Cards

1) Buy a few sets of cheap 3 x 5 inch index cards - plain, not lined. On one side put a question; on the other, the answer. For Maths you might also want to add a method.

2) Mix them up and test yourself. Those that you get right, put in a pile to your left, those you get wrong put to your right. Repeat the process with those that you got wrong until you get them all right.

You can collect questions from your text book, revise guide, website and so on. Also you can make up your own questions or get your friends to make up questions.

You can use this for any subject. For some questions you might like to add a method or explanation to the answer (especially in Maths), for others you won't (say for learning the parts of a plant or what's in a cell).

For English Literature you can put questions about the characters and plot of your set text.

Carry your cards with you and use them when you've got a spare minute or two, between lessons, on the way home, riding the bus, and so on.

Testing yourself by answering your questions out loud is a good way to learn - it's more active.

If a friend also uses cards, you can share ideas and test each other - they test you with their cards, and vice versa.

[-> next, go to the section on - Weird notes ]

top of page