Get started
š Start by grabbing a calendar that works for you, either digital (like Google Calendar) or paperābased like a planner or wall timetable.
šļø Then, plan your study schedule around your school, homework, and free time:
Block out school hours, homework time, clubs and activities.
Decide on studyāfree days - itās okay to rest!
Think about your energy levels:
Prefer mornings? Put tougher subjects earlier.
Work better after school? Thatās fine, just be consistent!
ā Now, look at your available time and set a weekly revision target that fits your life.
Earlier in Year 10: aim for around 2-4 hours of revision per week.
Closer to exam season in Year 11: aim for 8-10 hours per week in total, spaced out over short, manageable sessions.
There is approximately 80 hours of content in the GCSE course, but most students will move through more quickly than this as you can use the Section Quizzes to skip over concepts you already know.
ā
Set a study commitment
ā²ļø Divide your revision time across all your subjects and give a bit more time to areas you find harder.
Donāt spend hours on one subject at a time. Mix subjects across the week (this helps your memory).
Choose study blocks that suit you, e.g.:
30 min: Study for 25 minutes, take a 5āminute break
45ā60 min: Study for 45 minutes, take a 10āminute break
The Pomodoro technique (short focused bursts with breaks) is great for staying sharp.
PRO TIP! Doing the same subjects at the same times each week helps you build a habit and stick to your plan.
Schedule in UpāÆLearn
You can simply put Up Learn study slots into your timetable, or go more detailed:
š„ Start with harder topics:
Identify the ~20% of topics you struggle with most and start there.
Complete the video lessons and quizzes for those topics until you feel confident.
š” Schedule the other topics:
Use section quizzes and summaries to check your understanding
When you answer the section quizzes correctly, your videos will automatically tick off, meaning you can move on to the next section.
When you answer the section quiz incorrectly, spend some time working through the videos and quizzes in that section to ensure you understand everything 100%!
šŖ Schedule time to Strengthen
Find sections that arenāt fully green yet or havenāt been started.
Use Strengthen to focus on those topics until theyāre solid.
Review and refresh
Keeping your learning fresh matters as exams get closer:
š Use the Refresh Knowledge button to test yourself with questions from across the course. Aim to keep your Refresh Knowledge quizzes to 0!
Practice with past papers (closer to exams)
When you feel ready - especially in the last 6ā8 weeks before your exams - start using past papers and mark schemes from the AQA exam board website:
Do papers in exam conditions (timed, quiet space).
Use mark schemes to check your answers and correct mistakes.
This helps you practice exam style questions and check your timeāmanagement.
Remember!
Everyone learns differently, and your best revision plan is one you can follow consistently without burning out. Good habits, short regular sessions, and a mix of learning and testing will help you walk into your GCSE exams confident and prepared š
Happy studying! š