If your GCSEs are fast approaching, the word revision may fill you with dread.
But don’t panic!
GCSE revision isn’t rocket science. Here’s how to revise for GCSEs in 10 simple steps, so you can walk into that exam room feeling calm and confident when your exams roll around.
How to revise well for GCSE: 10 steps to success
Here’s how to revise for your GCSEs in 10 simple steps.
1. Start early
Getting started is often the hardest part.
But don’t put it off. There’s no better time to start revising for your GCSE exams than right now!
After all, the longer you give yourself, the more time you’ll have to get comfortable with all the content that could come up in your exams – and the less panicked you’ll feel in those final weeks!
If starting your revision feels daunting, a great first step is to spend 10 minutes recapping what you’ve learned in class after each lesson.
Go over your notes, check you understand everything, and maybe even try a couple of practice questions. It’s a great way to refresh your memory and will save you a ton of time later down the line.
Plus, it’ll give you the chance to spot any areas where you could use some extra help before you head off on study leave.
2. Know what to expect
It’s impossible to plan for something if you don’t know what to expect.
Knowing exactly what content could come up in each of your exams will allow you to tick everything off in your revision and avoid any nasty surprises on exam day.
Each subject and exam board will work differently.
Plus, some subjects offer both higher and foundation tier courses – like science and maths.
With that in mind, we always recommend printing off the exact specifications for each of your GCSE courses.
This way, you’ll know important details like…
- How many papers you’ll sit
- What will be covered in each paper
- How long each exam will last
- How much each paper is worth
- What you’ll be marked on
Once you know what to expect, you can make sure you’re fully prepared for every eventuality!
3. Make a solid revision timetable
Creating a revision timetable is a must.
Unless you’re simply retaking a GCSE or two, you’ll likely have lots of different subjects to revise for – and lots of different topics to study for each of them.
Dividing your time fairly between all of them can take some careful planning.
- Check your exam schedule
- Calculate how much time you have to study
- Decide which subjects and topics you need to spend the most time on
- Allocate time to each subject and topic
- Stick to your timetable and revise!
By creating – and sticking to – a revision timetable, you’ll be able to keep your revision on track, cover everything you need to, and even stress less knowing you have a solid plan in place!
Just bear in mind that even the best plans can go awry. Some subjects or topics might take longer than you expected, while others might be a lot quicker.
The important thing is not to panic – keep adjusting your timetable to reflect where you’re at in your learning. This way, you can make sure your revision timetable is working for you and not against you!
4. Set up your study space
It’s important to make sure you have a space where you can revise productively, without distractions.
Setting up the perfect study space will look different for every learner – after all, no two learners are the same.
However, here are some ideas.
- Tidy your study space
- Keep distractions at bay (eg. your phone!)
- Make sure it’s comfortable
- Get the lighting right – and try to maximise natural light as much as possible
- Set your noise levels – depending on how you work best, this could mean total silence, or grabbing a pair of headphones with a soothing soundscape
- Pin up your revision timetable
- Have a clock handy (so you’re not constantly checking your phone for the time)
- Have water and healthy snacks on hand
- Keep your revision supplies (eg. pens and post-it notes) within easy reach
- Keep your space clean and clutter-free
Of course, it can help to create a comfortable environment that makes you want to spend time studying.
But don’t spend ages making your study space – or your notes – look pretty. This can easily turn into a form of procrastination and eat into valuable revision time!
5. Set goals
Setting goals will give you something tangible to work towards and keep you motivated, which is so important.
With that in mind, take the time to outline SMART goals – meaning goals that are…
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
In particular, make sure to set short-term goals as well as long-term ones. That way, you can more easily track your progress and understand where you’re at in your learning.
Oh, and remember to reward yourself too!
Whether it’s a trip to the cinema or preparing your favourite meal at the end of the day, giving yourself a pat on the back when you deserve it most will help you to feel engaged and positive about your progress.
Top tip: Rewarding yourself for reaching small goals can help to keep you motivated.
“Incremental steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day!
“If you’ve remembered something that you didn’t know last week then you’re one step further along your journey than you were last week.”
– Matthew B, Maths and English GCSE tutor
6. Pace yourself
Revision is a marathon, not a sprint.
So, avoid cramming and, instead, focus on pacing yourself.
