What Online Revision Tools Do I Need?

 At one time, revising for exams simply involved sitting down and working through text books, but that's all different now. Revision is one of many aspects of contemporary education that's been changed beyond recognition by online resources. There are countless apps out there that take various approaches to helping you revise. Some are very specific to one subject, but here are a few that most students are likely to find valuable.

GetRevising
For successful revision, you need an easily followed plan. GetRevising, part of The Student Room, allows you create a colour-coded study plan, as well as offering past papers for GCSE, A Level and university students to practice.

S-Cool
S-Cool also provides the resource to create you personal revision timetable. In addition, you can find topics to revise from the GCSE and A Level curriculum for subjects ranging from English to Physics, and Art to Sociology.

BBC Bitesize
The BBC's mission statement to "inform, educate and entertain" has led the corporation to offer education aids, of which Bitesize is perhaps the most valuable. Its resources, including video summaries and activities to complete, are divided into Primary, Secondary and Post-16.

Khan Academy
A not-for-profit educational resource, Khan Academy is primarily aimed at providing education resources for school-age children. However, this includes revision aids for subjects like Maths, History, Science, Computer Programming and Economics.

SparkNotes
SparkNotes concentrates particularly on English Literature, a topic all GCSE students have to take, and especially Shakespeare. Other subjects are covered too, from Science to History, but it should be noted that this is a US site. However, it can be useful if students pick and choose among the resources.

Quizlet
Quizlet provides a wide variety of revision aids, from flashcards to games, allowing students at any level to benefit. Resources are available for a comprehensive range of subjects, allowing you to achieve something at each step.

Evernote
There's no point revising, whether that's by reading, watching videos, taking quizzes or any other method, if you don't make notes. You can go traditional and use endless pads of paper, but using an online note-taking app like Evernote makes organising your notes so much easier. There are paid versions, but the basic package is free.

Marinara Timer
Like Evernote, this doesn't provide any revision content but helps you make the most of your revision process. Providing a customisable timer, it allows you to operate according to the Pomodoro method of working, widely considered to be best way of making the most of your time.

BBC Brain Smart
Effective revision isn't just about learning lots of facts. It's also about having your brain in top form, so that it's able to process and retain the information you revise. Another resource from the BBC provides games to exercise your brain and improve your memory. These are just a few of the best out of many revision aids available online. Needless to say, you're likely to get the best results by discovering which app (or combination of apps, more likely) suit your approach best. Register with TutorExtra for more advice and resource for revision, as well as for the whole range of your educational needs.