Revision is difficult at the best of times, but you can make it a lot easier by being clever in your planning. SMART objectives are a great way to plan out what you want to achieve in your revision sessions by setting goals that will work for you.

SMART stands for objectives that are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time-limited

How can I make SMART revision objectives?

Setting an objective like “I want to revise for my exams” is too vague, meaning it will be hard to keep track of whether or not you are achieving it.

Set objectives like “In this hour session, I want to revise the components that make up the GDP = C + I + G + NX formula in Economics”. This satisfies the SMART criteria and will allow you to track your progress more easily.

Rapid-fire preparation tips

• Stock up on everything you need to achieve your objectives, from snacks to keep you going, to stationery to keep you organised
• Try and have everything you need with you, especially a big bottle of water so that you won't have to take as many fountain breaks while studying
• Start your plan as early as possible so that you can get started straight away
• Your plan should be organic - it’s not set in stone - so the earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to learn if it’s working or not, and the more time you’ll have to adjust it to suit your needs
• Once you have an idea of your objectives, it is important to plan exactly when you’re going to cover them off

Using this framework will allow you to split out your subject revision into more manageable daily or weekly goals, meaning you can track your progress and see what you have left to cover off.