How to actually remember what you revise — not just read it
Most students revise by reading notes and highlighting — and then forget the content days later.
This page shows you how to train your memory properly using active recall techniques recommended by experienced teachers and examiners.
👉 Watch the video below, then apply the strategies step by step.
Who should use active recall?
These strategies are ideal for:
KS3 students (Years 7–9)
GCSE students (Years 10–11)
- A-level students (Years 12-13)
Students who revise but forget content
Parents supporting revision at home
You do not need special apps or expensive resources — just questions, paper, and consistency.
What is active recall?
Active recall means forcing your brain to retrieve information from memory instead of recognising it from notes.
If you are not trying to remember information without looking, your revision is mostly passive — and passive revision is ineffective.
Active recall:
Strengthens long-term memory
Improves exam performance
Makes revision time more efficient
CORE STRATEGIES
Active Recall
What it is:
Testing your memory without notes.
How to use it properly:
Close your book or notes
Answer questions or write bullet points from memory
Check and correct using notes
If it feels difficult, that means it is working.
Blurting
What it is:
A fast way to check what you actually remember.
How to use it properly:
Write the topic title on a blank page
Write everything you remember
Add missing points in a different colour
What you miss shows you what to revise next.
Self-Quizzing
What it is:
Testing yourself regularly using questions.
How to use it properly:
Use short questions or quizzes
Answer without notes
Check answers immediately
Self-testing during revision is more effective than revising first and testing later.
Retrieval Starters
What it is:
Quick recall at the start of a revision session.
How to use it properly:
Start with 5–10 questions from previous topics
No notes allowed
Then move on to new content
This prevents forgetting older topics.
Timed Recall Sprints
What it is:
Short recall tasks under time pressure.
How to use it properly:
Set a 3–5 minute timer
Write or say everything you remember
Review and repeat
This builds speed and confidence for exams.
Flashcards (Question-Led)
What it is:
Flashcards designed to test memory, not reading.
How to use them properly:
Question on the front, answer on the back
Answer before flipping
Sort into: Know / Almost / Don’t Know
Flashcards only work when used actively.
HOW TO USE THIS IN REAL REVISION
Example: 30-Minute Revision Session
5 minutes – Retrieval starter (old topics)
10 minutes – Blurting or flashcards
10 minutes – Active recall questions
5 minutes – Check answers and log mistakes
This is far more effective than reading notes for 30 minutes.
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
Avoid these revision traps:
Re-reading notes without testing memory
Highlighting large blocks of text
Saying “I understand it” without checking recall
Revising for long periods without breaks
If revision feels easy, it usually isn’t working.
What to do next
Once you can remember content reliably, focus on how to score marks in exams.
These strategies are:
Used by experienced teachers and examiners
Suitable for KS3 and GCSE students
Effective across Maths, English, and Science
Used consistently, they help students revise smarter, not longer.
👉 Next: Exam Technique & Mark Maximisation
👉 Back to: Revision Resources
