Revision tips for Humanities students

English Literature student Kaileb shares some tips to help you get prepared for exams in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Themes

Pick out key themes that interest you, such as gender or nature, and focus on texts that you can relate to those themes. It’s easier to write something original if it’s something you’re interested in.

You can collate quotations and ideas on an A4 sheet in a mind map, or a list; or write brief notes on cue cards that you can come back to later.

Key quotes

In those texts that you want to study further, find key quotations. By that I mean quotations you can use for multiple questions. That way, you only need to remember a few from a couple of texts, and will be prepared for multiple questions.

Research

Make sure you do plenty of further reading into your chosen texts and themes. If you can bring in some critical readings, your argument will be more solid. It can also help you to develop ideas of your own.

Plans

It’s also a good idea to practice making essay plans using past exam questions. The more you do it, the easier it will get. You can incorporate all the elements you have been working on.

You could also time yourself writing the essay, with or without the information, then mark yourself and see how you do.

Good luck for your exams! Using the tips above, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

Kaileb studies English Literature at ARU in Cambridge. Find out more about this and other degree courses at one of our Open Days.