How to ace GCSEs thread for those starting them..

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Start double-checking everything. Double check your coursework before you hand it in, read the exam questions twice before and after you answer them, double check the date and time of the exam itself... it's a good habit to get into!

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Try and find out when your coursework is going to be – most schools will actually have a coursework timetable somewhere, covering all subjects. This can help you plan your timing in advance, particularly if you're going to be doing two at the same time.

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Hand your work in on time as much as possible, and don't make up lame excuses like "my printer broke". Aside from being a generally good, academic thing to do, it helps you build up good credit with your teachers. If they trust you to be a person who always does their work on time, then when you do screw up they'll likely let it go without a fuss, and you won't get in much trouble!

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If you're going to want them at some point, then buy your revision guides as soon as possible – but make sure they're the right ones for you! CGP is the most common, but some people hate the style they're written in, and find other guides such as BBC Bitesize much more helpful. One of my friends spent loads of money on a set of CGPs, then found out she couldn't stand the jokes, and had to buy a completely different set. Try at least one before you buy the lot!

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I can only reiterate what everyone's said about coursework – do it, do it well, and get it out of the way. It's a great safety net, and very reassuring come exams. A good set of coursework can pull your final result up by one, maybe even two grades if you're lucky.

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If there's a topic you've just learnt, and you don't quite get it, DON'T just leave it, and think "plenty of time to sort that out come study leave". Go over the notes you made in class as soon as you can (that evening, if possible, whilst it's still fresh in your mind), perhaps with your revision guide to help you. If you still don't understand, see your teacher as soon as possible. Otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of topics you don't understand (and maybe, like me, some you don't even remember studying) come mocks/exams.

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On that note, don't be afraid to ask your teachers if you don't understand. See them after lessons or in your lunch break if you need extra help. If you do a practice paper or essay, don't hesitate to ask them to mark it for you.

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Revision timetables are great. Find out what kind of a worker you are (how long you can revise before you get bored, long breaks or short breaks, etc), and then work the timetable around it. Try and space similar subjects out, or "pad" the harder subjects with easier ones. For instance, rather than doing all three sciences in one day, try doing one a day, along with a completely different subject, like English.

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Working out your own ways to remember things really helps. Little rhymes or mnemonics that you wrote yourself will stick in your mind, even if they'll be totally useless to all your mates. One thing I did, which really helped me in my sciences, was that I made up a massive, five sentence mnemonic to help me remember all the equations. It took me a while to remember it all - but when I'd got it, it meant that at the beginning of every science exam I was able to write out all 20+ equations I needed to know in a matter of seconds.

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Focus on your worst and most hated subjects (though keep it up with your good ones). You might hate them, but if you work and revise hard then you'll be able to get a good, even a great grade in them!

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And finally - take breaks! Have fun! You are still a teenager, after all. During study leave try and have a day off once a week. It really helps get you ready for another long haul of work.