Revision Tips for Exams: Planning

As part of an ongoing series, I’m breaking down the essentials to help you prepare for exams. Whether you're getting ready for your GCSEs or an entry exam, these tips are transferable and designed to help you feel confident and prepared.

This post focuses on the first step: preparing to revise—making sure you have everything in place before you dive in.

Top Tip: The earlier you start revising, the better. Don’t leave it to the last minute!

1. Know Your Exam Timetable

Check with your teacher, subject lead, or exams officer to confirm when your exams take place. While exam boards may run papers at the same time nationally, it’s always a good idea to double-check your own schedule.

If you need extra support, like additional time or a reader, now is the time to sort that out. Don’t wait until the last minute to ask—get it in place early so you can plan confidently.

Once you know your exam dates, you can prioritise subjects and build your revision timetable. You might want to:

• Use a spreadsheet to track your sessions
• Download or print a blank revision planner
• Laminate a timetable and use a wipe-clean pen to adapt your plan weekly

Remember to include not just revision and school/work, but also time for rest and relaxation. Being able to “switch off” is just as important for your success as studying.

2. Create a Realistic Plan

It’s often suggested that you revise for 4–5 hours a day during peak revision periods—but quality matters more than quantity. Use your time well and revise in ways that suit your learning style.

If you’ve seen my Instagram post on learning types, you’ll know what works best for you (and if you’re a mix of several styles, that’s completely fine!). For example:

• Visual learners might benefit from watching a documentary and taking notes
• Practical learners might use hands-on resources or try teaching others
• Reading/writing learners might focus on revision booklets and written summaries

Don’t forget to set specific daily goals, like:

• "Revise two topics from science today"
• "Read and summarise 10 pages of my history notes"

Keep goals realistic, and don’t just focus on academic tasks—schedule in time to go for a walk, chat with friends, or just relax. Staying hydrated and taking regular breaks will help your brain absorb information better.

3. Gather Your Resources

Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need. There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting down to revise and realising your pen’s out of ink or your notes are missing.

Here’s a checklist of useful items:

• Sticky notes
• Notepad or paper
• Class notes and revision booklets
• Pens, pencils, and highlighters
• A timer (for techniques like Pomodoro)
• Headphones and a calming playlist
• Plenty of water and a few snacks
• Any specific resources your teacher has recommended

Final Thought

Preparing to revise isn’t just about hitting the books, it’s about setting yourself up for success with the right mindset, goals, and structure. Take a little time now to get organised and you’ll thank yourself later. To help you get started, I’ve created a free downloadable revision timetable and planning sheets—perfect for mapping out your time, setting daily goals, and staying on track. 

All you need to do is download the PDFs, print them off and you can always laminate them or print what you need to help you succeed!