If you’re preparing for a big educational milestone like your GCSEs or A Levels, you’ll have mocks to contend with first. But what are mock exams exactly? And how much do they actually matter?
Here, we’ll explain all and reveal six reasons why – contrary to what you might think – mock exams are really, really important.
What are mock exams?
A mock exam is a practice exam that’s meant to give you an idea of what to expect in the real thing.
If you’re preparing for your GCSEs or your A Levels, you’ll normally sit a couple of rounds of mock exams to make sure you’re fully prepared.
Normally, you’ll sit one round of GCSE mock exams at the end of Year 10, and then another in January of Year 11.
Similarly, when it comes to your A Levels, you’ll typically sit one round of mock exams at the end of Year 12 and then another in January of Year 13.
Mock exams are useful for both you and your teachers.
Firstly, they help your teachers to understand where you’re at in your learning, so they know what they need to work on in class.
And secondly, they give you a chance to practise for the real thing – which should be an essential part of your exam preparation.
Are mock exams important?
Yes! Mock exams may not be the real deal, but they’re a lot more important than you might think.
This is especially the case for January mock exams, which you’ll sit just a few months before the real exams roll around.
Here’s why mock exams really matter.
1. Experience exam conditions
Mock exams are often the only chance students will have to practise for the real thing under exam conditions.
Yes, you can time yourself completing past papers at home – but it’s not the same as sitting in an exam hall surrounded by your peers.
A mock exam will give you a chance to experience the pressure, atmosphere and nerves you’re likely to face in your real GCSE and A Level exams, so you can know what to expect.
2. Hone your exam preparation
It’s not just about the exam itself – mock exams will also give you valuable practice at exam preparation.
After all, you’ll need to create a revision timetable, juggle studying for several different subjects and have a go at learning material using your preferred revision techniques – just as you’ll have to for the real thing.
If you find that you haven’t left yourself enough time to feel properly prepared – or that some of the revision techniques you’ve chosen haven’t worked for you – you can learn from your mistakes and adjust your preparation tactics before the real exams.
Head over to our blog on mock test preparation to learn more.
3. Sharpen your exam technique
Exam technique is just as crucial to success as subject knowledge. In particular, lots of students struggle with time management in an exam setting.
Mock exams are an important opportunity for you to practise time management and develop coping strategies.
For instance, how can you divide your time up to make sure you complete the whole paper? And how do you know when it’s time to move on from a question you’re stuck on?
You might not get it all right the first time around, which is why mocks are here for you to try things out and find the way that works best for you.
4. Pinpoint strengths and weaknesses
Mock exams can give you an accurate indication of where you’re at with your learning.
You can use your marks to work out where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and to establish what you need to work on most before the real exams.
In this way, it should inform your revision strategy moving forwards.
Your teachers at school or college will also use your grades to work out what they need to cover in more detail in the classroom – although it’s worth noting that they’ll usually focus on areas that large proportions of the class have struggled with, which may not be the same areas that you need extra support with.
That’s why getting a tutor to help can be invaluable. They’ll work with you one-on-one on the areas where you need to make the most improvements before your real exams roll around.
5. Predicted grades
Your mock exam results will help your teachers to work out your predicted grades.
While predicted grades aren’t everything, they’re often used by sixth form colleges and universities when they’re deciding which students to offer places to.
So, it’s definitely worth doing your best in your mocks to show your teachers what you’re capable of – instead of saving it all for the real thing.
It’s also worth mentioning that in 2020 and 2021, when exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, students received grades based on teacher assessments – which were calculated using evidence including mock exam results.
Hopefully, there isn’t another pandemic on the cards! But it does show that your mock exam results could end up being more important than you might think.
6. Build confidence
Last but not least, mocks can be a fantastic opportunity to build confidence and reduce exam anxiety.
They’ll give you a chance to confront your fears in a controlled environment, which can be a great boost to your self-esteem.
Plus, if they go well, they’ll give you reassurance that you’re on the right track with your learning and exam preparation.
In this way, they can help to calm your nerves and ensure that you’re ready to walk into the real thing feeling calm and positive.
Ace your mock exam preparation
As you can see, treating your mock exams as if they were the real deal will give you the best chance of success in the long run.
So, it’s important that you take your mock exams seriously and spend proper time preparing for them.
But you don’t need to do it alone.
Our handpicked tutors can help to give you the skills, confidence and practice you need to reach your full potential in your mock exams and beyond.
It takes just 8 hours of tutoring on average to move up one GCSE grade!
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FAQs
Are Year 11 mocks important?
Yes! Your Year 11 mocks are the last chance you’ll have to practise for your real GCSEs under proper exam conditions. In this way, they’re an important opportunity to hone your skills, and they’ll also inform your predicted grades.
What is the purpose of mock exams?
The purpose of mock exams is two-fold. First, they help your teachers – and you – to understand where you’re at in your learning. And secondly, they give you a chance to practise for the real thing, which should be an essential part of your exam preparation.
Do mock exam results matter?
Yes. Your mock exam results won’t count towards your grade, but they still matter as they give you an idea of what you need to work on before the real thing. Plus, your mock exam results are often used to calculate your predicted grades.
Is it okay to fail a mock exam?
You should try your best in your mock exams but if you fail, it’s not the end of the world. After all, mocks are designed on purpose to give you a chance to try out your skills in a controlled environment before the real deal.
The important thing is to learn from your mistakes so you can improve on your performance for the real deal.
Are mocks harder than the real exam?
No, mock exams aren’t harder than the real exam. Instead, they’re especially designed to be as similar as possible.
If you find your mocks harder, this might be because you’re facing them without the extra few months of learning time that you’ll have before the real exam.
Should I take mocks seriously?
Yes! Taking your mocks seriously will give you a clear idea of where you’re at in your learning and what you need to work on before the real thing. So, it’ll give you the best chance of success in the long run.
Can I skip mocks?
No. Skipping your mocks will mean you miss out on valuable practice for the real thing. If you miss your mocks for whatever reason, you’ll normally need to arrange to take them at a later date.
