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GCSE is the qualification taken by 15 and 16 year olds to mark their graduation from the Key Stage 4 phase of secondary education in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

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Digital exams will help young people develop the skills they need for the future, a new report by AQA says.

Numeracy, literacy and digital fluency are the skills that will future-proof our young people and should be the focus for policy makers, says AQA in a report published today.

Are you currently studying at school or college? Do you want to be involved in shaping the future of assessment with the UK's largest exam board? If you do, then we're looking for you.

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AQA - education charity providing GCSEs, A-levels and support

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OCR - awarding body for A Levels, GCSEs, Cambridge Nationals, Cambridge Technicals and other qualifications

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Eduqas are one the largest providers of qualifications for schools, academies, sixth form and further education colleges across England, offering valued qualifications to suit a range of abilities. Each and every one of our qualifications is carefully designed to stimulate students and to equip them for the next stage of their lives.

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WJEC is a leading awarding organisation providing assessment, training and educational resources in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and elsewhere.

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Exams and Mental Health ft. Roma, Simon, Beattie | Voice Box | Childline

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How To Cope With Exam Stress | This Morning

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An Introduction to Exam Stress & Anxiety Ep. 1 | A-level & GCSE | SnapRevise

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This can help if:

Your child is struggling with exam stress

You want to know how other parents have coped

Communication has always helped us

My daughter's final year of school was really difficult for her and for me. Her mother and I are divorced and we decided she should come and live with me for her final year of school. We get along really well. Communication is a really big part of this:

I always say what's on my mind and I expect my children to do the same to me.

I've always set clear boundaries for them - they know what is okay and what's not acceptable in my house.

When I talk to them I try to be honest. For example, if they ask me something and I don't know the answer then we'll look it up together.

How I helped Annie deal with her stress

About halfway through Year 12, when she was doing her mid-year exams, Annie started to feel the pressure. She'd come home from school and have a meltdown. I helped her organise her study routine by being patient and sometimes just by giving her a big hug if she felt overwhelmed. These tips in particular helped:

If Annie came home from school in a bad mood I'd give her about 15 minutes in her room to calm down, then I'd go in there and ask about it.

We set up a study plan above her desk in her room, with blocks of time for each subject. She found that helpful because she felt more in control.

Every night we'd have dinner together with no TV, no phones, no gadgets or gizmos on the table. That was always a good chance to talk.

Stress is harder for her because she has Asperger's

Annie was diagnosed with Asperger's when she was really young. She's quite outgoing, but does have trouble with socialising and also with calming herself when she is stressed.

For Annie that means crying, yelling and screaming and retreating to her room. She also has a couple of repetitive physical behaviours - I call them tics. One is that she flaps her arm up and down; often hitting her leg so hard she'll bruise it. That gets very intense when Annie is under stress.

The best help for stress was our study strategies

Annie takes some medication to help with her symptoms of Asperger's and we thought maybe tweaking the meds might help her. But after talking with the paediatrician we decided not to go down that path, as ordinarily her medication works quite well. So it was up to Annie and me.

Some days were harder than others, but she came through the mid-year exams and it was choppy but we sailed through until the end-of-year exams. She found these difficult again stress wise, but with the same strategies and a bit of patience we got through those as well. Now she's at uni and I couldn't be prouder of her.

What Annie and I have learned

I asked Annie what she learned from her difficult final year of school and she told me she's got more confidence in herself. She doesn't stress as much about study because she knows she's capable of getting through it. And having Asperger's means she needs to take a bit more time.

The biggest thing I've learned is not to yell back when she gets angry. It only ever makes things worse. When I stay calm, she eventually comes back to my level. When you treat your children with respect, saying please and thank you and being there for them when they need you, that's the best way of weathering the tough times.

Did you find what you needed?

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A parent's story about exam stress - ReachOut Parents

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Your child is struggling with exam stress You want to know how other parents have coped My daughter's final year of school was really difficult for her and for me. Her mother and I are divorced and we decided she should come and live with me for her final year of school.

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If you're worried about how your child is coping with exams at school, here is our advice and information on where you can get help.

