“Motivation is what sets you in motion, habit is what keeps you going” - Jim Ryun
“Revision” isn’t a word that most students want to hear. From primary school to university, revision is often seen as the worst kind of homework and can be frustrating for many students. However, revision is important for consolidating knowledge and achieving good results. Tablets and smartphones offer interesting ways for students to revise. They can be powerful tools when it comes to revision.
How so? Thanks to all the apps offered. Teens are more likely to have a smartphone than young adults so they know how to use them. However, while apps are probably quite useful for studying, a smartphone could be the opposite as it serves only as a distraction in some cases. With so many apps out there, it can be tricky to find the right one. Would you like to know how to effectively use smartphone apps to revise? In this article, we’ve got the answers you’re looking for.
Free Study Apps For Students
Quizlet
Quizlet is an online learning platform that allows users to create and share flashcards. It is a popular tool for students of all ages, from elementary school to college. Quizlet can be used to study for tests, learn new vocabulary, or simply review material.
Quizlet offers a variety of features that make it a valuable tool for students. These features include:
- The ability to create flashcards with text, images, and audio
- The ability to share flashcards with others
- The ability to track your progress and see your scores
- The ability to create and take quizzes
Quizlet is a free service, but there is also a premium version that offers additional features, such as the ability to create unlimited flashcards and the ability to access offline content.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization created in 2006 by Salman Khan with the aim of providing a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere. It offers online courses and resources on a variety of subjects, including math, science, computer science, history, art, and more.
Khan Academy's mission is to provide a high-quality education to anyone, regardless of their background or location. The organization believes that everyone has the potential to learn and grow, and that access to education should not be limited by socioeconomic status or geography.
Khan Academy offers a variety of learning resources, including:
- Videos: Khan Academy's signature offering is its library of over 10,000 video lessons. These videos are short and concise, and they cover a wide range of topics.
- Articles: Khan Academy also offers a library of articles that supplement the videos. These articles provide more in-depth information on the topics covered in the videos.
- Exercises: Khan Academy offers a variety of exercises that allow students to practice what they have learned. These exercises are self-paced, and they provide immediate feedback.
- Assessments: Khan Academy also offers assessments that allow students to track their progress. These assessments are adaptive, and they adjust to the student's level of understanding.
Khan Academy is a free resource, and it is available to anyone with an internet connection. The organization is supported by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a language-learning platform that offers free online courses in various languages. It uses a gamified approach to learning, with users earning points and rewards for completing lessons and practicing their skills. Duolingo also offers a premium subscription service, Duolingo Plus, which provides additional features such as offline access, progress tracking, and the ability to download lessons for later use.
The platform was founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker, and it has since grown to become one of the most popular language-learning apps in the world. Duolingo is available on web, mobile, and tablet devices, and it offers courses in over 30 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic.
Duolingo's lessons are designed to be fun and engaging, and they cover a variety of topics, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and listening comprehension. Users can also practice their speaking skills by recording themselves and comparing their pronunciation to that of native speakers.
Forest
The Forest app is a productivity tool designed to help users stay focused and productive. It works by encouraging users to stay off their phones and concentrate on tasks by planting virtual trees. When you set a timer to focus, a tree starts growing, but if you leave the app to check your phone, the tree dies. It's a clever way to gamify productivity and reduce distractions.
The app also allows users to earn virtual coins that can be used to plant real trees through a partnership with Trees for the Future. Overall, it's a unique way to stay focused while contributing to a greener cause.
Notion
Notion is a note-taking and productivity app designed to help users organize their thoughts, ideas, and projects. It features a variety of tools and features that allow users to create notes, tasks, and reminders, as well as collaborate with others.
Notion is cloud-based, meaning that users can access their notes from any device with an internet connection. It also offers a variety of integrations with other apps and services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Slack.
One of the key features of Notion is its block-based editor. This allows users to create notes that are made up of different types of blocks, such as text, images, videos, and code snippets. Blocks can be easily dragged and dropped to rearrange the note, and users can also create nested blocks to organize their content.
Notion also offers a variety of templates to help users get started. These templates include everything from simple to-do lists to complex project plans. Users can also create their own custom templates or modify existing ones to fit their needs.
Anki
Anki is a powerful, intelligent spaced repetition software that is used for memorizing information. It is based on the principles of spaced repetition, which involves reviewing information at increasing intervals to improve long-term retention.
Anki allows users to create their own flashcards, or use pre-made decks, and then reviews them using a spaced repetition algorithm. The algorithm determines when each card should be reviewed based on how well the user remembers it. Cards that are remembered more easily are reviewed less frequently, while cards that are more difficult to remember are reviewed more frequently.
Anki is a versatile tool that can be used to learn a variety of subjects, including languages, math, science, and history. It is also used by many people to memorize information for exams or other important events.
One of the key features of Anki is its ability to track the user's progress and identify areas where they need more review. This allows users to focus their efforts on the material that they are struggling with the most.
Anki is available for free on a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. It is also open-source, which means that anyone can contribute to its development.
Choosing the Right Apps
Of course, you must take notes and do your homework, but if you do decide that an app will help you study, you need to choose the right one. There are so many different subjects and apps to choose from.

