Make the most of your half term

WE ARE NOW HALF-WAY THROUGH THE FIRST TERM OF THE YEAR AND THIS GIVES US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO CONSOLIDATE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR. WHETHER YOU ARE KEY STAGE 3, GCSE OR A-LEVEL, HERE ARE A FEW POINTERS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TIME OFF!

1. Do a bit of work every day.

• Set aside some time (no more than 2 hours) per day to tackle your work.
• Obviously don’t leave it all until the end of the break, but I also do not recommend cramming it all into a single day near the beginning.
• Spreading out the work allows you to process the work between sessions so you can review and have a better perspective when you get back.

2. Tackle homework first. 

• This is something that has to be done, so you might as well get that out of the way first, towards the start of the half term break.

3. Leave some more working time in the holidays, after you have done homework, to review the work that you have done this half term. 

• This is probably the most important point!
• This process should be more active than just reading through your notes and work - I would personally recommendconsolidating your notes for each subject (from this half term) down onto four sides of A4 (by hand). Then review those four sides of A4 and condense them down into two. Finally repeat this and get each subject down to one side of A4. 
• Sounds difficult but it is possible! This can then form the basis of your revision notes later in the year. 
• As you are covering each topic, make sure you can answer questions on it without your notes. Anything you can’t do, go and look at your notes in more detail. 
• The goal here is to make sure the concepts are understood now, so that closer to exam-time you only have to revise what you already know, and don’t have to start learning stuff you missed when it was covered in lessons.

4. Work efficiently

• Refer back to my last blog post for some tips on how to work efficiently.

5. Relax!

• Make sure you have a couple of days where you do no work. Despite everything that I have just said, it is very important to get some rest.  
• Working up to exams can be stressful, which can reduce your ability to concentrate and learn. Half term is a good chance to recover and get into a good mindset to tackle the next half term.
• Sleep, eat and have fun!

Hopefully these tips will be helpful to you! Remember, for one-to-one help with science and maths contact me using my contact form, drop me an email at jake.harris@cantab.net or for general questions contact me with the social media links below.