Welcome to the ultimate guide for surviving the exam apocalypse with BLOOM! Inspired by the thrilling world of “Plants vs. Zombies,” we aim to introduce you to the BLOOM revision method, which will seamlessly transform your dreary exam preparation into an exciting battle to keep your garden of study topics thriving.
Just as certain plants require more resources to bloom, some study topics may demand more time and attention than others. However, with the BLOOM revision method, you’ll gradually learn how to manage your limited time and energy resources wisely, ensuring that all your plants—representing your topics—bloom successfully.
Furthermore, by the time exam day arrives, you should have a garden full of strong, confident plants, each ready to fend off any zombies, symbolizing the questions that come your way!
Are you ready to BLOOM and conquer your exams? Let’s dive right in!
BLOOM Method Breakdown
Step 1: Build your Exam Garden Grid
To start off, create a dedicated grid for each exam you’re preparing for. Use this grid as the bed where you’ll plant your topics. In the left column, list all the topics covered in the exam. Then, each time you revise a topic, record the dates to the right. This way, you’ll clearly see which topics you’ve reviewed and which need more attention. This approach ensures your exam garden stays well-organized and fully prepared to BLOOM!
Step 2: Label a Confidence Rating for each Exam Topic
Use a simple traffic light system (Green, Orange, Red) to rate your confidence in each topic:
- Green means you’re fully confident.
- Orange means you require more review.
- Red means you urgently need help in understanding the topic.
Each time you review a topic, mark the date with the appropriate colour. This colour-coding system will help you quickly identify which topics you are confident in and which require more attention and focus.
Consequently, you can manage your time and energy more effectively, preventing yourself from over-studying topics you’re already confident in and understudying those where you need more practice. This approach, ultimately, ensures a balanced and efficient study routine.
Step 3: Optimise Your Exam Outcome
Remember, the goal of the BLOOM method is to have no red plants by exam day and as many green plants as possible. This means that you should be prepared for each and every one of your topics, so as to achieve the green rating.
By tracking your progress and focusing on weaker topics, you can ensure that your garden is as strong as possible when it’s time to face the zombies!
Step 4: Overcome your Topical Weaknesses
The beauty of the BLOOM method is its flexibility. Instead of planning every review session in advance, you simply focus on the weakest exam topic at any given time. If you fall behind on your revision schedule, no worries, just shift your focus to the topic that needs the most attention. However, this doesn’t mean you should start your revision at the last minute!
Step 5: Monitor your Errors
While revising, it’s crucial that you monitor your errors to identify your weak points. You can do so by duplicating your main exam grid from Step 1, and for each practice exam question you get wrong, mark an “X” in the corresponding exam topic row. This will help you pinpoint the exact areas that need more revision.
If you find that only a part of the topic is confusing, use the comments function to specify which sections require extra attention. This detailed analysis ensures you’re focusing on the right areas during your exam preparation.
Let’s get started on your exam revision using BLOOM!
By using the BLOOM revision method, you’ll manage your study time efficiently and ensure you’ve thoroughly covered all exam topics, allowing you to approach your exam with confidence. Just like in “Plants vs Zombies”, the key is to nurture your plants and manage your resources wisely to keep your exam garden thriving.
You can download your first exam garden grid to get started here!
Alternatively, you can create your own using Google Sheets, Excel, or Notion, depending on your preference.
Good luck, and may your exam garden BLOOM!
