Every summer, thousands of students nationwide sit for their GCSE exams. In total, each student will sit anywhere between 18 to 25 exams. 

The exam season is an interesting and pivotal time in your academic life, so it goes without saying how important it is to try your best to prepare. The last thing you need is another person telling you how stressful, impactful, and important this time of your life will be.

For this reason, this post is setting out to reach you sooner rather than later.

When should you start revising for your GCSE exams?

The best time to start your GCSE exam revision is at the start of year 11. This may seem too early, but starting the academic year with a revision plan will give you enough time to cover (and revisit) all the material you're learning. You'll also have buffer time to iron out any topics you're unsure of, or enlist the help of a tutor in good time. 

The second best, or the “optimum” time to start your exams, is around 6 months before your first exam. If you do, you'll have just enough time to revise at a steady pace. This is an ideal time to get started and to really 'lock in'.

When is the 3rd Best Time To Start Revising for your GCSE exams?

If the first (or second) best time doesn’t apply to you, you're probably wondering when the next best time is. For this, mark January or March on your calendar and buckle down to work through your learning material.

If you don’t have a tutor to support you with your GCSE exam preparation, you may benefit from the guidance of an experienced tutor at this stage. This support in the run-up to your exams can help keep you on track. Though they aren't magicians, tutors can help you fine-tune your exam techniques and time management skills. Tutors can also help you fill gaps in your knowledge. 

This gives you three to five months to complete your revision and have someone with the experience (and time) to help you along the way. Since you’ll be sitting your exams for at least 10 to 12 subjects, you should aim to pace yourself in your revision to prevent burnout. 

If you’re reading this with only a few months left to your exams and you need a tutor, Dream Team Tutoring is here to help. We offer GCSE English and Maths tutoring sessions with a qualified tutor. Click this link to get in touch.

Can’t I Just Start My Revision The Month Or the Week Before My GCSE Exams?

You shouldn't. You really shouldn't because this is a very risky gamble, that you are much better off without if you can help it. If you leave your revision until the last minute, you may not fulfil your potential. Mainly because you'll be racing against the clock to catch up on content you otherwise would have had time to cover.

However, all hope isn't lost, as there are a few things you can still do. Practice papers are a good idea. This is because they allow you to practice before the 'real thing'. Another benefit to completing past exam papers is they give you an idea of the questions asked in previous years, and examiner reports too. 

Examiner reports are examiners' overall commentary on students' performance in exams that year for that subject. These reports on GCSE exams share what students did well, identify areas for improvement and cover 'common misunderstandings'. This gives you a sense of previous students' performance, and tips you can include when completing your practice (and real) exam papers.

If you are studying with the AQA exam board, here are their past exam papers. If you've been preparing with the Edexcel exam board, here and for OCR here.

In short, avoid this option at all costs. However, if you are in this situation, check out this post. 

Main Takeaway - What Should You Do Now Before Your GCSE Exams?

It's always a good idea to start your revision sooner rather than later to give yourself enough time to prepare. However, we understand that GCSE exams can be stressful for many students. Remember that your future self will thank you if you can prevent burnout or undue pressure.

So there you have it, our take on the best time to start the revision for your GCSE exams. If you found this article helpful, like it so that we know you find it useful.

Happy Revising!