Revision - it aint rocket science!

Revision is a pain but it is a lot easier and more effective if you ...

1. Have a plan.

Divide your topic up into little pieces. Revise each little piece in turn. Make a list and check them off after you have revised that piece of the topic. That way you can see that you are making progress.

2. Revise actively and vary what you do. Just reading through notes or even reading through this blog is not good enough. You have to find ways of making sure the information sticks. You have to work at it...

• Use mind maps or bullet point lists. Do one for each section of the topic.
• Use post-it notes or slips of paper to test yourself. Put a heading on one side. Put the info on the other side. Turn them over and try to remmeber the key points for that heading. Get a pal or a member of the family to test you.
• Get highlighter pens. Use different colours of pens for different topics.
• Break up your mind maps or bullet point lists and put each bit of information on a post it note or slip of paper. Shuffle them and then put them into the correct order under the correct heading.
• Use technology: text your pals with quick questions on a topic and get them to text you back their own questions. Think about using a Facebook or Bebo page for your revision notes. (Remember never to put personal details on the internet.)

3. Remember the types of questions you will be asked and how to answer them ...

1. Describe = say what happened. You need to write about the events that took place.

2. Why = say why the events happened. Try to use the words "reasons why" in your answer.

3. How useful / How valuable = Say whether or not you can trust the source to give you a correct account. Use the following checklist ...

• Who wrote it? Was he /she an eye witness? Is it a primary source from the time? Is it a secondary source written by an historian? Can you trust this person to tell you the truth or give a good account?

• Why did the person produce the account? Was it to give the facts or did the person have a point of view he / she wanted to put over?

• What does the person tell you? Is it detailed information? Has anything been missed out? What has been missed out?

More ideas about how to revise ...

Make your own revision notes (bullet points) or mind maps for the following questions ...

• The Rough Wooing - what was it and why did the English fail?
• The Catholic Church in Scotland - why were some Scots unhappy with it?
• The Revolution of 1560 - what were the main events and why did the Protestants win?
• MQOS - what did she do about religion in Scotland?
• The marriage to Darnley - why did Mary choose him?
• The murder of Riccio - what happened and why?
• Mary lost power in 1567. What happened and why?
• Mary in England. (Why she went there? How was she treated and Why? Why was she executed?)

Some ideas about how to revise ...

1. Get an idea of the "Big Picture"

MQOS is a long topic and it contains a lot of events. You need to make sure of the "big picture" : what happened and in what order. Here is an activity to help you do that.

Click on this link. It will take you to the YOUTUBE movie about the life of MQOS. Use the movie to write about the main events in the life of MQOS. Use a separate slip of paper for each event. When you have watched the movie, jumble up the slips of paper. Then try to sort them into the same order as the movie. Keep on doing this until you get the order correct.