What are some good habits to start for GCSEs?

Original post by SpookyEgyptian

I'm currently at the end of year 10 and was wondering if there were any tips/habits anyone could give for me to help my future self later while I revise for my final GCSE exams. Maybe things/habits I start now or over the summer to help with revising later. Thanks.

Reply 3

mskr710

12

start revising/studying as early as possible and block all distractions right from the get go, didnt do it much when i did my gcses and i somewhat regret it lol, make notes/flashcards as soon as you are taught the content. Try to do questions from subjects weekly so that you dont forget your content (i.e a few maths questions or some english qs). Email teachers/tutors if you're stuck with anything

Reply 4

chrryblsm

8

i’d start doing the corbett maths 5-a-days every day just to keep the basics under your belt

Reply 5

*LifeHappens*

12

Original post by SpookyEgyptian

I'm currently at the end of year 10 and was wondering if there were any tips/habits anyone could give for me to help my future self later while I revise for my final GCSE exams. Maybe things/habits I start now or over the summer to help with revising later. Thanks.

Here are my tips:
1) For subjects where you have a lot of info to memorise, like english and RS, make a summary page of notes just so everything is in one place
2) Always attempt practice papers when you have a test coming up, PMT, MME revise, Corbett maths and Maths genie are great!
3) Whenever you learn a topic at school that you didn't understand in the lesson, try to make it a habit to relook at it and make yourself understand it, so you don't get stressed when the time for an exam comes
4) If you don't understand something, look at videos and explanations of it, gcse maths tutor, cognito, freesciencelessons and glow up your grades are good.
5) Don't neglect yourself, take breaks if you need it and don't feel compelled to be ahead of your work all the time, sometimes you would feel tired or burnt out and when you feel that way, take some time for yourself (with that being said, don't always procrastinate, but you know what I mean).
Don't stress too much, know that you've worked hard and you will do great!
I hope that helps and good luck!

Reply 6

Flk10

10

Original post by MindMax2000

How would you recommend breaking down 60 hours of revision a week in terms of hours per day?

Reply 7

StudyMind

8

Original post by SpookyEgyptian

I'm currently at the end of year 10 and was wondering if there were any tips/habits anyone could give for me to help my future self later while I revise for my final GCSE exams. Maybe things/habits I start now or over the summer to help with revising later. Thanks.

Heya!
Starting early is a great approach :h:

Begin by establishing a consistent study routine and developing effective time management skills. Focus on building a strong foundation of understanding in each subject as you learn new topics, and review and revise regularly to reinforce your knowledge. Lastly, practice active learning techniques such as summarising information, teaching it to others, and engaging in regular self-assessment to enhance your retention and understanding of the material.

I hope this helps!
Milena
UCL PFE
Study Mind

Reply 8

Original post by Flk10

How would you recommend breaking down 60 hours of revision a week in terms of hours per day?

I go by past papers that I would do or the number of topics or chapters that I would need to cover. As you're approaching the end of Year 10, I would spread things out by past papers e.g. 1 past paper per subject per week under timed conditions + revision or work on the areas you are weak in. You are very likely going to find that 60 hours might not be enough to cover everything along with the other things you have for school.

I don't know what your schedule is like for revision, study, coursework, or anything else going on in your life, so it's a bit difficult for me to comment.
If you have difficulty determining this, I think you're old enough to get the Notion app on your phone. The Notion app has an AI function where it would help put together a schedule for your to study. It's also a handy tool if you want mock questions on specific topics, but the prompts you use need to be very specific and you need to highlight the level of study (i.e. GCSE) as well.

The standard school day is roughly 6-7 hours (depending on which school you go to), then you have homework that shouldn't last more than 2 hours a day (I spent a lot more when I was doing my GCSEs). 8-9 hours over 5 days, that's roughly 40-45 hours. If you feel comfortable doing an extra hour on top to make them 10 hour days, feel free (I would rather spend the weekend spreading things out). You can then use Saturday for the remaining 10 hours and then chill on Sunday, or spend 2x 8-10 hour days over the weekend to do the rest. It's a heavy schedule and it's a lot to take on.

See the following for alternative ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tADgBrCqels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z88tsBnAsPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbWtYLd-cJk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j21_HIHHVWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBn6yNHO72M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvm7LT-k9GA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C120NtgJlRc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bib09NgFnTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7o09a7t4RA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajq0338knNM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaTZ23phZfM
There are other videos out there, but I would check whether the author has achieved the grades that you want before considering the advice.

Most of the time, it's not necessarily having a better revision or study strategy as opposed to putting things into practice. It's important to have an effective and efficient study strategy that works for you to start off with, but then it's just a matter of sticking to what works in the long haul.

Reply 9

justlearning1469

Original post by MindMax2000

I go by past papers that I would do or the number of topics or chapters that I would need to cover. As you're approaching the end of Year 10, I would spread things out by past papers e.g. 1 past paper per subject per week under timed conditions + revision or work on the areas you are weak in. You are very likely going to find that 60 hours might not be enough to cover everything along with the other things you have for school.

