Revising for A-level exams can be daunting, especially when a few marks could make the difference between gaining a desired university place and not.
But if you’re preparing for exams, it’s important to remain level-headed and to think about the best ways to reach your potential. With enough planning you can build your confidence and go into the exam room safe in the knowledge that you’ve done everything possible to succeed.
Here we have five top tops for students revising ahead of A-level exams, while it’s important to remember that there’s other support options too if you require them, such as tailored one-to-one or group tutoring.
Revision is made far easier if you know what you’re being tested on. The syllabus provides a good starting point and it can be used to tick off each part as you go. You can usually find these on the exam board websites, so you’ll need to know exactly which exam board you’re entered for. It can be especially useful where pupils feel they have areas of weakness, such as those identified through the use of mock papers, and to recognise some of the key terms you’ll need to know.
We recommend using the syllabus to gauge your progress, while you should also take advantage of the examiners’ reports which can be found online. These detail what examiners are looking for – as well as what not to do – so you should look to create an answering style which is likely to fulfil the key criteria. You may wish to print off the reports or write parts of them onto post-it notes to aid your revision.
Alternatively, support from a tutor can be particularly useful here, as they’ll often be across the various different exam techniques which can help you to reach your potential.
There’s plenty of resources online which can benefit your A-level revision, but one of the most important assets is your ability to access past papers. The various exam boards have a plethora of past exam papers online, providing you with resources to test your knowledge. Not only can you get used to the types of questions you’ll face, but also to the way that exam boards phrase them. This should mean you’re not daunted when you come to open the exam paper.
Practice really is key when it comes to achieving top marks, so the more past papers you can look over the better. Look to attempt papers once to gain an idea of your knowledge, and then use the mark scheme to identify areas for improvement. Ideally, you should then do the paper again at a later date in order to measure progress. Think carefully about what each question is getting at – both in terms of what topics are being explored and at what analysis is necessary.
With several subjects to revise for and a number of different modules within each, it’s easy for revision to get overwhelming. That’s when a good plan comes in. Look to break down topics into small manageable blocks to make it less daunting, and tick off your progress as you go. Not only will you feel good about yourself when you can do this, but by revising similar sections of the curriculum together, you should be able to memorise more and develop a deeper understanding.
Try not to spend too long on certain topics, and instead look to identify the key elements of each section. Developing spider diagrams is a good method for ensuring you have covered all bases, as it also enables you to structure answers based on the vital bits of information to include. Not only will you know the core principles, you should also know when to apply them.
This may sound obvious, but key to achieving good A-level results is having a broad knowledge of the curriculum. Once you’ve identified gaps in your understanding, look at ways you can build up your knowledge through past exam papers and learning guides. This way you can consolidate your learning and be better prepared for what could otherwise be a challenging exam question.
Don’t be tempted to prioritise bits you know in favour of those you don’t either, as you’ll likely continue to put off revising those topics until it is too late. Instead, look to weave parts of the curriculum that you struggle with into your revision plan so that there’s a constant mix of stronger and weaker areas.
With adequate preparation, you can ensure you have all parts of a subject ticked off. We say this, as there’s nothing worse that facing a question on a topic that you’ve glossed over. As a lot of revision relies on memory, creating a plan over a period of weeks and months should enable you to retain more knowledge and to apply it at the right moments. Likewise, it’s best not to cram in revision right before an exam, as you’re less likely to recall what you have been looking at.
If you feel like you might need additional help, a tutor could tailor specific revision sessions to help you achieve your goals. They’ll have knowledge of the curriculum and of how best to answer questions, ultimately equipping you with the skills you’ll need to master your A-level exams.