Let’s be real: you might not have followed your revision timetable. Maybe you procrastinated, juggled too many subjects, or life just got in the way. But here you are, days (or hours) from the exam, and it’s go time!

Cramming isn’t ideal - but it can be effective when done right. Here’s your no-nonsense guide to making the most of the time you have left.

1. Master the Art of Looping

Instead of doing a topic once and moving on, loop back frequently:

• Study a topic for 30 minutes.
• Take a break.
• Come back to it after 1-2 hours with a quick review.
• Repeat again, later in the day.

This looping effect is said to help  boost short-term memory retention - critical during a cram session!

2. Possibly Skip  the Notes - Use the Summaries !

You may not have time to rewrite your textbook. Alternatives could be:

• Use pre-made revision cards, mind maps, or Learners Cloud’s video summaries.
• Focus on key formulas, dates, definitions, and processes. Details are key!
• Suggestion: Highlight what’s essential to answer a 6-mark or 9-mark question!

3. Time Yourself with Real Questions

Don’t just revise passively - try and simulate the exam!

• Pull up actual past paper questions from the last 2-3 years.
• Time yourself for each one (even 5-10 minutes helps)
• Write bullet points if you’re short on time!
• Then mark them using the examiner’s mark schemes.

Remember, we’re doing this to improve speed, exam familiarity, and inturn overall marks!

4. Teach it to an Imaginary Student

Teaching forces you to simplify key concepts:

• After learning a key topic, pretend to explain it to someone younger (or your pet)!
• No looking at your notes. Talk out loud.
• Can’t explain it? Go back and review just that section!

This method is known as the Feynman Technique, and it’s one of the fastest ways to find knowledge gaps when one is short on time!

Cramming  isn’t about covering everything - it’s about being strategic with the time you have. Focus on the most examinable topics, active recall, and be efficient! You’ve got this!!

Pro tip: Head on over to our YouTube channel for quick, easy to follow revision videos (and shorts)!