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Exams are a stressful time for any young person

Mood swings and outbursts are more likely to occur during this period. Look out for other signs that your child may be struggling, including poor sleep patterns or a change in appetite or behaviour.

It's worth preparing ways of supporting your child during exam weeks and thinking about how you will react and respond on the day if they don't get the result that they, or you, are hoping for.

Things that can help your child in the lead up to exams

Work with your child to find what revision style works for them.

Encourage your child to take revision breaks and find a balance between studying and doing things they find enjoyable and relaxing.

Make sure they are eating and drinking at regular intervals.

Encourage them to take some time after revising to wind down.

Reassure them - reinforce that you are and will be proud of them no matter what happens.

Remain positive and hopeful!

Plan a treat or an activity together to mark the end of the exams.

Set aside one to one time so that they can talk to you about any worries.

Let them know their feelings are valid and normal, but also offer support and solutions where possible.

Anxiety is often worst at night and this means it is useful to encourage a good bedtime routine.

Work with them to develop relaxation techniques.

If anxiety and stress start impacting their day-to-day life, seek help from your GP.

Helping your child to plan a realistic revision timetable, which breaks the days and subjects down into manageable chunks, will reduce their anxiety by increasing their sense of control and confidence.

How to help your child manage exam stress

How the school can support you

Speak to your child's teacher(s) to find out what revision techniques they recommend.

If your child is struggling with a specific subject, talk to the relevant teacher and explore whether they can provide additional help.

Find out if the school has learning mentors that can help with practical steps including revision timetables.

If your child has additional learning or developmental needs, speak to the school SENCO and establish what specialist provision they can put in place.

Exam Stress - Roundup | YoungMinds Parents Lounge

How to manage a 'disappointing' exam results day

If your child is unhappy with their exam results it can be tough to deal with. Here are some things that can help:

If your child is happy to show you their results statement, you might find it helpful to have a look, just in case they have misread or misunderstood, or overlooked something.

Accept their feelings, whatever they are - disappointment, anger, embarrassment, bravado. Their feelings are neither right nor wrong, they just are. Don't offer immediate judgement, or solutions, or even reassurance - there will be plenty of time for conversations later.

Reflect back how they are feeling to show you have understood, for example, "I can see you're disappointed with the Maths result."

Let them know you love them through highs and lows. Big hugs are good (although probably very embarrassing in public).

Show you're on their side - it could be something small like getting their favourite snack.

Give yourself some breathing space and time to reflect.

Ask the school to help your child explore any possible next steps, such as re-takes, re-marking or alternative courses.

If your child is disappointed with their results, they might also be embarrassed. Agree with your child how they want their results discussed with family and friends, if at all.

You might also find this helpful:

Where to get further help

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

Help us improve our content

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Exam Time & Exam Stress | Parents Guide To Support

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Exams are a stressful time for any young person, if you're worried about how your child is coping read our tips and advice on how to help.

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Revision tips

Make a realistic revision schedule. Work out how much you have to do and the time you have to do it in, then break it down into manageable chunks. Aim to do a few hours of revision each day, and mix up your subjects so you do not get bored.

Find a revision style that suits you. Studying alone in a quiet room suits some people, but not everyone likes working in silence. Try playing music quietly in the background, or revising with a friend (but do not let them distract you!).

Customise your notes to make them more personal. Experiment with colour coding, notes on postcards, diagrams or whatever helps you learn your topic.

Make sure you understand everything. If you come across something you do not understand, try to find a new source of information that will help you understand it. Just memorising it will not help you in your exam. Do not be afraid to ask your teacher or a friend for help if you need it.

Look at past exam papers. It means you can familiarise yourself with the layout and type of questions you'll be asked. Practise completing exam papers in the set time limit to improve your exam technique.

Take regular short breaks. Studying for hours and hours will only make you tired and ruin your concentration, which may make you even more anxious. A break every 45 to 60 minutes is about right.

Reward yourself. For example, you could take a long bath or watch a good movie once you have finished your revision session.

Do something physical. When you're not revising, use your spare time to get away from your books and do something active. Exercise is good for taking your mind off stress and keeping you positive, and it will help you sleep better.

