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Revision season is here!

Revision season for GCSE and National exams is well under-way and we know… it can be stressful! There are so many rumours and tips online about the best ways to revise, but how do you know what to believe?

Does last minute cramming really work? Will getting plenty of sleep help you study? And can eating chocolate give you a revision boost?

Study and revision myths

It might seem strange, as you'll literally be doing NO WORK whilst you're catching some Z's, but it's true that a good night's sleep can really help when studying. As well as helping you regain strength and energy, sleep can help to improve learning. During sleep, the things you've recently studied get incorporated into your long-term memory, which makes it easier for you to recall the information later on.

Some research shows that eating dark chocolate, which contains high levels of flavonoids (a natural substance found in plants, fruits and seeds) and at least 70% cocoa, can increase brain function, improving attention and memory. However, this is very different to the type of chocolate bar you might usually eat as a sweet treat, so claims that chocolate can improve your brain function could be misleading and used to spread misinformation. It’s also tempting to click on a post about chocolate, but make sure you don't fall for click-bait.

Cramming all your studying into one last-minute session might not be the best option, in fact, it may have the opposite effect and make it more difficult to retain information. Some people may suggest cramming as a good revision technique, but this is just their opinion. It’s important to differentiate between fact and opinion.

Facts are statements that can be verified or proven to be true, opinions are someone's judgements or beliefs on something.

Not sure if the news you’re seeing on social media is true or false? Can you always tell if the things you see online are real or fake? Learn how to get the other side of the story with our quizzes, videos and explainers.