Dyslexic learners typically have strong visual-spatial reasoning and big-picture thinking — real advantages in science and business — but can struggle with dense text, sequential processing and working memory load. The techniques below are chosen specifically for a visual learner with dyslexia. Each one appears as a labelled activity in the daily planner sessions so you know exactly what to do when you sit down to revise.
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Blurt
Retrieval · Low-text
Take a completely blank page. Set a timer for 8 minutes. Write, draw or scribble everything you can remember about the topic — no notes, no books. Don't worry about spelling or neat sentences; use keywords, arrows, rough diagrams, anything visual. When the timer stops, go back to your notes and mark in a bright colour everything you missed. That gap is your priority. Repeat at end of week.
★ Best for: All subjects. Especially powerful for Biology cycles (e.g. Krebs cycle) and Business frameworks (e.g. Porter's 5 forces). Works because it forces retrieval — the single most evidence-based study technique.
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Mind Map
Visual · Spatial
Draw the topic name in a central circle. Branch outward to key concepts, then sub-branch to details. Use a different colour per branch. Include tiny icons or symbols instead of long words — a lightning bolt for electricity, a leaf for photosynthesis. Crucially: draw it from memory first, then check and add missed branches in red. Keep the map — it becomes a one-page visual summary you can photograph and review.
★ Best for: Biology Units 1–4 (complex interconnected content), Business strategy topics. Dyslexia UK specifically recommend this over linear notes.
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Diagram Draw
Visual · Kinaesthetic
Cover your textbook. Redraw the key diagram for this topic from scratch — label every part. For Biology: cell ultrastructure, the Z-scheme, the heart, nephron, synapse. For Physics: circuit diagrams, wave diagrams, field line patterns. For Business: decision trees, cash flow tables. Diagrams bypass the reading barrier entirely and build the visual memory that examiners love to see labelled accurately.
★ Best for: Physics (fields, waves), Biology (all cycles and systems). High-value technique: WJEC frequently asks students to draw, annotate or complete diagrams.
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Flashcard Sprint
Spaced · Quick
Use Anki (free app) or physical cards — max 10 words per card, with a simple image or diagram on the back instead of a paragraph. Run through 15–20 cards in 10 minutes. Cards you get wrong go back in the pile; cards you get right get shelved for 3 days. The physical act of handling cards adds a kinaesthetic layer that helps memory stick. Use different coloured cards per subject.
★ Best for: Physics equations, Biology definitions, Business Welsh terminology. Spaced repetition is the most efficient memorisation method — Anki automates the spacing for you.
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Past Q
Exam Technique
Pick one past paper question on this topic — ideally 6–10 marks. Underline the command word (describe, explain, evaluate, calculate). Plan your answer in a quick spider diagram or bullet list first, then write. Use the mark scheme immediately after — not to mark yourself, but to see the exact language WJEC expects. Highlight any exam language you didn't use. For Business: answers must be in Welsh so also check your written Welsh accuracy.
★ Best for: All subjects in the 6 weeks before exams. WJEC past papers are free at wjec.co.uk — start from 2019 onwards for most relevant format.
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Voice Note
Auditory · Multisensory
Record yourself on your phone explaining the topic as if teaching it to a Year 10 student. Aim for 3–5 minutes. Don't read — speak from memory. Listen back on your way to school, during lunch, or before sleep. This technique is gold for dyslexic learners: it turns revision into an audio experience, sidesteps the reading load, and the act of explaining forces you to understand rather than memorise words.
★ Best for: Biology processes (respiration, photosynthesis, homeostasis), Physics theory questions. Also great for Business Welsh — record key Welsh terms and their explanations, listen while commuting.
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Sketch Note
Creative · Visual
Replace traditional notes with a one-page illustrated summary. For each key concept, draw a small icon or quick sketch instead of writing a sentence. Use arrows to show cause and effect. Add colour to show different categories. This isn't art — rough is fine. The drawing process forces you to think about what the concept actually means. Photograph your sketch notes and review them as images on your phone.
★ Best for: First encounter with a new topic. Business strategy models (PESTLE, SWOT, Porter's) work brilliantly as sketch notes. Biology's nervous system, heart, kidney all suit this.
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Walk & Talk
Kinaesthetic · Auditory
Go for a 20–30 minute walk — outside if possible. Bring a single index card with the topic name and 5 key words only. As you walk, talk through the topic out loud. The physical movement activates different parts of the brain, reduces anxiety, and improves working memory recall — well evidenced for both dyslexic and non-dyslexic learners. Works especially well the day before an exam for consolidation.
★ Best for: Consolidation sessions 1–2 days before an exam. Very effective for Physics topics that need conceptual understanding (fields, SHM, nuclear decay).