Ask for help. If you're feeling stressed, it's important to talk to someone you trust, such as a family member, teacher or a friend. Lots of people find exams difficult to deal with, so do not be embarrassed to ask for support.

How to handle exam days

Be prepared. Start the day with a good breakfast, and give yourself plenty of time to get to the exam hall. Remember to take everything you need, including pencils, pens and a calculator. A bottle of water and some tissues are also useful.

Take a few minutes to read the instructions and questions. Then you'll know exactly what's expected of you. Ask an exam supervisor if anything is unclear - they're there to help you.

Plan how much time you'll need for each question. Do not panic if you get stuck on a question, but try to leave yourself enough time at the end to come back to it.

Once the exam is finished, forget about it. Do not spend too much time going over it in your head or comparing answers with your friends. Just focus on the next exam instead.

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Make a realistic revision schedule. Work out how much you have to do and the time you have to do it in, then break it down into manageable chunks. Aim to do a few hours of revision each day, and mix up your subjects so you do not get bored.

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Exam Stress | How To Deal with Exam Stress

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It's normal to feel a bit worried about exams, but sometimes they can make you feel anxious or depressed. Find out how you can deal with exam stress.

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You just heard you have a math test on Friday - the same day as your big history test and weekly quiz on Spanish verbs. Are they crazy? How will you get all your studying done?

Don't panic. There are some secrets to good studying. These 5 study tips can help you take tests with confidence.

1. Start Studying in School

Studying for tests and quizzes actually starts way before you even know you'll have a test. Good study techniques begin in the classroom as you take notes. Note-taking is a way of remembering what you were taught or what you've read about.

Some keys to note-taking are to write down facts that a teacher mentions or writes on the board during class. If you miss something, ask your teacher to go over the facts with you after class.

Keep your notes organized by subject and making sure they're easy to read and review. This may mean that you need to recopy some notes at home or during a free period while the class is still fresh in your mind.

Unfortunately, most schools don't have classes that teach you how to take notes. When it comes to taking good notes, it can take some experimenting to figure out what works, so don't give up.

2. Plan Your Study Time

When you sit down to study, think about how much time you want to devote to each topic. This will keep you from getting overwhelmed.

If it's Monday, and you've got three tests on Friday, figure out how much time you need for studying between now and then. Then figure out how long each subject will take. For example, a weekly Spanish verb test probably won't be as intense as a big history test. So you won't need to set aside as much study time for the Spanish test - and if you break it up into a short amount every night, that's even better.

Another study technique is called "chunking" - breaking large topics down into chunks. Let's say you have a history test on World War II. Instead of thinking about studying all of World War II (which could overwhelm even an expert), try breaking your study sessions into 2-year chunks or studying the material by specific battles.

Most people can concentrate well for about 45 minutes. After that you'll probably want to take a short break. If you find yourself getting distracted and thinking about other things as you study, pull your attention back. Remind yourself that when your 45 minutes of studying are up, you can take a 15-minute break.

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3. Study Based on the Type of Test You're Taking

Many teachers tell students ahead of time what the format of an exam will be. This can help you tailor how you study. For example, if you know you're going to have multiple-choice questions on World War II, you'll know to focus on studying facts and details. But if the exam will contain essay questions, you'll want to think about which topics are most likely to be covered. Then come up with several possible essay topics and use your notes, books, and other reference sources to figure out how you might answer questions on those topics.

As you study, review your notes and any special information from your textbook. Read things over several times if you need to, and write down any phrases or thoughts that will help you remember main ideas or concepts.

When trying to memorize dates, names, or other factual information, keep in mind that it usually takes a number of tries to remember something correctly. That's one reason why it's a good idea to start studying well in advance of a test. Use special memory triggers that the teacher may have suggested or ones that you invent yourself.

In the case of math or science problems or equations, do some practice problems. Pay special attention to anything the teacher seemed to stress in class. (This is where good note-taking comes in handy!)

Some people find it helps to teach what they're studying aloud to an imaginary student. Or work with a study partner and take turns teaching aloud. Another study technique is making flashcards that summarize some of the important facts or concepts. You can then use these to review for a test.

