Preparing for November GCSE Exams

As the November GCSE exams approach, many pupils across Wales are gearing up for a critical opportunity to improve their grades or sit their exams for the first time. Whether a pupil is retaking a subject or attempting to secure higher marks, it’s essential they adopt a structured approach to revision. Here are some tips to help pupils revise.

Create a Realistic Revision Plan

A well-organised revision plan is the backbone of effective exam preparation. Break down your revision schedule into manageable chunks, focusing on specific subjects each day. Prioritise the subjects you find most challenging and allocate extra time to them. Even doing 15-20 minutes a day of revision can be a big help. The most effective revision will involve answering questions or making mind-maps purely independently, rather than copying from a textbook or website. Doing work completely from memory is called information retrieval and it will enable young people to keep more information in their long-term memory.

Use a Variety of Revision Techniques

There are many wats in which pupils can revise, so it’s important to find revision techniques that work best. Some popular methods include:

Mind Maps à These help with visualising and connecting key concepts.

Flashcards à A great tool for memorising definitions, key dates, or formulas.

Practice Questions à  Applying knowledge to exam-style questions improves retention and reveals areas where you may need more work.

Group Study à Studying with friends can be beneficial, as you can explain topics to each other and cover gaps in understanding.

Take Regular Breaks and Look After Yourself

It can be tempting to spend long hours studying without a break, but this can be counterproductive. Research shows that regular breaks boost focus and productivity. Pupils can try the 20-20-20 rule which is most commonly discussed in terms of avoiding eye-strain while working long hours on a computer, however, it may be a useful tool to stay focused. Work for 20 minutes, look out of a window at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds and repeat.  When pupils have an allocated time to do their revision, rather than a long span of time, it might help with motivation to get it done. For example, having only two hours on a Saturday morning to get as much done before going out with friends or family might be an incentive to work.

Start revising as early as possible to avoid last-minute cramming – which might lead to long nights up revising and good sleep is necessary to be refreshed and ready for exams. This will give you time to absorb information and review it multiple times, enhancing retention.

We wish all pupils sitting their November exams all the best, and we remind that we have many experienced tutors that are ready to support with revision.

Key words: exams, breaks, revision techniques & revision plans

Written by Aleksandra Dul, our GCSE & A level English Tutor

How to Prepare for Exams With Tutoring – Cardiff Vale Tutors

Reducing Stress During Exam Time – Cardiff Vale Tutors

How to Prepare for Exams – Cardiff Vale Tutors

How To Revise – Cardiff Vale Tutors

Exam Strategy and Time Management – Cardiff Vale Tutors