Use this guide when an exam is about two weeks away and you need a focused plan. Have the exam date, format, syllabus or topic list and any past papers or practice questions ready.
Step by step
Check the exam details
Confirm the date, time, location, length and format, and which materials you may bring. Read the syllabus or topic list so you know exactly what can come up. Note anything you need to buy or arrange, such as a calculator or travel.
Rate your topics
List every topic and rate your confidence as red, amber or green. Be honest and use practice questions to check if you are unsure. This shows where your time will make the biggest difference.
Make a day-by-day plan
Give most of your time to red and amber topics, with short reviews of green topics to keep them fresh. Schedule at least two or three full practice papers in timed conditions. Leave the last day for light review and rest.
Revise by testing yourself
Answer questions, use flashcards and explain topics out loud from memory, then check your answers. Rereading notes on its own is less effective. Keep a list of mistakes and review it often.
Practise under exam conditions
Do past papers with a timer, no notes and no phone. Mark them using the mark scheme if available and note where you lose marks. Practise planning your time across the paper.
Look after yourself
Keep regular sleep, meals, water and short walks, as they help memory and concentration. Avoid all-night cramming before the exam. If stress feels overwhelming or affects your sleep for a long time, talk to your GP or call NHS 111 for advice.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Exam date, time and venue confirmed
- Allowed materials checked
- Topic list with confidence ratings
- Day-by-day plan written
- Two or three timed practice papers scheduled
- Mistakes list kept
- Travel and equipment sorted
- Sleep routine protected
Practical tips
- Revise your mistakes list first thing each day, as it targets exactly what you still find hard.
- Pack your bag and plan your journey the night before so the morning is calm.
- In the exam, read every question carefully and answer the ones you know first to build confidence.
Common problems
There is too much to cover in the time left.
Prioritise topics that come up often and those worth the most marks. Accept that you cannot cover everything perfectly and aim for solid understanding of the most important areas.
I run out of time in practice papers.
Work out roughly how many minutes you can spend per mark and stick to it. Move on from questions you are stuck on and come back at the end.
I feel panicky and cannot concentrate.
Take a short break, breathe slowly and do something physical like a walk before returning. If anxiety is severe or does not ease, speak to your GP, a school or college support service, or NHS 111.