Dual coding & drawing: A-level revision with words and pictures
Pair diagrams with text to encode memories twice — evidence-backed for exam recall
Dual coding means storing the same idea in verbal form (words, explanations) and visual form (diagrams, timelines, sketches). A-level specs are full of processes, models, and relationships that are easier to retrieve in the exam if you’ve linked language to images — not just reread paragraphs.
Evidence from cognitive science
Clark & Paivio’s dual coding theory explains how verbal and nonverbal codes combine to support learning and memory of school material. Separately, Wammes, Meade & Fernandes (2016) showed across multiple experiments that drawing information produced stronger free recall than writing — often more than twice as many items remembered — even when drawings were quick and rough. Evidence: https://link.springer.com/doi/10.1007/BF01320076 — https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1080/17470218.2015.1094494
Subject-specific ideas
- Biology / chemistry: label a blank diagram from memory, then check against the mark scheme
- History / politics: timeline with causes and consequences as branches
- Business / economics: flowcharts for decision chains, market structures, or evaluation frameworks
- Psychology: sketch study designs (IV, DV, conditions) next to one-line results
A simple dual-coding routine
- Read or review a concept in words
- Close the book and draw the idea in under 60 seconds — stick figures and arrows are fine
- Compare your drawing to the correct version and fix errors
- Next revision session: redraw from memory before rereading
Pretty notes are optional. Accurate, minimal sketches that you can reproduce in the exam are what matter.