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4. Resist the Urge to Procrastinate

It's tempting to put off studying until the last minute (also known as procrastination). Unfortunately, by the time students get to high school there's so much going on that there's usually no room for procrastination.

If you're a procrastinator (and who isn't sometimes?), one of the best ways to overcome it is by staying organized. After you've written test dates and project due dates on a calendar, it's hard to ignore them. And sitting down to organize and plan your work really highlights how much time things take. Organization makes it harder to procrastinate.

Sometimes people put off studying because they feel overwhelmed by the fact that they're behind on things or they just feel really disorganized. Don't let this happen to you. Keep your notes organized, stay on top of required readings, and follow the other study tips mentioned earlier to stay focused and in control. Your teachers will give you plenty of notice on important tests so you have enough time to study for the type of exam you'll be taking.

But what if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the stuff you have to do? Are classes or extracurricular activities limiting your time to study properly? Ask your teachers for help prioritizing. You may need to involve the people in charge of your activities - such as your coach or music or drama teacher - in working out a solution.

Don't wait until the last minute to talk to your teachers, though, or you'll just look like a procrastinator! And don't be afraid to ask for help. Teachers respect students who are thoughtful and interested in learning and doing well.

5. Start a Study Group

Sometimes it can be useful to go over things with people who are studying for the same test: You can make sure that your notes are correct and that you understand the subject. Study groups are also helpful because you can work together to come up with ways to remember concepts and then test one another.

For some people who are easily distracted, though, study groups spell disaster because they get off the topic. When you're with a bunch of friends or classmates, you may spend more time hanging out than actually studying. One way to ensure quiet and focus when studying with a group is to study in the library. You'll be forced to keep things more low-key than if you're at someone's kitchen table.

In the end, it comes down to what works best for you. If you like to study alone and feel most confident doing it that way, that's great. If you think you'd like to work in a group, try it out - just be aware of the drawbacks.

The Payoff

When you've finished studying, you should feel like you can approach the test or quiz with confidence - not necessarily that you will get 100% of the answers correct, but that you have a good understanding of the information.

Most of all, don't panic if you can't remember some facts the night before the test. Even if you've spent all evening studying, the brain needs time to digest all that information. You'll be surprised by what comes back to you after sleeping.

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You just heard you have a math test on Friday - the same day as your big history test and weekly quiz on Spanish verbs. Are they crazy? How will you get all your studying done? Don't panic. There are some secrets to good studying.

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The parents' guide to secondary school: assessment explained | TheSchoolRun

Exams are part and parcel of secondary school life, but do you know exactly what assessments your child will take?

From Year 7 tests through to GCSEs, assessment is something that every secondary school student has to get used to. But with big shake-ups to the exam system underway, it can be hard, as a parent, to get your head around the tests your child will take in KS3 and KS4. We take a look at optional and statutory testing at secondary school, and explain what's involved.

Year 7 CATs

Some schools put Year 7 pupils into sets or streams based on their KS2 SATs results, but many prefer to reassess them soon after starting secondary school. Lots of them use cognitive abilities tests, or CATs. Rather than testing knowledge, they assess how children think and what their potential might be.

CATs cover four areas: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and spatial ability. They help teachers know which set or stream to put pupils in, and identify those who need extra support or gifted and talented provision.

Assessment in Years 7 to 9

There's no mandatory national testing for students in Years 7 to 9, but teachers do have to do their own assessments of their progress and attainment. This takes the form of ongoing teacher assessment (for example, through observations and classwork), periodic progress checks and end-of-term/end-of-year tests.

The results of these assessments have to be reported to parents, but the information you're given will vary: some schools give grades (or estimates of the grades pupils are expected to achieve at GCSE), while others will just tell you whether or not your child has reached the expected standard for their age.

GCSEs

GCSEs are usually taken at the end of KS4 (Year 11, when students are aged 15 or 16) in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Normally, pupils choose their GCSE subjects in Year 9, and start studying for them at the beginning of Year 10.

