Do
- Short timed question sets every day, so exam pace feels normal.
- Work through your mistakes list. These are the easiest marks to win back.
- Learn the facts that are simply recall: definitions, formulas, units, key equations.
- Read the instructions on a past paper's front cover so nothing on the day surprises you.
- Keep a normal sleep time. Tired brains lose marks on careless errors.
Stop
- Starting topics you have never studied. The time is better spent securing what you nearly know.
- All-night sessions. They cost more in the exam than they add.
- Comparing how much you have done with friends. Your plan is the only one that matters.
A sample final week
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 7 and 6 days out | One timed set per subject. Add every mistake to your list. |
| 5 and 4 days out | Work through the mistakes list, then re-test the same questions without notes. |
| 3 and 2 days out | Your first paper's subject: short timed sets and the facts that are pure recall. |
| The day before | A light look over one-page summaries, pack your bag, normal bedtime. |
Several papers in the same week? The revision planner works out the order for you from your exam dates.
The night before
- Check the paper, start time and room with your school. Confirm whether it is morning or afternoon.
- Pack your bag: candidate number, black pens, pencil, ruler, eraser, and the calculator if the paper allows one.
- A light look over your one-page summaries, then stop and rest.
On the day
- Eat something and arrive early.
- Read every question fully. Underline the command word: state, describe, explain, calculate.
- Check the marks for each part. Two marks usually means two separate points.
- If a question stalls you, move on and come back. Do not let one question cost you three.
- Use any time left to check units, significant figures and that every question is answered.
After each paper
Do not go through the paper with friends straight afterwards. You cannot change it, and comparing answers only costs you confidence for the next one. Eat, rest, and look at what is next on your timetable.