I don't know what your schedule is like for revision, study, coursework, or anything else going on in your life, so it's a bit difficult for me to comment.
If you have difficulty determining this, I think you're old enough to get the Notion app on your phone. The Notion app has an AI function where it would help put together a schedule for your to study. It's also a handy tool if you want mock questions on specific topics, but the prompts you use need to be very specific and you need to highlight the level of study (i.e. GCSE) as well.

The standard school day is roughly 6-7 hours (depending on which school you go to), then you have homework that shouldn't last more than 2 hours a day (I spent a lot more when I was doing my GCSEs). 8-9 hours over 5 days, that's roughly 40-45 hours. If you feel comfortable doing an extra hour on top to make them 10 hour days, feel free (I would rather spend the weekend spreading things out). You can then use Saturday for the remaining 10 hours and then chill on Sunday, or spend 2x 8-10 hour days over the weekend to do the rest. It's a heavy schedule and it's a lot to take on.

See the following for alternative ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tADgBrCqels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z88tsBnAsPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbWtYLd-cJk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j21_HIHHVWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBn6yNHO72M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvm7LT-k9GA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C120NtgJlRc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bib09NgFnTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7o09a7t4RA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajq0338knNM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaTZ23phZfM
There are other videos out there, but I would check whether the author has achieved the grades that you want before considering the advice.

Most of the time, it's not necessarily having a better revision or study strategy as opposed to putting things into practice. It's important to have an effective and efficient study strategy that works for you to start off with, but then it's just a matter of sticking to what works in the long haul.

60 hours? I don't have the impulse control and discipline for that. 8-10 hour blocks, i've only managed that some times in the past.

I don't think you'd need this kind of schedule - I had a much worse one and pushed for several hours close to exams sometimes, and still perhaps managing A*/A grades

I mostly held a few hours a day consistently, that is much easier than 60 hours a week

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 10

Flk10

10

Original post by MindMax2000

I go by past papers that I would do or the number of topics or chapters that I would need to cover. As you're approaching the end of Year 10, I would spread things out by past papers e.g. 1 past paper per subject per week under timed conditions + revision or work on the areas you are weak in. You are very likely going to find that 60 hours might not be enough to cover everything along with the other things you have for school.

I don't know what your schedule is like for revision, study, coursework, or anything else going on in your life, so it's a bit difficult for me to comment.
If you have difficulty determining this, I think you're old enough to get the Notion app on your phone. The Notion app has an AI function where it would help put together a schedule for your to study. It's also a handy tool if you want mock questions on specific topics, but the prompts you use need to be very specific and you need to highlight the level of study (i.e. GCSE) as well.

The standard school day is roughly 6-7 hours (depending on which school you go to), then you have homework that shouldn't last more than 2 hours a day (I spent a lot more when I was doing my GCSEs). 8-9 hours over 5 days, that's roughly 40-45 hours. If you feel comfortable doing an extra hour on top to make them 10 hour days, feel free (I would rather spend the weekend spreading things out). You can then use Saturday for the remaining 10 hours and then chill on Sunday, or spend 2x 8-10 hour days over the weekend to do the rest. It's a heavy schedule and it's a lot to take on.

See the following for alternative ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tADgBrCqels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z88tsBnAsPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbWtYLd-cJk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j21_HIHHVWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBn6yNHO72M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvm7LT-k9GA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C120NtgJlRc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bib09NgFnTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7o09a7t4RA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajq0338knNM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaTZ23phZfM
There are other videos out there, but I would check whether the author has achieved the grades that you want before considering the advice.

Most of the time, it's not necessarily having a better revision or study strategy as opposed to putting things into practice. It's important to have an effective and efficient study strategy that works for you to start off with, but then it's just a matter of sticking to what works in the long haul.

Thanks! I like the idea of doing 10 hours on 6 days and then chilling on Sunday. Any tips for staying disciplined for those long hours? Also, do you count your breaks in those times?

Reply 11

justlearning1469

Original post by Flk10

Thanks! I like the idea of doing 10 hours on 6 days and then chilling on Sunday. Any tips for staying disciplined for those long hours? Also, do you count your breaks in those times?

Pomodoro method for time management. Website blocker to block TSR, other social media, games, so you don't procrastinate. Don't count your breaks - it's supposed to be a timetable of studying.

Reply 12

Original post by Flk10

Thanks! I like the idea of doing 10 hours on 6 days and then chilling on Sunday. Any tips for staying disciplined for those long hours? Also, do you count your breaks in those times?

Also, do you count your breaks in those times?
I hope so. I don't know of any human who is able to study 10 hours straight. Breaks would also provide you with sufficient time to recuperate and allow the learning to set in (read up on active learning).

