REVISION ADVICE FOR ALL LEVELS
Make your CIPS revision time count
If you’re fitting exams around work, children, a household and the rest of your life, finding time to revise isn’t always easy. This section brings together practical techniques that can help, whatever level you’re studying.
Five practical revision habits
- Plan a realistic amount of revision for the time you actually have, not the time you wish you had.
- Use short, focused sessions when you’re busy. Even 20 minutes spent properly reviewing a weak topic can be useful.
- Test yourself rather than only rereading notes or highlighting the textbook.
- Review incorrect answers carefully so you understand the reasoning, not just the final answer.
- Practise under exam-like conditions before the real thing, including time management and question format.
Preparing for a constructed-response exam
CIPS Constructed Response Exams: Showing the Examiner You Know the Syllabus → — advice on command words, analysis and evaluation, using examples and structuring written answers with PEEL. This guide is specifically for essay-style CR exams, not multiple-choice exams.
Don’t just memorise definitions. Practise writing a structured answer that addresses the question, explains the reasoning and uses an example where relevant.
A useful final check is to ask: Have I answered what was actually asked? Have I explained my point? Have I shown how it applies?
Featured revision guide
How to Revise for CIPS Exams When You Don’t Have Enough Time: 5 Practical Tips →
Struggling to fit CIPS revision around work, children and everything else life throws at you? Here are five practical ideas for making the most of the time you have, including small study tasks, self-testing and knowing when to take a break.
Try this today
Choose one topic you’re least confident about. Give yourself ten minutes to explain it from memory, then compare your answer against your study materials. Use what you missed to plan your next session.
Need some extra practice?
I also create CIPS practice questions and video courses. You can see what’s available on my Udemy instructor page. They’re optional extras alongside your usual CIPS study materials.
Study Procurement is an independent learning resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CIPS.
