A realistic exam-week plan that doesn't burn you out
What to do in the seven days before a GCSE or A-Level paper — without pulling all-nighters.
The week before an exam is where good marks are won or quietly lost. The trick is to pace it.
Day 7 to Day 5
Do a brain-dump for every topic in the spec. Write down everything you remember on a blank page, then compare with your notes. The gaps are your revision priority list — not the topics you already know.
Day 4 to Day 2
- Each day, pick three topics from your gap list.
- For each topic: 20 minutes of focused review, then 20 minutes of active practice (flashcards, quiz, or past-paper questions).
- End every session with a one-paragraph summary in your own words.
Day 1
Stop learning new material. Skim summaries, run through mistakes from past papers, and pack your bag the night before. Sleep is a revision tool — treat it like one.
On the day
Eat. Show up early. Read every question twice. If you blank, move on and come back. The mark schemes love specific keywords, so when you don't know the full answer, write down what you do know using the language of the spec.