How to Structure Your Time in the Lead-Up to A-level and GCSE Exams

Exams are here and at this point you are probably looking for the best way to spend your time in these last few days and weeks. Maybe you have been completing past papers for months, maybe you’ve completed all the content but you’re just getting started on past papers, or perhaps you’re having a bit of a panic now because you have done no revision and your exams are very soon. Not to worry, this guide will cover all these scenarios and help you make the best of the time you have left. Stay calm; studying methodically and sensibly will get you to where you need to be.

Past papers at this point are absolutely key. Complete as many as you can and mark them yourself so you can see what examiners are awarding marks for. For humanities, this is going to be about the clarity of your work, showing that you really understand the content and that you know how to apply your knowledge. For the sciences and maths, the mark schemes are even more important; they will show you exactly what examiners award marks for, how they want you to set out your working, and what keywords you need to be including in your answers for top marks. If you have already been completing past papers then keep at it. Mark them yourself; get your friends to mark them; ask your teachers to mark them; have us mark them for you. Whatever you do, get as much feedback as possible on how you can improve your work. Try to sit your papers under timed conditions so you can ensure that you will be able to complete your exam paper in time.

If you haven’t yet started on past papers but you have covered all the content, now is the time to start. It is always good to have covered the content in depth, but notes will only get you so far when it comes to applying your knowledge in the specific way that examiners are looking for. Year-to-year, the content of exam papers does not change hugely; the same types of questions are asked and the same themes are present. Completing exam papers will embed a certain way of working, and when it comes to the exam, the familiarity with how the questions are presented will allow you to relax and help you to remember the specifics of the content you have covered.

Now, there will be some of you who have not covered any content at all, other than what was taught in school, and you are probably feeling slightly apprehensive. It is not too late. It’s time to get stuck into your textbook. For each section, have a quick read of the relevant pages and then close your book. Make as many notes as you can on the topic and then open your book again and fill in everything that you have missed. This method of active recall is really effective for making sure that you remember the content. Once you have done this for every section in your textbook, which should take a couple of days at most, you should complete a past paper. Review this past paper very carefully with the mark scheme and identify which topics you haven’t mastered. It’s fine if this is all of them. Go back to your textbook and repeat the process until the day of your exam. If you have more than one exam to prepare for, split your time between the subjects. As soon as you get tired of studying one subject, switch to another. This will help you to study for a longer period of time and is a proven way to improve how well you remember information. If you’re not sure how to interpret the mark scheme or how well your answer matches up, we’re here to help. Send in your past papers and we can offer detailed feedback to help you improve and show you where you might be going wrong.

We’ve covered what you should be doing now, but how about when? There are some great resources for creating study timetables; Get Revising and Save My Exams are effective options that combine teaching resources with the timetable. If you are making your own timetable, keep it simple. Aim for two or three focused study blocks per day, each lasting for a couple of hours, with proper breaks in between. A short walk, a snack, or even ten minutes of doing nothing will reset your concentration far more effectively than scrolling on your phone. Prioritise the subjects you find most difficult earlier in the day when your focus is highest, and leave lighter tasks, like reviewing your notes or re‑reading feedback, for later on in the day.

Stay calm, stay consistent, and trust the process. Every hour spent working with purpose will move you closer to the grades you’re aiming for. Good luck!