1. Make sure that you have a detailed revision programme so that you know what you need to do each day in order to have covered everything by the end of the programme.

2. Divide your subjects and topics into "bite sized" portions, each taking no more than an hour to revise.

3. Do not attempt to revise for more than one hour at a time.

4. Revise in the surroundings where you can concentrate, with as few distractions as possible-background music perhaps but no TV.

5. Build in relaxation periods and keep doing some of the things that you enjoy, not instead of revision but as a reward for all the good work you are doing.

6. Revise actively - revision is more than just reading your notes.

7. Revise page by page, highlighting key facts which you then summarise as key words/phrases on a small card. If you use a card system, number the pages of your notes and your cards to cross-reference them.

8. Do not move on to the next page until you can recall the current page.

9. Do not keep re-revising sections of work that you already know, comforting though it is; concentrate on what you don't know.

10. Don't worry that it doesn't all stick after the first time through - that is inevitable. The more times you go over the work, the familiar it will become.

11. Revising with a friend can be productive and less lonely - but you must keep each other focused!

12. If you feel that your revision technique is not working, seek advice from your form teacher, your mentor or me.

Good Luck! Remember that generations of Hall Mead students have faced the same challenges as you are facing and not only survived, but also been successful. This is not the time to feel sorry for yourself; this is the time to really test yourself. You can and will do it.