How can I revise for the unseen poetry part of the exam?

Despite not being able to see the poem beforehand, there are several ways to prepare such that a strong critical opinion can be methodically formed, regardless as to whether its true ‘meaning’ is immediately apparent. In fact, with regards to getting top marks, the poet’s actual intention is somewhat irrelevant - analyses of poetry are always in contention with each other, and your points, if well argued with textual evidence, are no less worthwhile than those of top literary critics. A thorough revision of the formal features of poetry i.e form, rhyme scheme, meter, rhetorical devices and diction, and how these can implicate meaning will provide you with a mental checklist, through which you can systematically analyse the poem and, in finding connections between such features, form a cohesive analysis. It is therefore of critical importance to be familiar with a wide range of terminology and regularly practice close analysis using such terminology, allowing the extrapolation of meaning from a poem’s formal features to become second nature. Such revision will, in the situation of a confusing unseen poem, equip you with the skills to quickly form ideas as to what such features could suggest in conjunction with the poem’s diction, for instance that harsh consonance often illustrates a jarring scene, or that free verse can be suggestive of a persona’s disordered mental state. Through this process a general sense of theme or tone will emerge, providing a framework through you can skilfully develop an insightful close analysis.