How to make a revision timetable

Get Revising: Where To Start?

To start your revision, you need to make a plan. Which subjects are you revising and when are the examinations or assessments? How confident do you feel in each subject? Give each one a priority score or level and start from there. Once you know the end date for your revision, you can work towards it and feel confident you are making good strides with your work.

How can I use Excel or Google Sheets to make a revision timetable?

Excel can be used alongside other spreadsheet tools such as Google Sheets. These are very useful for creating a clear and shareable revision timetable. You can use columns for dates and rows for subjects. You can also use colour coding to help you visualise your timetable and the different subjects better. These spreadsheet tools are very flexible and you can easily make changes when unexpected events occur which require changes in your timetable.

How to make a revision timetable for my GCSEs?

GCSEs or IGCSEs often require a modular approach. These examinations have many strands and topics. For example, in English Literature you may have a few different core texts you cover, and in Mathematics you may have different areas such as algebra, fractions and circle theorem. You can place each topic in a different revision place on your timetable to ensure everything is covered. In England, GCSE examinations also take place over five weeks with half term in the middle, giving you time in between exams to continue your revision.

How to make a revision timetable for my A-Levels?

A-Levels are a smaller set of exams for most students but due to the increasing depth at which subjects are studied, require a focused revision programme. By the time you are coming to the end of your A-Level courses, you will understand more about which areas need more focus. For example, if you are studying Further Maths, you may feel confident with most topics but be aware that Calculus still needs work. Make sure your revision timetable reflects these greater challenges.

How to make a revision timetable for my IBs?

For IB students, it is important to balance core with elective subjects. As with A-Levels, students will know which subjects need more time and which ones they feel more confident with. Students can use Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge deadlines to help focus revision at these key points. For IB, interdisciplinary thinking is a crucial skill for final exams.

Good Revision Timetable: Key Elements

It is a good idea to plan to slightly over-revise, to allow for potential disruption like illness or an unexpected social event. If you do removed a planned revision session from your schedule, do keep yourself honest and replace it with another at a key date. Do give yourself regular breaks and plan to do at least one thing for yourself every day outside of studying. Above all, good luck and best wishes for your exams.

Do you have any revision tips not mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.

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