I was chatting with my daughter and her friends the other day about GCSE revision. They’ve just started Year 11, and mentioned that whilst they know they need to start revising, they just don’t know how to begin. Every time they pick up their books, they feel overwhelmed or get distracted, and end up avoiding it altogether.
To help my daughter, her friends, and other Year 11 students (and their parents) who are feeling overwhelmed right now, here are some helpful tips to kickstart your teens GCSE revision.
Tip 1: GCSE Mock Exam Results
Your mock exam results are a great way to identify what you know, how well you know it, and what you don’t know. They also show how good your exam technique is. How well you’ve understood the questions and how you articulate your answers to gain maximum marks. Use these results to structure your revision timetable, prioritising the subjects you don’t know as well to boost your exam performance.
Tip 2: Say No to Procrastination
To help you stay on track and boost your productivity whilst revising try and incorporate some, if not all of these when revising:ย
- ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐น๐: Break down your revision into manageable tasks. Set specific, achievable goals for each session.
- ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐น๐ฒ: Plan your revision timetable and stick to it. Consistency is key.
- ๐๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐: Find a quiet, comfortable study space. Keep your phone and other distractions out of reach.
- ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐: Donโt burn out! Use the Pomodoro Technique โ study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break, repeat 3 times and then take a longer break.
- ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ: Keeping a positive mindset will help you believe in your ability to succeed.ย
Tip 3: GCSE Practice Papers
Regularly test your knowledge with past papers to understand and memorise information. To get hold of past papers just visit your subject exam board website i.e.ย AQA,ย ย Edexcel,ย WRECย or Eduqas each will have a selection of past papers (including marking schemes) available to download.
Working through past papers independently will help you identify which topics you know really well, but also help you figure out where your gaps are and where you need to focus.ย
Set yourself the same time limits as in the real exam to see if you can complete the paper, if not figure out where you’re going wrong. Remember to check the marking scheme to identify what you got right and wrong, so that you can learn from your mistakes. This will also help you understand how the examiner wants answers to be presented and helps develop your answering skills.
Tip 4: Vary GCSE Revision Resources
Using various GCSE revision resources can make you revision more interesting and effective. Some useful resources include:
- Websites: BBC Bitesize, Corbett Maths,ย Seneca, Cognito
- Quizzes: Quizlet, Save My Exams.
- Revision books: CGP, York Notes (for English Lit & Lang)
- Flashcards:ย Quizlet, Anki
- Podcasts: Educational podcasts can supplement and deepen your understanding of the subjects you’re studying.
Tip 5: Energy Boosters for getting exam ready
Preparing for your GCSEs can be a busy and stressful time and sometimes you may miss a meal or stay up late to try and get as much done as possible. It’s vital you look after yourself, eat right and get plenty of rest, otherwise you’ll become overwhelmed or burnt out.- Breakfast – Studies suggest that not having breakfast affects mental performance. Eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast will improve your concentration, memory and energy levels, making you more alert.
- Refuelling on healthy brain boosting snacks (berries, nuts) every 3-4 hours will help you to stay alert. Avoid sugary foods like chocolate, as this will give a sudden burst of energy but can cause an energy crash shortly afterwards.ย You could always save the chocolate bar for when you finish your session, as a reward for getting stuff done!
- Water – staying hydrated is vital for keeping your brain alert, healthy and functioning at its best.
- Breaks & exercise – Physically moving can boost memory, improve focus and concentration, and increase energy levels. All of which can help revision, so make sure to factor in regular breaks and exercise when planning your revision timetable.
- Sleep – Remember that our brains don’t work well when we’re tired, and revising can be exhausting. According to the National Sleep Foundation, getting a full eight hours of sleep each night boosts creativity, improves attention and enables problem-solving, so get sleeping!
Let’s Kickstart Your GCSE Revision
Starting your revision can feel overwhelming, but by following these tips, you can create a structured and effective revision plan, setting yourself up for success. Let me know in the comments how you get on and what else you do to get yourself exam-ready….Good luck!
If you need help with GCSE revision at any point throughout your revision journey, why not get in touch, we have experienced tutors here to help.