Hi! I did my GCSEs in 2021 (so I didn’t actually sit them cause of covid, but still did exams), and I got 7 x 9s (one half of combined science, both englishes, maths, hist. & geo, french and german) and 2 x 8s (one half of combined science & maths) now at uni doing French and history!
From what you’ve said it already sounds like you’ve got a good plan! I started revising around this time so its definitely not too late. I also only did about 4 hours (at the weekend) and 2 hours in the week, but I had a lot of days off as well. Also sounds mean but don’t listen to anyone at school, everyone works differently so don’t feel bad if there's someone revising like 8 hours a day.
I’ll try and put some advice for the subjects I did down below:
- Science: I didn’t make any notes (I got them off the physics and maths tutor website), I’d just practice on seneca, and then when I felt I knew the content, just did loads of past papers. I also watched freesciencelessons on youtube so if you haven’t seen that already I’d definitely recommend it!
- Maths: literally just past papers, then ask a teacher/youtube/textbook if there was something I didn’t understand
- English lang: sounds like you’ve got a good plan already, past papers is really the only way to go – and reading example grade 9s like you said will help you get a feel for what the examiner wants [also for the creative writing bit just use some fancy words and they eat it up]
- English lit: I tried to learn quotes that could apply to lots of different themes, so I didn’t have to learn as many. Also made mindmaps with analysis & quotes for each theme/character.
- History: I revised by using past papers if that makes sense? So I’d pick an essay question (you could even ask a teacher for extra ones/make some up yourself) and I’d do a detailed plan for it – using my textbook & notes for the evidence so I was learning as I went. Also for content used seneca again, and youtube (there’s a really good playlist for cold war which I also used for a level: the channel is called I'm Stuck - GCSE and A-Level Revision). Also this was more at a level, but I would pick a topic and just talk to myself about what I knew, seemed to work lol
- Sorry for business I will not be much help to you there
- For Spanish just do as many past papers as you can, especially from your exam board but also from others if you run out. I did aqa and there was a vocab book – I tried to learn words off that cause they would reuse those words in the exams. Would definitely recommend even if you don’t do aqa
That’s everything, I hope some of this helps and if you have any more questions im happy to help
You sound like you have a great plan, just make sure you stay consistent with revision, even if it’s only 20 minutes a day it will make a big difference
And also think about the massive summer before college (if that’s where you’re going) and that kept me going 😊