To revise effectively, you need to think about why you’re downloading an app to help. Not every app will work for everyone and it’s important to download an app that’s suitable for your level. Furthermore, some apps might have a general focus while others are very specific. Some will offer revision notes and past papers while others may be more like a game. You need to know how you work.
Apps can be really useful if you’re preparing for an exam if you choose the right ones. For example, if you’re looking for help with some of your homework, apps like SnapSchool or Brainly can help you get answers from other students and experts by sending a photo of your homework or asking a question of the community. Similarly, some apps focus on specific subjects like geography, history or maths.
You might prefer to learn a bit about a certain time in history rather than go back over a past paper. There are apps dedicated to science and others that focus on specific branches of science like physics, chemistry, or biology. Similarly, you can download apps to help you learn foreign languages, which might be great for brushing up on some vocabulary before a test. Apps are great in a general sense and for specific subjects and topics. Revision has the potential to be both fun and effective. With apps, it can be both.
Find out more about revising with smartphone apps.
Make the Most of Opportunities to Revise with an App
Apps have the benefit of being able to be used at almost any time of the day, wherever you may happen to be. This is arguably their biggest benefit; they’re with you all the time. After all, who leaves their phone at home? You can use them if you’re on the bus, stuck in traffic, or find yourself with a few minutes to spare. In these cases, you don’t need to follow a revision plan. Of course, you can’t use this type of revision as your main revision. Revision apps allow you to revise whenever you feel like it. This is why they’re really useful tools to complement your revision. They’ll always be with you.
Form Good Habits with Apps
Using an app to revise can help you to form good habits. By studying or revising for ten minutes every day with an app, the whole process will become second-nature. A bit like having a revision schedule.

Apps can also form automatisms. Some apps will help you to work on your memory. This might seem simple, but in reality, it can take a while to form habits or automatisms. Regularly studying with an app will set you on a path towards revising and studying more frequently. Most apps are based around subjects studied at school as that’s what most students want to study or revise. However, the developers will want to make the apps more appealing and engaging so that their users stick with them. Tools like this are useful for students as it can encourage them to study and, in many cases, doesn’t cost anything.
Discover the best apps for revising.
Use Apps as Intended
Whether you’re studying for CBSE or SSC examinations, you must choose the right apps as they mightn’t always cover the course content or be aimed at the right level. You need to use apps as a complement to your other revision and not a replacement for it.

Your textbooks and past papers will cover exactly what’s on the exam whereas your apps may cover more general topics and concepts. After all, the apps probably weren’t developed by your teacher! When it comes to very specific topics, you may have to stick to the old-fashioned revision techniques. You have to be organised when you revise. If you’re focusing on a particular subject that the app covers, then there won’t be a problem. However, you probably don’t want to use an app for university exams if you’re still studying for your CBSE. Using apps incorrectly can be as ineffective as not studying at all.
Find out more about the advantages of learning with apps.
Don’t Get Distracted
Concentration seems to be in short supply nowadays. A Microsoft study showed that the average attention span has dropped from 12 seconds to 8 seconds in the 10 years since the mobile revolution began in 200. It goes to show that smartphones, while powerful tools, can also lead to distractions.

Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that distraction is guaranteed, but you do need to know how to study effectively when using your phone. You have to stay focused on your studies when using an app to revise. For example, you might want to turn off notifications while studying. This can help you to concentrate just on your studies. You can also sit down at your desk or workspace when it comes to revising. It’s easier to work somewhere you’re used to working as your brain will be used to it and somewhat conditioned.
Don’t hesitate to set reminders to tell you when it’s time to study as regularity can help form habits. Whether you’re at school or university, little and often work far better than cramming. Despite all the distractions we have, there’s no reason you can’t still study effectively. It’s never been easier to access all the tools and resources that you need. As you’ll have understood, apps can be useful tools for revision. While they can’t fully replace a tutor or a teacher, you can still revise effectively with apps. You just have to use them correctly. Good luck!
Find out how to revise for your CBSE or SSC examinations with apps.
If you need extra help with CBSE, SSC examinations, or just university exams, consider getting some extra help from one of the many talented and experienced private tutors on the Superprof website. There are tutors in almost every academic subject, extracurricular activity, foreign language, and hobby so you're bound to find someone who can help you. You can get face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, or group tutorials, and given that each comes with its advantages and disadvantages, you need to think carefully about which one is right for you, your budget, and your learning objectives.
Face-to-face tutorials are between you and the tutor so every minute of the session will be spent focusing on your learning and education. These types of tutorials are usually the most expensive per hour as you're paying for all the extra time the tutor spends tailoring the lessons to you. However, they're also the most cost-effective since they're planned with you in mind and designed to teach you as effectively as possible. Online tutorials are usually a bit cheaper since the tutors don't have to worry about the cost of getting to their students and can schedule more lessons each week. They'll still adapt their lessons to you, but for certain hands-on subjects, it can be better to have the tutor there in the room with you.
However, for most academic subjects, it won't matter too much. Group tutorials are a great option for those on a budget as you can share the cost of the tutor's time and experience with the other students in the class. While they can't tailor the lesson to you, it can sometimes be useful to learn with your peers as they can provide feedback and motivation. If you and some classmates need help with a given subject but can't afford a tutor on your own, group tutorials are the perfect compromise between tailored tuition and affordable education. Don't forget that a lot of the tutors on Superprof offer the first lesson for free. Use these free sessions to try out a few private tutors before deciding on which one is right for you and your budget.