How to revise for your GCSEs.
This blog is aimed at all you stressed out Year 11's. This half-term things will seem tough. Every subject teacher will tell you that their subject is the most important! You may be feeling overwhelmed and as a result you may come to a standstill. You will be being told that active revision is best! However, you may feel that you have too many resources! Your teachers will be printing revision booklets by the seconds and demanding your presence at revision sessions before school, at lunch and after school! Your parents will want to see you studying when you arrive home! You may feel trapped in an endless cycle of work, bed, work, bed…
So how are you going to take control of this situation?
Firstly, breathe and then create a timetable! This way you can schedule time for you without the guilt! You can play games online, go out with friends, watch your favourite show, scroll your socials! You should start by printing out each day from 8am until 11pm. You can then block out time at school. Block out lunch and tea time. Depending on when you work best, block out two hours after school for revision and if you really need more time, you can have an optional extra hour. I would not advise you to work any longer than three hours after school as you may feel like you are going to burn out. If there is a particular subject that you are struggling with prioritise this for a couple of weeks. Watch “You Tube” videos on the subject, use BBC Bitesize and Quizlet. If you can afford to, buy flashcards or hire a tutor. Take action, don’t avoid it. Revise what you find difficult and complete practice questions against the clock. Ask your parent to test you or a friend if you work well together. Make sure to attend those revision classes even if it is the last thing you want to do! Finally, you should schedule a Saturday or Sunday as a no work day! Nobody can work seven days a week without a break.
When to do more!
From February to Easter, you should timetable topics that you have not looked at for a while. Actively, use your notes or a text book to read through and familiarise yourself with the topic. Use your mobile phone to set a timer and write down as much as you can remember. You will be surprised at how little you have retained just through reading. Now you will see the need for more active activities. Move onto answering questions from the text book then use education sites to assist your understanding. You may then find a “You Tube” video on the topic. Use your flashcards and get someone to test you. Finally, try some past examination questions.
When Easter arrives, attend those extra classes! You now need to look at which examinations arrive first. English Literature is usually one of the first and Biology was one of the first in 2024. Create a new timetable to fall in line with the dates of your examinations. You will feel pressured but you are close to the finishing line. You need to give it one final push and then you will be rewarded with a very long Summer break. The night before your examination do practice questions and check if you need to fill any last minute gaps. Most importantly, go to bed by Ilpm and get a good night's sleep. The best bit is ticking off each examination day by day. Know that you have tried your best and you will get your results in August. There is no point worrying once they are completed!
