How to Revise for Your GCSEs in One Month and Get Good Grades (2024)

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parts

1Making a Study Schedule

2Studying the Maths

3Studing for Tests in the Sciences

4Reviewing for English Exams

5Taking the Exams

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Things You'll Need

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Last Updated: February 20, 2021

May and June are probably the worst months when you're in Year 11. You have the majority of your exams to look forward to and the revision for it. Some people start revision early but if you've noticed a slight bit later than everyone else that you have to revise, it's good to know that it's never too late.

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Making a Study Schedule

  1. 1

    Be sure to put yourself in the right mind to revise. For example, you could revise for an hour before taking a 20-minute break. Any structure is good as long as you know that you are getting somewhere with your revision. Remember that your future partly depends on how well you do in your GCSEs.

  2. 2

    Set limits to all distractions including your TV, computer, game consoles, and mobile phone. You have a very long summer to look forward to; there is no excuse to not put your mind to revision now.

  3. 3

    Gather all of your notes together. Make sure that you have all of your books and textbooks for each subject. If you can't find them, look to the other points.

  4. 4

    Write a list of all the exams you have and the dates next to them.

  5. 5

    Write a list of all the topics that you need to revise.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Studying the Maths

  1. 1

    Be sure you are using the correct specification for studying. Ensure that you know whether you are in the Foundation Tier or the Higher Tier. There are many different examination boards, so make sure you are studying from the correct one - they differ slightly in their expectations. Everything that you have been learning in maths has been indirectly for GCSE. The information from the past two years of studying is more important as you learn more maths than you ever have in your life.

  2. 2

    Study from your textbook or any notes that you may have taken. Redo exercises again and again to make sure that you really know how to answer the questions correctly. Look at websites that explain more difficult questions.

  3. 3

    Review past exams. This is a must! You need to know the format of the exam before you take it for real, so that certain questions do not come as a shock to you. Mark the past papers and go over each question so that you have a good understanding of where you went wrong. Do some practice of questions from the topics that you struggled with in the past papers.

  4. 4

    Ask for help if you are feeling lost. If you are seriously struggling with maths, ask your parents for help if they know maths, ask siblings/cousins/friends; go to your teacher for help - the purpose of teachers is to make sure that you understand everything so use that opportunity! It may be awkward to ask the teacher for help, especially in front of your friends but remember, this is your life you are talking about. If you don't do well in your Maths GCSE, you may struggle in further education and in finding a job in the future.

    • Watch maths-help videos online - they are very useful as there is someone who talks you through the questions as they solve them.
    • Get a tutor. Although you will have to pay, this person may help you gain more confidence in maths and will help you to understand and solve maths questions.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Studing for Tests in the Sciences

  1. 1

    Make sure you know whether you are doing single, double, or triple science.

  2. 2

    Study using class notes, any textbooks that you may have and any websites online.

  3. 3

    Try doing some past papers and go over them, looking out for any questions that you get stuck on. If you're really stuck, ask your teacher to go over it with you.

  4. 4

    Review the parts that you find most difficult. If you're doing triple science, revise well for the triple science part because it is quite hard.

  5. 5

    Revise your notes. Read them, then try to say what you just read aloud. Read over the same notes a few times, to really make sure that they get into your head.

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Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Reviewing for English Exams

  1. 1

    Read over your notes for each poem or story.

  2. 2

    Hone you essay writing skills. If you have the talent of writing essays then you will find it quite easy even if you haven't revised because the English GCSE is based around making up stuff about make up stuff - like reading between the lines. If you're having trouble then look up websites for quick notes. #Make sure that you have a copy of whatever book is required. Make sure that you do the right question, because the question paper that you are given contains the questions for all the different options!

  3. 3

    Read the top of the paper. If it says to do one question from that section, make sure to only do one question.

  4. 4

    Use revision notes. Depending on your learning style, you can write revision notes. You can try using mind maps or revision cards or writing everything onto one page.

  5. 5

    Be prepared for essay questions. For essay-based subjects, make sure that you really know what you are expected to know because they tend to ask only 10% of everything more or less.

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Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Taking the Exams

  1. 1

    Prepare your pencil case the day before each exam. You don't want to realise you've forgotten your calculator when the exam is about to begin!

  2. 2

    Make sure that you have had enough rest. Go to sleep relatively early.

    • Get to school early so that you don't have to stress about being late.
    • Take a bottle of water (with no label) if you are allowed to and feel you will need it.

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  • Question

    How do I remain calm before taking my GCSEs?

    How to Revise for Your GCSEs in One Month and Get Good Grades (22)

    Community Answer

    Remember most importantly that if your GCSEs do go wrong it is not the end of the world. Start by revising early so you do not worry about forgetting anything and you have time to learn everything. If there is anything you are unsure of, ask a teacher for help. Listen to calming music and make sure to get plenty of sleep before your exams. On the day of your exam make sure you are organised and at school on time. Bring some water and make sure to always keep your breathing slow and steady during the exam.

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  • Question

    What if I'm terrible at essay writing, but am expected to get A's?

    How to Revise for Your GCSEs in One Month and Get Good Grades (23)

    Community Answer

    Not all subjects require good essay writing skills, such as Maths, Languages and Sciences. In order to improve your essay writing skills, have a look at ideal answers to questions or mark schemes. These will help you get an idea of what you may be doing right or wrong. Make sure to ask your teacher to give you some tips as to how you can do your best. Another tip is to try and structure your answer before you begin writing. Think of a few points and discuss each one in a paragraph. Make sure to remember an introduction or conclusion if it is needed.

