Optometrists and teachers agree on the 'perfect' revision amount

Teachers warn: this is how long your children should revise daily

As exam season approaches, with the final GCSE exam on Wednesday, 19th June 2024, and A-levels concluding on 25th June, students will spend considerable time immersed in their revision books over the next few weeks.

Optometrists and teachers are now advising on the optimal duration for children to spend revising to ensure they achieve the best results while maintaining mental and physical eye health, thereby preventing burnout and eye strain.

How much revision is too much for our eyes?

Leighton’s Opticians spoke exclusively with Luis Lozano, a qualified teacher, tutor, and GCSE examiner who specialises in English Language and Literature resources for ages 11 and up, with a focus on GCSE revision resources on his blog, Mr L's Online English.

Lozano explains why it’s unnecessary to spend every free minute revising during exam season, and Malcolm Maciver, an optometrist at Leighton’s Opticians and former lecturer in optometry, agrees that, from an ocular perspective, this approach to revising isn’t beneficial for eye health either.

Students may only need to revise 1 hour a day across all subjects, claims teacher.

Regarding the recommended daily and weekly revision duration for high school students preparing for their GCSE and A Level exams, Lozano states, “Little but often is the recommended teacher’s advice.” 

He elaborates, “Two months before major exams, students should revise for 1 to 1.5 hours per day across all subjects. If students manage their time efficiently, they can revise for all nine subjects by dedicating 1.5-2 hours per day.” 

Lozano highlights, "Research suggests a young brain cannot cope with too much information for prolonged periods. Revision over 2 hrs per day for each subject, and the information is just not going in.1” 

“Any more is excessive and futile as students will forget and suffer information overload. Time management is critical. This is why starting revision early and doing a little, often, is far more effective.” 

For eye health and brain breaks, students should take revision breaks every 20 minutes.

Lozano explains from a teacher’s standpoint, “Educationalists and the Department of Education recommend that students break every 20-25 minutes to move and stretch limbs, refocus eyeballs, and circulate blood around their systems and brains.”

Maciver concurs, stating, “Optometrists highly recommend the 20-20-20 rule. This involves taking frequent breaks from screens or books to prevent eye strain, dry eyes and fatigue, which can lead to headaches or dizziness. The 20-20-20 rule advises taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes and looking at something at least 20 feet away. This period can also be used by students to reflect upon the material recently covered. In addition, keeping well hydrated and drinking plenty of water is a good idea, too.” 

Can a student ‘over-revise’?

In Lozano’s experience, a tendency to over-revise can profoundly impact students. He comments, “Students who have over-revised have experienced panic attacks close to the exam date, thinking they have not learnt all that they should. On one occasion, a student I taught had a nervous breakdown. 

Lozano says, “It all depends on how seriously students take their exams.” 

What strategies can parents employ to support their children during exam season?

Lozano continues, “Parents can help their children by helping to manage their time and planning what they are revising and when they revise it.”

“Parents can also help students to make revision interesting by varying diets, alternating revision locations, rotating revision methods, monitoring the length of revision periods, and ensuring revision breaks are being taken.”