How to get started with exam revision
By Shirley, studying History and Politics MA (Hons)
Getting started with revision for an exam or big assessment can feel a bit daunting and probably the last thing you want to be doing right now. We’ve all been there: staring at the same page for 20 minutes, reorganising our desk for the third time, or convincing ourselves that watching ‘just one more’ episode will somehow help us focus later.
The truth is that motivation doesn’t magically appear before we start. It often kicks in after we take the first step. So, instead of forcing yourself to power through on sheer willpower alone, here are some simple tricks to help you get into a productive flow.
Trick one: temptation bundling
One of the easiest ways to trick yourself into starting revision is to pair it with something you genuinely enjoy, a technique known as “temptation bundling.”
The idea is simple: combine the thing you should be doing (studying) with the thing you want to be doing (something fun or comforting).
For instance, you can write your essay draft in your favourite cafe to make it feel special.
Over time, you start to train your brain to associate revision with positive feelings rather than dread. It’s not about bribing yourself, it’s about creating little rituals that make studying feel like a moment you look forward to.
Trick two: gamifying your study sessions
Our brains love a challenge, especially when there’s a reward at the end. Turning revision into a game taps into that natural motivation and makes studying feel less like a slog.
You could use apps like Kahoot, Quizlet, or Anki to turn your notes into quick-fire challenges, competing against friends or simply trying to beat your own score. Or you might break your revision into ‘levels’ like in a video game, rewarding yourself each time you complete a stage or master a topic.
Even timing yourself to see how many flashcards you can get through in ten minutes can make the process more engaging.
Each small win gives your brain a dopamine boost, making it easier to keep going.
Trick three: trick your brain with a Must Do deadline
Our brains tend to take as long as we give them. It’s called Parkinson’s Law, which is why a vague “I’ll study this afternoon” often turns into hours of procrastination.
Instead, create a short, non-negotiable deadline for yourself. Tell yourself, “I must finish these notes before lunch,” or “I have 30 minutes to get through this past paper before meeting a friend.”
You can take this further by setting a fake earlier deadline for big assignments or exam prep. If your exam is on the fifteenth, work as if it’s actually on the thirteenth. This way, you build in a buffer for review or last-minute emergencies. Even though you know the date is fake, your brain still reacts to the pressure and you get more done in less time.
You can also get an accountability partner. You can commit to a study challenge with a friend, or even put a financial threshold on it, like ‘I will buy my friend a coffee if I don’t finish this draft by the end of day.’
Trick four: create a focus zone that works for you
Your environment can make or break your ability to get into a revision flow. The key is to choose cues that signal to your brain: it’s time to focus.
For some people, that means absolute silence in a library corner; for others, it’s a favourite playlist in a busy café. Think about the ambiance that helps you work best: do you need background noise, or do you focus better when it’s completely quiet? Does a tidy desk help you think clearly, or do you prefer a spread of books and papers around you?
Also pay attention to the time of day you’re most alert. If you’re a morning person, use those early hours for your most challenging topics. If you peak in the evening, save deep focus work for then. The more you tailor your “focus zone” to your natural preferences, the easier it is to slip into productive mode without fighting distractions. For instance, I know that I typically work and focus better in the early evening, so I would not force myself to get up at 5am to work because I know I need to maximise my energy for the time blocks where I am actually productive.
I personally have tried out different study spots, from studying in loud bars, cafes, group study rooms and even just the floor of my bedroom. If you are not sure, just test it all out and observe your study behaviour in these different environments. You can also check out the study spaces website that the University has created.
Trick five: understanding what actually motivates you
The way we get motivated isn’t one-size-fits-all. Knowing whether you respond more to intrinsic or extrinsic drivers can completely change how you approach revision.
Intrinsic motivation is when you do something because you genuinely want to, the satisfaction comes from the task itself. In the context of studying, that might mean revising because you’re curious about the topic.
Extrinsic motivation is when you act because of an external factor, a reward, a deadline, or the avoidance of a negative outcome. For revision, this could be working towards a specific grade.
Most people have a blend of both, but one usually takes the lead. If you lean towards extrinsic motivation, you might thrive on short-term, tangible goals like finishing a past paper before you can grab lunch. If you’re more intrinsically motivated, you might prefer exploring parts of the syllabus you find genuinely interesting first.
Once you know which type fuels you most, you can shape your revision plan so it works with your natural drive rather than against it.
Asking yourself the question, why I am doing this in the first place, can be a powerful reset ritual to refocus your energy on revision without getting distracted.
And finally…
When it comes to revision, experiment, figure out what clicks for you, and then lean into it.
Once you find what trick works for you, revision stops feeling like a mountain you have to climb, and starts feeling like a series of steps you can actually enjoy (or at least not dread).
