Translation revision is an important step in the translation workflow. However, translation revision competence remains ill-defined. After identifying what is understood by 'revision' in a translation context and discussing the theoretical translation revision competence (TRC) model previously designed by the authors, this article analyses and interprets the results of an empirical pilot study designed to test the presence of the tools and research subcompetence hypothesised in the TRC model. An experiment with 21 master-level translation and/or language students was carried out: the experimental group was given revision training as a form of treatment and the control group was not. The TRC subcompetence under investigation was tested adopting a pretest-posttest experimental design. Both groups performed four controlled revision tasks and their revision process was keylogged. The results, subjected to quantitative statistical analyses, show that revisers and translators use the same tools, as hypothesised, but that they use these tools differently.