Revising little and often can prevent you from burning out. It also tends to help learners achieve the best results.
For instance, you could set a timer at 20-minute intervals and take breaks in between.
Or, you could plan your revision around ‘power hours.’
Revision power hours have five simple steps:
- Choose a past paper question (or an extract from a question)
- Revise the content you need to know to answer that question
- Do the question
- Mark your answer using the mark scheme from the exam board’s website
- Check how good your marking is with your teacher or a GCSE tutor
Remember, when it comes to revision, quality is more important than quantity.
By planning really productive revision sessions, regardless of how short, you can make sure you’re prepared for your exams without burning yourself out.
After all, there’s only so much a brain can assimilate in a day!
“I would say don’t cram, take 20-minute study sessions then take a break.
“Get some fresh air and exercise to help with pent up energy or nerves too.”
– Katherine R, English GCSE tutor
7. Ask for help
To reach the highest grades in your GCSEs, you can’t just regurgitate what you’ve learned word for word.
Rather, you’ll need to fully understand everything fully.
Plus, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’ve developed other skills, such as analytical skills, communication skills or problem solving skills (depending on the subject).
With this in mind, if there’s anything you don’t quite ‘get’ while you’re preparing for your exams, don’t struggle alone.
Instead, ask for help from a teacher – or, get an expert tutor to bring the subject to life and demystify any complex topics you’re struggling to wrap your head around.
A GCSE tutor will take the time to explain things in a way that will click for you, and they’ll plan each session around your strengths and weaknesses to make sure they can make the biggest difference in the smallest amount of time.
It’s a great way to improve your GCSE grades and boost your confidence ahead of exam season!
“Even at the eleventh hour, a touch of guidance and a sprinkle of understanding can illuminate complex concepts, turning uncertainties into strengths.
“I focus on identifying key areas where students need the most help and reinforcing their understanding with clear explanations and practice questions.“
– Steven R, Science and Maths GCSE tutor
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
8. Try out a range of revision techniques
Every student is different.
So, it’s important to think about your learning style and utilise the revision techniques that work best for you.
For instance, are you a visual learner? In which case, diagrams and mind maps can be a great way to help you process information. You might also benefit from using colour when making revision notes.
Or, perhaps you’re an auditory learner? In this case, you likely learn best from listening – so, recording your revision notes and listening to them back can be a great help.
Here are some revision techniques you could try:
- Making flashcards
- Sticking post-it notes around the home
- Creating mind maps
- Teaching someone else
- Getting someone to test you
- Speaking content back in your own words
- Recording your revision notes and listening to them on the go
- Forming a study group
- Exploring revision resources (eg. apps, podcasts, YouTube videos and websites)
Top tip: You don’t just have to use one or two revision techniques! Rather, mixing it up can help to keep you focused and engaged.
9. Regularly attempt past papers
Practice makes perfect!
No matter what kind of learner you are, completing past papers and practice tests can be a huge boost to your revision.
They can…
- Familiarise you with the types of questions you might come across in the real thing
- Allow you to practise managing your time
- Give you valuable practice with exam technique
- Get you used to dealing with exam pressure
- Boost your confidence for the big day
- Reveal where you’re at in your learning
After completing a past paper, mock exam or practice test, always go through it to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.
This way, you can tweak your revision schedule to focus on those areas that need it most.
Top tip: You can download past papers for your subjects and exam board right here on the Tutorful website!
“I would always favour past paper revision over staring into textbooks.
“Seeing how concepts are applied in question form can be very useful. However, this can differ for some students.”
– Matthew B, Maths and English GCSE tutor
10. Look after yourself
Last – but definitely not least! – don’t get so wrapped up in revision that you forget to look after yourself.
You need to make sure you’re giving your brain the fuel it needs to learn best. So, staying up late revising can often do more harm than good.
Instead, make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well and getting plenty of fresh air and exercise.
We’ve touched on breaks already, but taking time away from your desk and planning activities you enjoy are also vital.
And, perhaps most importantly, try your best to get in the right mindset ahead of the exams.
- Don’t overcriticise yourself
- Focus on progress, not perfection!
- Talk to friends and family if you’re struggling
- Manage your expectations
At the end of the day, you can be proud of yourself for working hard, whatever the outcome. And, whatever happens, life will go on!
