Revision strategy 2: blurting

The exam season is creeping closer and closer so today I want to share one of the most effective revision strategies that all young people can use when revising - blurting!

Blurting works because it harnesses the power of low stakes practice testing and retrieval practice - it is a super easy strategy to use and can even be used on the go!

Essentially, the strategy of blurting requires pupils to recall everything they remember about a topic or subtopic in a short amount of time without using notes or online resources. They can either write down what they can recall or simply explain what they remember verbally.

Working through a topic list for an upcoming exam before reviewing material using the blurting strategy can help students work out areas of weakness that they should prioritise in revision.

Blurting can also be used after reviewing a topic by making study notes then covering the notes, blurting everything that can be remembered and then checking what has been missed and filling in any gaps.

Blurting is useful because it forces students to actively recall information, which strengthens memory much more effectively than rereading notes which is how most students try to revise! Blurting clearly shows what is not already known, so that revision can be focused on the areas that need the most improvement - this is essential for pupils to achieve their personal best.