Some schools enter pupils for some of their GCSEs a year early, at the end of Year 10. This is usually to get certain subjects are 'out of the way', giving pupils more time to focus on other subjects in Year 11. If students don't do as well as they hoped, they can re-sit the exams the following summer. However, the number of schools entering students early has plummeted since the Government announced that only a pupil's first attempt at a GCSE will be counted in league tables, even if they subsequently retake the exam and achieve a higher mark.

Until summer 2016, pupils were awarded a mark from A* to G; as of 2019 all GCSE subjects are graded numerically.

The new GCSE exams grade students from 9 to 1, with 9 roughly equivalent to A*, and 4 a low grade C. The Department for Education has produced a parents' guide to the new GCSE grading system.

The compulsory subjects at GCSE level are English, maths and science (core subjects), computing, PE and citizenship (foundation subjects). Schools also have to offer at least one subject from each of the following areas: arts, design and technology, humanities and modern languages.

The number of GCSEs that students take will depend on the school and their academic ability. An average student will take eight GCSEs; an exceptional student might take 12.

Some subjects, including English, maths and science, are assessed purely by exam. Others include an element of coursework or practical work. For example, 30 per cent of the marks in design and technology are allocated to practical work, and in modern languages, 60 per cent of the marks come from coursework and practicals. Dance and drama are 60 per cent practical, and art and design is 100 per cent practical.

Modular GCSEs, where pupils sat an exam at the end of each unit of study and the marks were combined to give their final grade, have been phased out, and now GCSEs are linear (i.e. they have an exam at the end of the course).

Currently, there are five different exam boards offering GCSEs. The syllabus and exam content will vary between the boards, as will the exam dates, but they all have to cover the core National Curriculum content. Students sit their GCSEs in May and June, and get their results on the last Thursday in August.

Scottish National Qualifications

Previously, students in Scotland took Standard exams rather than GCSEs. These have been replaced by Scottish National Qualifications. Students who would previously have taken Standards now take National 4 and National 5 qualifications.

National 4s are made up of units, with students assessed on the basis of their classwork. They also have to complete an assignment, performance, test or practical activity. There is a simple pass or fail result.

National 5s are partly teacher-assessed, and partly externally assessed, usually through an exam and a piece of coursework. Students are graded A to C.

Alternatives to GCSEs

Some schools offer vocational alternatives to GCSEs. These include:

BTEC: career-based qualifications that give students the skills they need to move on to higher education or employment. Subjects offered range from art and design, music and sports science to childcare and engineering. Assessment is usually through teacher-assessed assignments such as essays, projects and artwork; however, some BTECs have externally-marked exams. They're graded Pass, Merit or Distinction. A Level 1 or Level 2 BTEC is equivalent to one or two GCSEs, depending on the subject.

NVQ: National Vocational Qualifications are work-based qualifications designed to prepare students for employment, and, as the name suggests, focus on vocational subjects such as hairdressing, plumbing and catering. They're assessed through portfolio work and observation. A Level 2 NVQ is equivalent to five GCSEs at grade A* to C. Usually, NVQs are combined with part-time work, but they are offered by some schools.

City & Guilds Technical Qualifications: these are skills-based qualifications designed for 14-19-year-olds. They're available in subjects like construction, engineering, hospitality and catering. At KS4, they're usually studied alongside GCSEs, rather than as an alternative. A Technical Qualification is normally equivalent to one or two GCSEs.

BBC Bitesize has a range of starting secondary school resources offering support and information about all aspects of secondary school life for parents and children.

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The parents' guide to secondary school: assessment explained

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The parents' guide to secondary school: assessment explained | TheSchoolRun Exams are part and parcel of secondary school life, but do you know exactly what assessments your child will take? From Year 7 tests through to GCSEs, assessment is something that every secondary school student has to get used to.

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How to deal with LOTS of content to study for exams

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Do you know how to revise? It might sound like a silly question, but some killer revision tips could take your revision, and consequently your exam prospects, from whatever to wow.

This is what students on our sister site The Student Room (TSR), who received at least one A* in their A-level exams, attributed their success to. And no, none of them include leaving things to the last minute...

Alternatively, skip down to our top A-level revision tips including answers to common study questions.

