Top Apps for Exam Preparation

Exam preparation can be stressful; there is so much to think about – from collating your notes, to making sure you’ve covered every item on the syllabus, to revision itself – and sometimes it’s hard to make sure you don’t lose track. Fortunately it’s never been easier to get organised: if you’re a tech-savvy student, there are many handy apps to help you prepare for your exams in the most efficient and effective way.

In this blog, the Mentor Education team will run down some of our favourite apps for exam preparation.

Favourite Apps for Exam Preparation: GoConqr

Half study app, half social media platform, this unique platform allows you to connect with classmates, chums, and other students across the world to share learning tips and discuss various topics. Within the app, you can join different learning groups, take quizzes, get feedback on your ideas, and chat about things you’re finding difficult with your peers. Collaborative learning was never so much fun!

Ayoa

For many students, visual learning is the most powerful form of revision. If that sounds like you, we highly recommend checking out Ayoa.

The app, which is now in its tenth iteration, offers a great way to create and consolidate ideas through graphical tools. You begin with a central concept – which forms the core of your mindmap – and then add branches as you go, helping you to sort through ideas and create relationshiops between them. It’s easy to use, and can be a really helpful way to condense more complex thoughts (such as big pieces of coursework) into easy-to-memorise strands.

StudyBlue Flashcards & Quizzes

Flashcards and quizzes are both familiar study concepts, but StudyBlue’s inventive app takes the idea to the next level. Marketing itself as the option for ‘a generation of ambitious digital natives who expect and deserve high-quality digital study tools’, through StudyBlue’s sleek platform, students can hone their understanding of a particular concept (either whilst at home or on the go).

Whether you choose to create your own flashcards, select pre-made cards from StudyBlue’s extensive library, or customise the available materials, there are plenty of options to expand and enhance knowledge – and you can even quiz yourself and track exam preparation progress over time.

Gojimo

Gojimo, which is used by one in three GCSE and A-Level students, is the UK’s number one exam preparation app – and with good reason. Not only is it completely free, but also the app lets users access over 40,000 practice questions from exam boards like AQA, Edexcel and OCR. You can track your progress, keeping an eye on your own strengths and weaknesses, download quizzes to take offline, and tick off each revision topic as you go. In addition, there are helpful advice sections, covering important topics like coping with exam pressure and composing the perfect essay.

Evernote

Evernote is a brilliant revision tool in many scenarios, particularly on the go. It’s so much more than just an app to take and store notes on; it also offers a valuable storage vault where you can log different kinds of information, from handwritten notes to webpages. The search and tagging function deserves a special mention, too, as it means you can locate information in a flash – perfect if you’re revising and need a quick refresher, or if you get locked into a particular idea and need additional references.

Offtime

Procrastination is the enemy of any good exam preparation session; and the temptation to avoid getting on with your work becomes more powerful if lots of distracting text messages, Facebook notifications and email alerts are popping up all the time!

Fortunately, Offtime is here to help you to unplug. This handy app allows you to block incoming calls and notifications for a set period, eliminating the bulk of distractions and giving your brain the chance to unwind. If you like, you can even allow it to prohibit access to certain apps, meaning that your device will essentially be on lockdown during your revision session. If you’re curious or concerned about how much time you’re spending (or wasting) on your device, Offtime will also track your usage for you – which can be quite the eye-opener!

Study Music Memory Booster

In 1839, Heinrich Wilhelm Dove (meteorologist and physicist) discovered binaural beats: a phenomenon which some scientists now believe can help with relaxation, creativity, and cognition.

With the Study Music app, you can augment your chosen tracks with binaural alpha waves, as well as adding nature sounds, choosing options to improve memorisation, brain function, and more. Creating the right study soundtrack might be just the thing to help you clear your mind and improve your focus: and this free app, which also boasts a slick, eye-catching design, could be just the platform to get you started!