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Revision guide

How to revise for GCSEs

The methods with the strongest evidence behind them, and how to use each one. A large review of study techniques (Dunlosky and others, 2013) found that testing yourself and spreading revision out work best, while rereading and highlighting help least.

  • 1. Active recall: test yourself

    Close your notes and try to remember: answer questions, do flashcards, explain it out loud. Pulling something out of your memory is what makes it stay there, far more than reading it again.

    Test yourself on a subject

  • 2. Spaced repetition: come back to it

    Revise a topic, then come back to it after a few days, a week, two weeks and a month. Nearly forgetting and remembering again is what makes memories last until the exam.

    Make a revision timetable

  • 3. Blurting: write what you know

    Write everything you remember about a topic on a blank page, then check the notes and fill in what you missed in a different colour. The gaps show you exactly what to revise.

    Try the blurting tool

  • 4. Mix your topics

    Practising a few topics at once (interleaving) feels harder than one at a time, but it teaches you to spot which method a question needs, like in the real exam.

    Mix topics

  • 5. Past papers and mark schemes

    Sit real papers in the real time, then mark them with the mark scheme. You learn the question styles, the timing, and the exact words examiners give marks for.

    GCSE past papers

  • 6. Flashcards for key terms

    Definitions, equations, quotes and dates go on flashcards. Keep the ones you get wrong in the pile, and say the answer before you turn the card over.

    Flashcards for every topic

  • 7. Short sessions with breaks (Pomodoro)

    25 minutes of focus, then a 5-minute break. Short sessions are easier to start and keep your attention sharp. Put your phone in another room.

    Use the study timer

  • 8. Sleep, food and rest

    Your brain saves what you learned while you sleep. Late-night cramming costs you more than it gains. Take days off too.

    Plan around the exam dates

What doesn’t work as well

Rereading notes and highlighting feel productive because the page looks familiar, but recognising something isn’t the same as remembering it in an exam. Use your notes to check your answers, not as the revision itself.

Questions about revising

What is the best way to revise for GCSEs?
Testing yourself (active recall) and spreading revision out over weeks (spaced repetition). A large review of study methods found these two work best, and rereading and highlighting help least.
How many hours a day should I revise?
In Year 11, one to two hours on school days and two to four at weekends is plenty for most students, in short sessions with breaks. More in the last six weeks before the exams.
When should I start revising for GCSEs?
Little and often from the start of Year 11 works best. Start proper revision for mocks about four to six weeks before, and for the summer exams around February or March.
What is the blurting method?
Write down everything you remember about a topic without looking, then check your notes and fill in what you missed in a different colour. The gaps are what to revise.
What is the Pomodoro technique?
25 minutes of focused work, then a 5-minute break, and a longer break after four rounds. Short sessions make it easier to start and stay focused.