How to revise: revision tips from A* students

Read the examiners' reports

Rather than try to guess what those marking your paper are looking for, it can pay off to do a little digging. Believe it or not, the answer is out there...

My number one gold-star advice (and I genuinely believe this is the only reason I got my A* in English language) is this: read the examiners' reports. Then read them again.

What baffles me is that, year upon year, the exam boards make public a document that is, wait for it, written by the people who are going to mark your papers. And in it, they tell you what they like to read. They also give you examples of what not to do.

Exam-technique wise, this is the most useful and important resource you have. Utilise it. Be all fancy and print it off and highlight key points and make spider diagrams. Stick it on your fridge. Memorise it, then eat the paper - whatever! Just make sure, if you're doing an essay subject, you walk into that exam knowing that, for the past five years in a row, examiners have given high marks to pupils who offer criticisms to viewpoints, or who relate to personal research. Thompsonic7 | The Student Room Member

Want more advice? This video has some general advice from A-level examiners.

Check past papers

This is a great way to get accustomed to the type of questions you'll face in an exam, as well as the language the questions will be told in - something like this might throw you off if you're encountering it for the first time on exam day.

Practice is key, so getting your hands on past paper questions and answers is very important. You're able to make connections between different areas of the syllabus. This is very important when it comes to A / A* questions.

So put down those revision cards and mind-maps once you've learned them. There's no point going over something a million times; you need to be able to apply it. At least two weeks before your exams, start concentrating on past papers. Do each one at least twice. With each one, trawl through the mark scheme and ensure you understand everything there. This gives you a better idea of how to think through an exam question.

I rarely just know the answer. In the harder questions, I have to think about it and work it out. That's what you need to be able to do to get the high grades. Dmccririck | The Student Room Member

Using past papers? This video has some tips.

Be prepared

It might seem tedious, but it's best to have all your bases covered than spend the exam kicking yourself that you didn't revise that one area you glossed over.

If you're unsure what will come up in an exam, get a copy of the syllabus off the internet and literally tick off every single thing on the list. Britchick | The Student Room Member

Make it more manageable

Starting to revise can feel overwhelming, especially if an exam covers two years of work. Breaking things down can be a great psychological win and make things slightly more achievable.

Break down your subject into ordered sections. Breaking down the exam into lots of little sections makes revision less daunting, and you'll know exactly where you stand in terms of how much you've done.

For my exams, I broke down a module into 20 sections or topics. It meant it didn't seem like much of a chore to start the next one, as they didn't last long. Then, before I knew it, I'd whizzed through the module without it being much work. Britchick | The Student Room Member

Break it down: this video explains how breaking information down into smaller pieces makes it easier to remember.

Don't be tempted to cram

Don't leave things to the last minute, thinking that it will stick in your head if you do (it won't).

Get into the habit of doing a little nightly or weekly throughout the year. By the time you get to revision season, everything will (hopefully) feel more manageable. This will also leave you more time to practise and test what you really know.

Create a plan

Having everything written down in front of you will ensure nothing gets forgotten and give you a basis to work from. This can make a real difference when you have multiple subjects to study for.

The best thing my mum ever did for me was make me set up a revision timetable. I wrote out every topic within every subject I needed to revise, then estimated how many sessions of 50 minutes I would need to revise that topic.

I then put this into a timetable so when it came down to revising I wouldn't spend ages just flicking through any book finding something to revise, but would know exactly what area I was to cover in that time period. Strawberryjellybaby | The Student Room Member

Getting organised? This video has more tips on making a revision timetable.

Common A-level revision questions: FAQs

When should you start revising?
This will depend on how many exams you have, when they are and how prepared you are already. Most students will begin just before or during the Easter holidays, but focus on what your needs are, and plan accordingly.

Mocks are a great way to kick off your revision, whether these take place before or after Christmas. Here you can start getting your notes together, figure out a study plan and discover what techniques work best for you. This can save time when preparing for the real thing, later.

When you get your mock results back, this will tell you how you're doing, what material has stuck and what you need to work on. Check out our tips on what to do if your mocks go badly.

