Making Exam Notes That You Will Actually Revise
How to create short, useful revision notes: one-page summaries, formula sheets, error logs and quick-fire lists.
Long notes gather dust. Short, well-organised notes get revised. Here's how to make the second kind.
Principles
- Shorter is better. If you can't revise it quickly, it's too long.
- Use your own words. Rewriting forces understanding.
- Organise by topic, with clear headings.
- Make them easy to scan.
- Keep them in one place, on paper or in a text file.
Types of notes
| Type | Use |
|---|---|
| One-page summary | key ideas of a chapter |
| Formula sheet | all formulas by topic |
| Fact list | dates, names, definitions |
| Error log | mistakes from practice tests |
| Vocabulary list | new words with meanings |
| Flashcards | question-and-answer pairs |
The one-page rule
After finishing a topic, condense it to one page:
- Headings for sub-topics.
- Bullets, not paragraphs.
- Key formulas boxed.
- A small diagram where useful.
- A "remember this" line at the top.
Formula sheets
Group formulas by topic (percentages, interest, time and work), and add one worked example under each. Review the sheet often, and cover the answers to test yourself.
Error log
The most valuable note is a record of your mistakes:
| Date | Question type | What I got wrong | Why | Correct approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027-02-10 | Percentages | successive change | added instead of using formula | a + b + ab/100 |
Review it weekly. Your patterns of error are your best guide to what to fix.
Paper or digital?
- Paper: works well for diagrams, and some people remember better by writing.
- Digital: searchable, easy to edit and backup.
Choose what you'll keep up with. A plain text file works well for lists and facts.
Revise, don't just record
Notes are only useful if you revisit them:
- Review within a day.
- Review again after a week.
- Cut and merge notes as you learn.
- Test yourself from your notes.
Avoid
- Copying textbooks.
- Decoration that takes longer than learning.
- Making notes instead of studying.
Tips
- Date your notes.
- Label them clearly.
- Keep a master list of topics covered.
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