Retrospective Revision Timetable

Mar 26, 2023

Use this technique to amplify your exam review!

🤔 What is a Retrospective Timetable?

A retrospective revision timetable is a study schedule that is created after you have already studied the material, as opposed to a prospective revision timetable which is created before studying. With a retrospective timetable, you would study a topic or a subject, and then after you have studied it, you would create a schedule for reviewing and revising the material based on what you have learned.

Here’s an example below:

📃 How do I make one?

To create a retrospective revision timetable, you would start by listing all of the topics or subjects that you need to study along the main axis of a spreadsheet or piece of paper. Then, you would list the dates or time periods along the top or side of the same spreadsheet or paper.

After you have studied a particular topic, you would go back and fill in the corresponding cell with the date and a brief note on what you studied. As you progress through your studies, you would continue to add in the topics and dates that you have studied.

Once you have studied all the topics, you can then use the retrospective revision timetable to plan out your revision and review of the material. For example, you might decide to review a topic two days after you studied it, and then again a week later, and then once more two weeks later. By spacing out your review sessions like this, you can improve your retention and recall of the material.

✅Actionable Steps:

Gather your course materials: Collect all your notes, handouts, textbooks, and other study materials from the course you want to revise.
Evaluate your understanding: Assess your understanding of each topic and identify areas where you need to focus more.
Determine difficulty level: Rate the difficulty level of each topic based on your understanding, past exam results, and feedback from teachers.
Allocate study time: Allocate study time to each topic based on its difficulty level and the amount of revision you need to do.
Create a timetable: Use a spreadsheet or a planner to create a timetable that outlines your study schedule for each topic.
Monitor progress: Track your progress and adjust your study plan as needed.
Stay motivated: Stay motivated by setting achievable goals, rewarding yourself for completing tasks, and taking breaks to avoid burnout.
Review and revise: Regularly review and revise your retrospective revision timetable to ensure you are making progress towards your goals.

🤓 Does it work?

The retrospective revision timetable is based on the principles of active recall and spaced repetition, which have been shown to be effective methods for learning and retaining information. By reviewing material at regular intervals, you can strengthen your memory and recall of the material, making it easier to perform well on exams and other assessments. Give it a try!

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