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Families with teenagers in the house will need no reminders that the SQA exams begin in less than a month.

The angst. The fevered brows. And perhaps, for once, a legitimate excuse for not helping out with household chores.

I went to Tynecastle High in Edinburgh to find out about revision myths and effective tips on how best to prepare for the big tests.

Professor Sergio Della Sala, Professor of Human Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh, has been visiting the school to advise students on the best way to revise.

Based in a shiny new building in the capital's inner city, the school has strategies of its own with mentors, pep talks and revision classes during the Easter holidays.

But the fourth year pupils are all ears when it comes to further guidance from the brain scientist.

His first lesson: if you want to do well in exams you've got to embrace testing.

The professor told students: "The only way to really learn is to put the book away and test yourself, or test your buddy, or better yet, explain what you have just learnt to somebody else - a victim - younger brother, sister, your granny."

He added: "Total time studied is important, but you need to pace the time so rather than mass studying four hours per day, you study one hour per day the same topic."

Tom Rae, Tynecastle High School's head teacher, has a word for parents too.

"Help the students keep things in perspective, help them with the planning advice and provide them with structure, the quiet places to learn.

"Also ask questions, become the critical friend they can test themselves against, but without trying to get too involved in actually the teaching of it, or constantly trying to remind them that they've got to study all the time.

"I think it is more about the support and the calming."

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Learning has more tips for Scottish pupils and students on the Bitesize and Brainsmart sites.