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  • Question

    Should I take the subjects I enjoy?

    How to Revise for Your GCSEs in One Month and Get Good Grades (24)

    Community Answer

    Absolutely! Take any subjects that you feel passionate about and that you feel that you will do well in.

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      Warnings

      • Remember to bring enough spare pens and pencils and rubbers. Bring a working scientific calculator.

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      • Make sure you wake up early enough to get into school on time for your exam!

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      Things You'll Need

      • HB pencils
      • Black pens (no gel pens)
      • Rubber
      • Ruler
      • Scientific Calculator
      • Sharpener
      • See-through pencil case
      • Extra material such as a clean copy of a book or an anthology

      About this article

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      Co-authors: 27

      Updated: February 20, 2021

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      How to Revise for Your GCSEs in One Month and Get Good Grades (2024)

      FAQs

      How to Revise for Your GCSEs in One Month and Get Good Grades? ›

      GCSE revision should ideally start six months before the actual exam. Students should begin the revision process in January, as the exam will start in May. However, everyone is different and schedules vary. Parents should work with students and start revisions based on the child's specific abilities.

      Is 1 month enough time to revise for GCSE? ›

      GCSE revision should ideally start six months before the actual exam. Students should begin the revision process in January, as the exam will start in May. However, everyone is different and schedules vary. Parents should work with students and start revisions based on the child's specific abilities.

      Is it possible to revise for GCSEs in a month? ›

      You really should start revising two or even three months before your GCSE exams – so ideally around the 10th of March. However, I reckon you can just about get away with a single month of revision. This compact revision would have to be extremely intense, and would tire you out for your GCSE exams.

      How to revise for GCSE in 1 month? ›

      Try doing some past papers and go over them, looking out for any questions that you get stuck on. If you're really stuck, ask your teacher to go over it with you. Review the parts that you find most difficult. If you're doing triple science, revise well for the triple science part because it is quite hard.

      What is the most effective way to revise for GCSEs? ›

      Revising and revisiting concepts regularly is the most effective way of getting them stored into long-term memory, ready to be accessed in an exam. A revision timetable can really help to organise and plan workload. Start by marking key GCSE 2023 dates, such as mock and final exams.

      How to get all 9s in GCSE? ›

      Top tips for GCSE success
      1. Make resources early. ...
      2. Revise for end-of-topic tests. ...
      3. Approach mocks properly. ...
      4. Experiment with revision techniques. ...
      5. Plan your time. ...
      6. Explain the information. ...
      7. Look at past papers.
      Feb 7, 2020

      How late is too late to revise for GCSE? ›

      If you or your child have exams this summer (2022) you may be wondering: “Is it too late for revision to make a difference for this year's GCSEs and A-Levels?” The answer is no. It's never too late to start doing the work, or to start revising.

      When should I start worrying about GCSEs? ›

      We recommend starting GCSE revision 6 months before your exams begin. This should give you enough time to go over everything that's covered in the exams a few times and help information stick in your mind, without overloading yourself.

      How many hours should GCSE students revise? ›

      GCSE students (year 10 or 11) = 1.5 hours per subject per week. E.g. if they're studying 10 subjects this will be 15 hours per week. A Level students (years 12 and 13) = 4-6 hours per subject per week. E.g. if they're studying 3 subjects in year 12, this might be 12 hours per week.

      How many days should I revise for GCSE? ›

      According to The Student Room, students revise 15 to 20 hours per week for their exams, which might sound a lot until you break it down. You've probably worked it out for yourself, but the recommended time equates to three to five hours of revision per day with weekends off!

      Why can't I start revising? ›

      One of the most common reasons for revision not going in is that you simply need a break. This is especially true if you've been sitting at your desk for hours without even stretching or you've been doing 13 hour days for the last two weeks.

      How do I start GCSE revision? ›

      How to revise for GCSEs
      1. Start early. Getting an early start on your revision is always a good thing. ...
      2. Make a revision timetable. Creating a revision timetable should be your first step. ...
      3. Set mini goals. ...
      4. Mix it up. ...
      5. Revise with others. ...
      6. Practice papers. ...
      7. Take breaks. ...
      8. Move around.
      Apr 28, 2023

      What is the 2 3 5 7 revision rule? ›

      Revise a topic, then revisit it the next day, after three days, and after seven days. This is thought to be the perfect amount of time to help your brain remember information.

      What is the best revision website? ›

      StudySmarter, BBC Bitesize, MindMeister, and Get Revising are some of the best websites for revising any subject matter. StudySmarter offers both a web app and mobile app (for Android and iOS).

      How long does it take to revise for a GCSE? ›

      It normally takes around six months to prepare to pass your GCSEs, so it's a good idea to start the process at the beginning of Year 11. However, everyone is different and some people may need to spend more time studying than others.

      Is 4 weeks enough for GCSE? ›

      You'll want longer for real, but 4 weeks isn't nothing. Mathematically, if you do 2 hours a day, with a day off each week, you'll have a little under 5 hours of revision per subject total (assuming 10 GCSEs). Part of Support This article was last updated on 9 May 2023.

      How many weeks should you revise for GCSE? ›

      You should begin revision at least six months in advance of your GCSE exams. The amount of time spent revising as well as the revision focus and dedication should increase at the three-month mark, then again at the one month mark and two-week mark.

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