Preparing for mock exams: how to use GCSE and A-Level mocks well

What mocks are for

Mock exams are practice exams set by the school. They usually follow the format of the real papers, with similar timings and question styles, and they are marked by teachers. Most students in Year 11 and Year 13 sit them, often in the autumn or winter, and sometimes again in the spring.

They do three jobs. They show the student how well they know the course so far. They show teachers where to focus. And they often feed into predicted grades, which are used for sixth form, college and university applications. That last point is why mocks matter, even though they do not appear on the final certificate.

Because the school sets them, arrangements differ. Ask for the timetable, the topics covered, the papers set, and how the results will be used. Some mocks cover the whole course, and others only the part taught so far.

Six weeks before

Start by getting the facts: which papers, which dates, which topics. Then take stock of where you stand.

1. Make a list of every paper and the topics each one covers.
2. Rate each topic as secure, shaky or not started.
3. Plan the shaky and not-started topics first, since these have the most to gain.
4. Put all your sessions into a weekly timetable, with breaks and one evening off.

Use your exam board's specification. It lists everything that can be examined, in plain language, and it is a good checklist. Check whether you are on AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas, since the layouts of the papers differ.

The final two weeks

Move from learning to practising. Active revision works better than rereading notes.

• Do timed questions and full past papers, then mark them against the mark scheme.
• Close the book and write down everything you know about a topic, then check what you missed.
• Use flashcards for key facts, definitions, quotations and formulas.
• For essay subjects, plan answers rather than write each one in full, then write one or two completely under time.
• Revisit the mistakes you made on earlier practice.

Do not try to cover everything. Prioritise topics that carry the most marks and that you are most likely to improve in the time left.

Practise at the same time of day as the real paper. If your mock is at 9am, do a few of your practice papers in the morning so your brain is used to it.

The week of the mocks

Keep revision light the night before. Look over a short summary sheet, pack your bag with pens, a calculator where allowed, and a water bottle if permitted, and go to bed on time. Sleep affects recall and concentration more than an extra hour of study.

In the exam, read the instructions and the question carefully. Plan your time by marks: a rough rule is about a minute per mark, but check the paper. If you are stuck, move on and come back. Write something for every question, since a partial answer can earn marks. Leave a few minutes at the end to check.

GCSE and A-Level differences

GCSE mocks often cover many subjects in a short window, so the challenge is pacing across subjects. Spread revision so no subject gets left until the last night, and give extra time to maths and English, which most sixth forms ask about.

A-Level mocks tend to be longer papers with more extended answers. Practise writing essays or multi-step solutions in full, under time. Predicted grades from Year 13 mocks can feed into university applications, so find out how your school uses them. In Year 12, the main use is a check on whether you are ready for the second year.

Using the results

The marked papers are the most useful thing a mock produces, more than the grade. Treat them as data.

• Ask to see the papers, or at least the breakdown by question and topic.
• Sort lost marks into groups: did not know, forgot, misread, ran out of time, or exam technique.
• Pick the two or three topics that cost the most marks and make those the focus.
• Compare your marks with the published grade boundaries for past papers to get a rough guide, remembering that boundaries move each year.
• Talk to your teacher about what to do differently before the real exams.

If the result is lower than hoped, avoid blame. A mock sits months before the real exams, and many students improve a lot in that time. A better result than expected is also not a reason to ease off. Either way, the next step is to turn the findings into a plan.

Supporting a teenager through mocks

You do not need to quiz them on content. Help with the basics: a quiet place to work, regular meals, reasonable bedtimes and time to switch off. Ask what would help, rather than guess. Some students want a listening ear, and some want to be left alone.

If a student is stuck on specific topics, or their technique on longer answers is not improving, one to one help can speed things up. Our tutors teach live, set homework and a weekly test, and share scores and notes in your account. See GCSE maths, GCSE combined science or A-Level maths, or read about how it works.