It is now just over three months before the bulk of the GCSE, AS and A2 written examinations start.

Thousands of young people throughout the country are completing their courses and beginning the process of consolidating their understanding of the information and ideas they have been studying for the past year or two.

Most have had the experience of mock exams and the advice and suggestions of their teachers are key aspects to successful revision.

Successful revision leads to good performance under exam conditions.

For most students, successful revision is a combination of good organisation and a variety of learning activities.

Examination board websites provide excellent support for candidates with specifications which outline the syllabus and the assessment objectives which will be tested in the written papers.

There are also past papers, mark schemes and examiners reports all of which can be downloaded and make it possible for motivated and resourceful candidates to prepare themselves fully for the real exams to come.

Find out from your school exactly which exam board and which specification you have been entered for in each subject.

Go through your notes built up over the time spent studying the course and with the text book and the specification make sure you have covered every aspect.

Going through the information at this relatively early stage will remind you of the work done earlier and prepare your brain for the revision and consolidation to come.

Ask your teachers to go over anything you think has not been covered and, if revision sessions are offered at school, attend them.

Learning information and developing the skills essential to good examination performance take time and practice.

For some people, learning by repeating lists of facts, declining nouns and conjugating verbs etc is a successful method whereas for others more creative techniques such as making revision cards or drawing mind maps helps them to learn and understand effectively. For others, colours, diagrams and pictures help essential ideas to stick.

What is certainly true is that having a variety of approaches to revision is important and that concentrated 20 minute bursts of revision interspersed with short five minute sessions of physical activity lead to better performance than long sessions of continuous study with no breaks.

Sleep, exercise, relaxation and diet, in a balanced mixture are also essential ingredients in any period of revision or study leave and parents can be very helpful in supporting students to achieve this.

Familiarising yourselves now with the demands and scope of the exam specifications and spending several hours between now and the exams, working on your own to learn the ideas and practice the skills will be an investment in your own success and give you the confidence to perform well in the summer exams.

Good luck to all examination candidates.

Olwen Curry, Deputy headmistress Oxford High School