GCSE Study Tips

Make a revision timetable!
Whilst making a revision timetable can sound a bit intimidating at first, it's actually a lot easier than you might think. First, decide how much time you realistically can dedicate to revision - for example, an hour and a half every night, or three to four hours every two to three nights. Total up how many hours of revision you plan to do throughout the week and divide it into blocks based on the number of subjects you have: for example, if you study seven subjects and plan to do ten hours of revision throughout the week, each subject may initially be given an hour and twenty minutes each week. Then make any necessary personal adjustments - more on that in the next point!
Identify your strengths and your weaknesses.
Although it's generally a good idea to revise for all of your subjects, some may ultimately require more revision than others depending on your own strengths and weaknesses. Whether you're a strong Maths student who struggles to memorize Modern Language vocab words or a talented essay writer who needs a bit of extra time to grasp some concepts in Biology, shifting your revision timetable around to cover your weaker areas can lead to higher grades overall. I know first-hand that it's very tempting to revise only for the subjects that you enjoy; however, they're probably the ones that you're strongest in already!
Allow yourself some breaks.
Achieving a great set of GCSEs is certainly something to be proud of, but it shouldn't be your sole focus in life. Remember to allow yourself breaks both during revision and from revision, and give yourself time to rest and recover when you can. There's no harm in dedicating a few spare hours to your favourite hobby/sport over the weekend, or taking the occasional night off from revision during the week; after all, you're only human!
Reach out to your teachers if you feel yourself falling behind.
Teachers are there to support you - so if you feel like you're not quite grasping a certain topic, talk to them! If you’re like me and not confident enough to raise your hand during class, you can always reach out to them through email or ask them for a quick chat after class about online resources/other teaching material available. Every GCSE teacher I had was always happy to help when I pointed out what I was genuinely struggling with, and they'd often go over the topic in a future class just to make sure I fully understood it.
Don't stress too much if you don't enjoy a subject.
Unlike A-Levels, where students typically only study three subjects, students at GCSE level often study anywhere between five to twelve different subjects. Obviously this is a lot - and it's completely understandable that you might not enjoy them all (especially mandatory ones, like Maths or English Lit). Don't stress too much if you have one or two subjects that you don't feel are right for you: you'll have the opportunity to drop them if you pursue higher education, and the important thing at this stage is to just try your best and approach these subjects with a good attitude.
I ultimately achieved 11 A*’s in my GCSEs by following these tips, so hopefully they can help some current GCSE students!
Eve (Kingston Rep).