This document provides guidance to students preparing for their GCSE exams. It begins by asking students to reflect on their mock exam results and identify things that went well and could be improved. It then outlines important steps for effective exam revision, including starting revision now, creating a schedule with focused study times in a distraction-free location, and using active study techniques like rewriting notes and testing comprehension. Sample revision timetables are also included to help students structure their preparation during both regular school and upcoming study leave periods. The overall message is that focused, well-planned study is crucial for success in the final GCSE exams.

1. We can do it!
Year 11
Preparing for the final stage of your GCSEs

2. You have had your mock results. You are
either feeling:
– Elated
– Disappointed
– Quietly confident
– In a state of panic
Hopefully, none of you are feeling nothing!
Let’s take a few moments to reflect on
and learn from mock results day.

3. Mocks – how was it for you?
1. Did you get the grades you were expecting in your mocks?
Much better than I Generally what I Generally worse than Much worse than what
expected expected what I expected I expected
2. Describe your feelings when you received your results
Pleased on the whole,
More disappointed
Really happy the odd Really disappointed
than happy
disappointment
3. List three things that you did to prepare for the mocks that went really well and that you
would do again as you prepare for the real exams.
1.
2.
3.
4. List three things that you need to avoid doing as you prepare for the real exams
1.
2.
3.

4. 5.List the subjects that you intend to improve upon before coursework deadlines or GCSE
exams start.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. What are you going to do to improve on these?
 Focus in class
 Be more positive
 Don’t distract others or get distracted
 Put time and effort into coursework
 Do all my homework to the best of my ability
 Reduce the amount of time I go out in the evening
 Attend after school revision sessions
 Ask for help when I get stuck
 Buy the revision guides I need
 Organise my notes
 Turn off FB, COD, BB until I have finished my work

5. Either way, it is absolutely crucial that
you approach the final stages of your
GCSEs focused, motivated and with a
clear idea how to time manage for
coursework assignments and how to
prepare thoroughly and effectively for
your exams.

6. 4 steps to perfect revision
Task 1 -In 2/3’s come up with
your list of 4 things important
for effective revision

7. Step 1: When?
• Start now!
• Experiment to find the
best time of day for
your concentration
then keep that time
slot for your revision
and nothing else
• Do not cram the night
before your exam

8. GCSE Timelines
Monday 14th May – Wednesday 27th June
From Today
13 ½ school weeks
(we are currently 13 ½ weeks in)
68 School Days
(we have done 70 so far)

9. Step 2: What?
• Get a list of topics from
each of your teachers
• Highlight your
weaknesses
• Start at the beginning of
each list and follow the
list in order

10. Step 3:Where?
• Quiet room with a desk or table
Avoid:
• TV
• Computer games
• PSP Ask yourself this:
• Wii “would you rather
• Facebook do badly or
• Distractions! worse, fail an
exam, for the sake
of FB chatting or
COD Black Ops?”

11. Step 4:How? part (i)
• Plan your time – make a revision
timetable
• Get the things you will need – revision
guides, class notes, helpful websites,
past papers, equipment especially pen
and paper
• Revise for 40 minute slots then have a
break

12. Step 4: How? part (ii)
• Re-write notes
• Condense notes into bullet points
or mind maps
• Highlight important information
• Use silly stories or mnemonics to
memorise lists of information or
facts
• Read notes out loud
• Test yourself or get someone to test you
• Re-read your notes
• Attempt a past paper. Get it marked and ask for
feedback
• Ask your teacher for help if you get stuck

13. Today is the first day of the rest of
your GCSEs, so let’s make a start.
Task 1
Highlight your exams on the exam calendar on the next page.
Task 2
Can you recall your learning style, what does it mean?
Task 3
Working backwards from each exam date, complete your
revision timetable.
Task 4
Start your revision this week. Use the top tips from your
subject teachers to help you.

14. Being clear about what your schedule will be for the months ahead will
help you to prepare both mentally and physically for the exam season.
Provisional Exams Calendar

17. Visual learners need diagrams, mind maps, DVD clips
Aural learners need to hear it, say it, sing it
Read/write learners need to read it, write it, write it
again without looking
Kinaesthetic learners need to make it, act it, use
interactive ICT, do exam questions

18. Weekday Revision Timetable
Before study leave
Time Suggestion What are you going to do
16:00 Get home, have a snack & drink
16:15 Do any homework you have been set
17:15 Relax time
Meet up with friends, Facebook, Twitter,
games
18:00 Revise subject A
18:45 Dinner
19:15 Revise subject B
20:00 Test yourself on what you have
revised this evening
20:30 Relax time – watch TV
21:45 Go to bed & get at least 8 hours sleep

19. Study Leave Revision Timetable
Time Suggestion Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Baked beans
09:00 – on toast for
breakfast
10:15
Maths
Remember
10:30 – to get a
11:15 drink!
English
11:30 – Science
12:15 Don’t take
the break
and get a
12:30 – longer
lunch!
13:15
LUNCH
14:00 –
Option A
14:45
Go for a
15:00 – quick walk
15:45 to wake up
Option B
Time for a reward – Facebook, Twitter, gaming
19:00 –
Option C
20:00
Relax