I know GCSEs can be one of the most stressful times as a high school student. Suddenly you've got 20+ exams and you don't feel like you're ready for any of them. But here are some small pieces of advice that helped me.
1. Try not to get in your head too much
I know it seems easier to say than actually do and these are the exams that show all your hard work but trust me when I say they're not everything. As long as you get the grades to get into college it is not the end of the world.
2. Try to start revising in small sessions early on
If you revise months before an hour here and there is much better than revising constantly for several months straight and burning yourself out and also much better than cramming 3 years of content into the. night before or even the morning of the exam.
3. If your school gives study leave use it wisely
If your school ends lessons in may halfway through exams try to stay in school in your time between exams as this is the place where you're con dittoed to work are there are the least distractions. Try find a study space like a library and use all this time to revise.
4. Find the revision techniques that work for you
Doing hours of revision that isn't going to help you remember the content is pointless, if you are not a visual learner then don't spend all you're ti e making posters instead focus on something else. My favourite study technique is flashcards.
5. Group together but don't let people distract you
Studying in groups can often be a good way to discuss different view points and helpful in some subjects such as English to see different ways to portray characters. It was awful helpful for me and friends in the hours before exams to go through what quotes we knew or facts for there sciences and formulae for maths.
6. Attend the study sessions after school
I know that staying an hour or two after a full days work can be extremely draining, but those last little bits of advice from your teachers could be make or break in the exam also, topic overviews can show you weaknesses in your content knowledge.
7. Don't just revise the easy stuff you know
It can be very easy to chose to go over the stuff you already know and find easy as it boosts your confidence about your knowledge but if you find it easy you should spend less time on it and move onto the content you don't know as well.
8. Make a revision timetable
I know you've probably been told this a thousand times by your school and teachers because I know I was. But, honestly it is quite necessary to keep track of which subjects you're revising so you don't focus on your favourites. I advise sticking to it from the start and not saying 'i'll do that hour tomorrow' because you never will. If you don't follow it from the start it will be hard to commit later.
9.Revise in 1 hour periods
If you revise for long periods of time such as two hours without a break then the information is most likely not going in so take a 5 minute tea break or go for a walk because it is not helping you.
10. Turn your phone off
Either turn it off or give it to a parent and tell them not to give it back until your hour is done. If your phone is anywhere near you then you will feel like you need to check it or just google something or this or that but then waste valuable time.
11. Stay in touch with your friends
Do not sacrifice all socialising to revise, leave spaces in your revision schedule as in this very stressful time knowing everyone feels like that is somewhat comforting. Whether its just a FaceTime or a coffee out keep connected.
12. Just trust yourself
If you've been doing the work and listening in your lessons you're just reminding yourself of the content and all the hardwork pays off.
Thanks for reading this post! I wish luck to all students sitting any exams this year or next!!