From there, you can decide when to begin. This might begin with simply making notes or highlighting key information, and ramp up slowly to actually memorising this and doing past papers. Again, things will vary from student to student; don't try to get too bogged down by what others are doing.

Your teachers can also give you some guidance on when to begin and what you should be doing, as they will know you best.
How many hours should you revise per day?
Again, this will depend on how much you need to revise, how you're doing so far and how you best revise.

You don't want to be in a situation where you haven't got enough time to cover everything you need to, so start early if you have to, to get the job done. Cramming, overly long revision sessions and not covering material in enough detail won't do you any good.

Stick to short revision sessions, take breaks, and switch up what and how you study to keep things interesting. A four-hour study session without breaks may look impressive; but if you're not remembering what you need to, how effective is it really? The human brain can only go so long without being distracted, so don't push yourself beyond your limits.

If you need to meet a certain number of study hours in a single day, experiment with revising at different times to avoid long, unproductive sessions. This might mean doing a little work before school, at lunchtime or after school (before and after dinner).

This might not sound fun, but exam season is where you'll need to learn to prioritise commitments in your life (temporarily) for a greater goal - a worthy life lesson. So things like extracurricular clubs, sports, part-time jobs, browsing Instagram, playing video games and seeing friends might need to be put on the shelf (if possible) for now. That doesn't mean you should be working 24/7 and not blow off steam here and there; but be smart with your time and earn your rewards.

Time to revise? This video covers how much time to spend studying.

What are the best revision techniques to study effectively?
Studying in shorter sessions with breaks, and revising different subjects in different ways, often works best for most. This will keep your brain stimulated, whereas doing the same thing for too long will likely make you switch off.

Revision doesn't mean sitting in your room alone staring at a book, either. Everyone is different and there are lots of ways to approach studying, so find the method that works best for you - use your mocks to help you decide what works for you:

Alone vs with others: do you need a disciplined friend to keep you motivated and stop you reaching for your phone? Or will you simply be distracted by their presence?

At home or elsewhere: not everyone has an area at home to revise comfortably for long periods. Whether it be Netflix, games or dad popping in to grab your laundry, many distractions at home can stop you getting into the groove.

Study rooms at school, the library or a local café can be alternative study spots. Make sure you have sufficient light so you're not straining your eyes, a sturdy chair that won't leave you hunched over, and enough space for all your books, notes and equipment (plus a study snack).

With music or in silence: dead silence can drive some people doolally, but if you're revising a particularly tricky subject, you might need to focus. Others need some sort of background noise; this could be music (from hard rock to block out noise to indie folk to chill out to), the radio or television, or even just the happenings of their local café.

Reading vs taking notes vs explaining it out loud etc: for most, reading is not enough and you'll need to shake things up, especially when hopping from one subject to another.

Making notes might take a while, but taking the time to write down (not typing) key information can help it stick. Another question to ask yourself is how much you should write down. This could start of as extensive notes, slowly narrowing down to flashcards or brief 'crib notes' with acronyms, key names and formulas as exams draw near.

But how do you know it's all sticking? Try making notes without looking at your books, completing past papers, and even explaining key concepts to others- in fact, this last one is a great tip to check that what you're learning makes sense to you.

Need more revision tips? These ones are scientifically proven.

Revision help, hacks and tips: survive exam season with our full advice section

And if you're revising for a Btec,take a look at our top tips from current and former Btec students.

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Try these tips to help prepare on the night before an exam:

Go to bed early
Getting a good night's sleep will help you more than trying to revise all night. It's better to make sure you're not tired the next day

Look after yourself
Have a good, healthy meal and drink lots of water so you don't get dehydrated or have a headache when you wake up

Re-read your notes
Don't try and remember everything. Write down 5 things you want to remember for your exam and then leave it at that

Have a laugh
Chat to someone who makes you giggle. Watch funny clips on YouTube. Whatever it is, it's important to laugh. It can loosen you up and make you feel a little less stressed. Which can only be a good thing

Know the details
Find out where the exam is and what time it starts. Make sure you know how to get there and what time you need to leave

Set an alarm
Make sure you wake up in good time in the morning.

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