Revising with ADHD - Top 10 tips

It's taken until I am 60 years old to be diagnosed with ADHD. I have been told that the NHS isn't accepting any adult referrals for Autism Spectrum Disorder, but the consultant offered to diagnose me when they diagnosed my youngest daughter nearly 20 years ago so I consider myself AuDHD. In my world, this is a strength - but this wasn't always the case!

Why is this relevant?

Well...I loved school but loathed exams. I never did very well and would spend hours and hours and hours revising, only to fail or scrape a pass!

I felt useless and fed up. I worked harder and harder, spending more and more hours trying to retain the information required.

if only I had know what I know now! I thought I would share my ideas in case it helps someone!

1. Revise with some background noise

   I can't work or revise without some background noise! My parent's wouldn't allow this as they thought it was distracting - but in fact, it AIDS focus for people like me! I like to work in coffee shops and enjoy the background noise.

2. Turn off your phone!

   This might seem contradictory to point 1 - but there are good and bad distractions! Your smartphone is the latter! Turn it off, put it in another room or consider using an app blocker.

3. Use a revision timetable

   Planning your time is critical now. Know what works for you - usually short bursts of a task (25-30 mins) with a quick (5 mins) break works - but if you are like me and get into hyperfocus mode - stick with it!

4. Find your best time to revise

   Do you know when you work best? I am far better working straight after I wake up. My worst time is after lunch, mid-afternoon.

5. Procrastination is the thief of time

   How many of you know how easy it is to get bored very quickly with tasks and avoid doing what you need to do? Combat this by breaking tasks into small steps. In Environmental Management IGCSE this could be subunit by subunit.

6. Use Mindmaps or other visual aids

   Many of us benefit from visual aids - I stuck posters up all over the house and would recall the whole poster in the exam! I sell these for E.M. here.

7. Use auditory aids

   I am not keen on listening to my own voice - but if you don't mind this - record your notes and listen back to them.

8. Watch videos - but on double speed!

   I enjoy watching videos but my processing is so fast that I can't cope with many of them - a trick is to watch on 1.5x or 2x speed!

9. Complete past papers

   This is my prefered way to revise! Complete as amny past papers as you can - even if at the start this means you use the mark scheme to write the answers - you will get used to the wording they use and what they expect for the marks.

10. Look after yourself!

    Your wellbeing is more important than example results. Look after yourself! Drink plenty of water; get some fresh air; keep exercising and enjoy time with friends and family!

Best of luck!