I know we have been counting down this term.  However, there are still many days left before this exam series and a lot of time to make a difference to your exam preparation.  Do not think it is too late – what you do in these last few days will make all the difference.

Hopefully, you have all used the specification to review the units and topics.  You should have consolidated your notes into knowledge organisers, mind-maps or flashcards.  The science of memory suggests that this alone is not enough; you need to keep revisiting these topics.  Remember the concepts of the forgetting curve and spaced learning.

You need to keep testing yourself on the knowledge as well as attempting to apply this knowledge to the past paper questions.

The specimen papers and mark schemes are available on your exam boards website.

It is really a matter of quality over quantity, I am afraid.  Try to make sure all your subjects have an equal amount of your available revision time.  Do not go into meltdown and only focus on the next exam or the teacher who is shouting the loudest.  Try to develop a schedule of revision, use a timetable if that helps but also try to ensure revision is spaced out.  Three hours a night on one subject sounds like too much and may not an efficient use of time.  However, three single hour sessions on three different subjects sounds much more effective.

We hope you find your lessons useful in preparation, but it is essential that you are also doing plenty outside of class.  We are hoping you will bring any problems you encounter in your revision into the classroom.  We have a wide range of revision activities prepared, but equally we are also happy to be driven by you and what you need.

There is a range of revision opportunities before, during and after school.  If motivation and getting organised are still a problem, your tutor should be your first port-of-call.  However, feel free to use your subject teachers to clear up any misunderstandings that arise in your studies

If you have a bad day or fall behind your schedule, try not to be too frustrated or despondent.  One mistake or bad day will not dramatically impact on your performance.  The trick is how you get yourself back on track.  If you are having a wobble, talk to one of us about getting yourself back on track.

Food is fuel and sleep is essential for the memory process.  Perhaps get some help with stress management?  You may benefit from a short nap when you get back from school to recharge yourself!

Remember you need to keep revisiting the learning.  You need to test yourself in different ways: write a quiz, 20 questions, flashcards, use a whiteboard, teach someone else.

Decoding the exam question is part of the challenge.  Think about how you approached these types of questions in class, what are the exam board looking for?  How are the marks broken down?  How should you structure the answer?  Unfortunately, the mark schemes are not always transparent about what should be in an answer.  Get some help here.  Bring the tricky ones to your teacher.