spaced repetition, not cramming.
These methods help you revise smarter, stay focused and make revision feel far more manageable.