Any tips for staying disciplined for those long hours?
If it's just an entire day reserved for studying/revision (as opposed to a school day where you have to go to school and have entire schedule interrupted), then I would try to use something similar to the pomodoro technique (25 mins focused studying + 5 min break); I would work at something for 2 hours straight, then I have a 15 min - 30 min break, then follow by another 2 hours, then another break, etc. You should find that this is similar to how your school schedule their lessons (things are structured like they do for a reason).
The average human has a certain amount of will power in any given day, so you should prioritise doing the more difficult stuff first in the morning, and then the easier stuff later on in the day (the 'eat that frog' principle). You will quickly find that by Hour 7 or 8, your attention and ability to focus will start to wane. This is your body telling you that you are at your limit. Wind down during this period by studying something you're good at.

There's also something you might want to look up: how to stay in flow. The flow state is a state of mind where you would be in 100% focus and it feels like you're in your element/things seem effortless (you should have come across this state of mind quite a few times, but maybe not sure what it's called). There's a huge book written by someone who came up with the term, but I don't think it's required that you should read it. The following videos should give you an introduction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znwUCNrjpD4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olhr_kBirAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PGar1jQSVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YBkpnMccrE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwX8d5ebnmc
It would be worth your while to look up more about this state of mind.
It takes a while in order to practice getting into the state, but it's possible to condition yourself to get into such state in a short period of time. It would realy come in handy when it comes to your exams. The main preconditions are usually:

•

It needs to be something you're interested in

•

It's something you enjoy/like

•

It needs to be something you have a good grasp or semi-level of mastery in

•

It needs to be something a little challenging

•

It needs to be something you can do so with minimal interruptions

There might be more, depending on the subject, circumstances, and you as a person.

It might also help to mark down your progress throughout. If it seems endless and it doesn't feel like you're getting anywhere, it can start to feel like a 'chore'. I would also focus on areas where you can improve the most and the weakest areas you would need to work on (introduce some active thinking).

Having said that, it doesn't mean that it's not possible to sit at the table and work for 10 hours straight on something. However, that's usually something you have a firm mastery of, and it's usually very rare and for very particular projects; people still take breaks throughout.

When it comes to productivity and studying, I usually refer to Thomas Frank (American) and Ali Abdaal (British). I don't know the specific subjects you're studying or what you enjoy studying, so these are probably the best people for general advice.

Reply 13

Flk10

10

Original post by MindMax2000

Also, do you count your breaks in those times?
I hope so. I don't know of any human who is able to study 10 hours straight. Breaks would also provide you with sufficient time to recuperate and allow the learning to set in (read up on active learning).

Any tips for staying disciplined for those long hours?
If it's just an entire day reserved for studying/revision (as opposed to a school day where you have to go to school and have entire schedule interrupted), then I would try to use something similar to the pomodoro technique (25 mins focused studying + 5 min break); I would work at something for 2 hours straight, then I have a 15 min - 30 min break, then follow by another 2 hours, then another break, etc. You should find that this is similar to how your school schedule their lessons (things are structured like they do for a reason).
The average human has a certain amount of will power in any given day, so you should prioritise doing the more difficult stuff first in the morning, and then the easier stuff later on in the day (the 'eat that frog' principle). You will quickly find that by Hour 7 or 8, your attention and ability to focus will start to wane. This is your body telling you that you are at your limit. Wind down during this period by studying something you're good at.

There's also something you might want to look up: how to stay in flow. The flow state is a state of mind where you would be in 100% focus and it feels like you're in your element/things seem effortless (you should have come across this state of mind quite a few times, but maybe not sure what it's called). There's a huge book written by someone who came up with the term, but I don't think it's required that you should read it. The following videos should give you an introduction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znwUCNrjpD4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olhr_kBirAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PGar1jQSVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YBkpnMccrE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwX8d5ebnmc
It would be worth your while to look up more about this state of mind.
It takes a while in order to practice getting into the state, but it's possible to condition yourself to get into such state in a short period of time. It would realy come in handy when it comes to your exams. The main preconditions are usually:

•

It needs to be something you're interested in

•

It's something you enjoy/like

•

It needs to be something you have a good grasp or semi-level of mastery in

•

It needs to be something a little challenging

•

It needs to be something you can do so with minimal interruptions

There might be more, depending on the subject, circumstances, and you as a person.

It might also help to mark down your progress throughout. If it seems endless and it doesn't feel like you're getting anywhere, it can start to feel like a 'chore'. I would also focus on areas where you can improve the most and the weakest areas you would need to work on (introduce some active thinking).

Having said that, it doesn't mean that it's not possible to sit at the table and work for 10 hours straight on something. However, that's usually something you have a firm mastery of, and it's usually very rare and for very particular projects; people still take breaks throughout.

When it comes to productivity and studying, I usually refer to Thomas Frank (American) and Ali Abdaal (British). I don't know the specific subjects you're studying or what you enjoy studying, so these are probably the best people for general advice.

Thanks- that’s very useful. So for a weekend 10 hour study day should be around 12 hours to incorporate breaks?

Reply 14