“Talk to family and friends and manage your expectations but don’t focus on over criticising yourself. Watch those negative little voices in your head!
“Know that you have worked hard and therefore tried your best.”
– Katherine R, English GCSE tutor
Find a tutor to help you revise for GCSE
Whatever grades you’re hoping for in your GCSEs, you don’t have to tackle your revision alone.
A GCSE tutor will have the tools, knowledge and experience needed to motivate you, boost your confidence and help you achieve the grades you’re after.
From tailor-made plans to practice exams, they’ll give you the one-to-one attention and dedicated time you won’t usually get at school, to ensure you reach your full potential.
FAQs
When to revise for GCSEs?
It’s never too early to start revising for your GCSEs. In an ideal world, we’d recommend starting at least six months before your exams – but starting even earlier can give you an even bigger headstart!
How to revise for GCSEs in a month?
If you only have a month left before your GCSEs start, here’s how to revise:
- Check your exam schedule
- Calculate how much time you can set aside each day for studying
- Decide which subjects and topics you need to spend the most time on
- Allocate time to each subject and topic
Then, start revising and stick to your timetable to make sure you’re on track to have everything ticked off before the exams start.
How to revise for GCSEs in 3 weeks?
If you only have 3 weeks left to revise for your GCSEs, we’d recommend completing practice papers for each of your subjects.
Then, go through your papers to identify your strengths and weaknesses and make a revision timetable that prioritises the areas where there’s the most room for improvement.
How to revise for GCSEs in 2 weeks?
Ideally, we’d recommend leaving yourself much longer than 2 weeks to revise for your GCSEs. However, if you only have 2 weeks left, consider planning your revision around ‘power hours.’
Here’s what that involves:
- Choose a past paper question (or an extract from a question)
- Revise the content you need to know to answer that question
- Do the question
- Mark your answer using the mark scheme from the exam board’s website
- Check how good your marking is with your teacher or tutor
This is a great way to focus your revision and ensure that all the time you have left is productive.
How to revise for GCSEs in a week?
We would always advise leaving yourself much longer than a week to revise for your GCSEs. However, if you’ve left your revision until the last-minute, the most powerful tool you have is past papers.
Complete past papers for all your subjects. Then, comb through your answers to identify your biggest weaknesses and use any remaining time you have left to fill in those gaps.
How much to revise for GCSE?
Every learner is different so there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to how much you should revise for GCSE.
However, as a general guide, it’s a good idea to leave yourself at least an hour of revision per topic.
So to give you an idea, if a subject covers 50 topics, this would mean doing 50 hours of revision for that subject alone. Hence why it’s important to start early!
How to revise quickly for GCSE?
Completing past papers tends to be the most efficient way of revising quickly for GCSE.
This is because you can get a really good idea of where you’re at in your learning, and then just focus on those areas that need improvement.
What is the best way to revise for GCSE?
The best way to revise for GCSE will differ from learner to learner. However, some popular revision techniques include:
- Making flashcards
- Sticking post-it notes around the home
- Creating mind maps
- Teaching someone else
- Getting someone to test you
- Speaking content back in your own words
- Recording your revision notes and listening to them on the go
- Forming a study group
- Exploring revision resources (eg. apps, podcasts, YouTube videos and websites)
Always take the time to figure out which revision techniques work best for you and your learning style.
How many hours a day should you revise for GCSE?
In an ideal world, we’d recommend revising for no more than 4 hours a day for your GCSEs. However, in order to make this possible, you’ll need to start early!
Ultimately, how many hours a day you’ll need to revise will depend on lots of different factors, like how early you start, your learning style, and how many subjects you’re taking.
What are the 5 hardest GCSEs?
It’s impossible to say for sure which are the hardest GCSEs, as this will all depend on your skillset and preferences.
That said, some subjects that are widely considered to be particularly difficult include:
- Maths
- Further maths
- Science (physics, chemistry and biology)
- English literature
- Modern foreign languages
How to get all 9s in GCSE?
The best way to get all 9s in GCSE is through hard work and careful planning.
- Start revising early
- Make sure you understand every topic inside out
- Ask for help if there’s anything you’re struggling with
- Regularly set goals for improvement in each subject
- Keep attempting past papers until you consistently get 9s
A GCSE tutor can also help you reach your goals with tailored lesson plans that take into account your strengths and weaknesses.
