How to make a GCSE Revision Timetable

Download your GCSE revision timetable PDF (opens in a new tab)

Does this sound familiar? Exams are getting closer. You've got nine or ten subjects to study and - what feels like - hundreds of topics to cover. Plus, you have absolutely no clue where to begin.

So you create a GCSE revision timetable that goes something like this:

• Monday – Maths, English, Science, History.

• Tuesday – more of the same.

• Wednesday – give up entirely.

You know you should be revising. You just don't know how to make a plan that fits everything in without completely burning out.

A good GCSE revision plan isn't about studying all day, every day. And, it's not about cramming every waking hour with work.

It's about having a realistic plan that tells you three things:

• What to revise

• When to revise it

• How to revise in a way that actually improves your grades

In this guide, we'll show you how to create a revision plan for your GCSEs in five straightforward steps. You might even end up revising less than you thought.

Key Takeaways

• Focus on your weak topics, not the easy stuff. Give most of your revision time to the topics you're struggling with, because that's where you'll gain the most marks.

• Make your timetable specific and realistic. This means building revision around your life, so you maximise your chances of sticking to it.

• Keep your timetable flexible and review it weekly. The best revision plans adapt as you improve. 

What is a GCSE Revision Timetable – and Why Should You Use One?

A GCSE revision timetable is a plan that covers all of the preparation you need to do in time for your exams. 

It’s recommended that you start preparing six months before the exams begin, though it’s never too late to start. Short, regular revision sessions are usually much more productive than cramming or leaving everything to the last minute.

A timetable helps you improve your time management skills as you consider how to fill in your schedule. The University of Sussex (opens in a new tab) suggests working to your study habit strengths. 

If you’re more motivated in the mornings, plan to revise some trickier topics before lunch. And, if you begin to flag a little in the afternoons, test yourself with flashcards for short bursts of fun gamified revision.

Now you know why you should have a revision timetable, it’s time to create one.

Step 1: Decide What You Need to Revise

With so many subjects and topics to cover, it can be difficult to work out what to revise. It’s important to maximise coverage of the entire syllabus, but it makes sense to focus on those topics that you know will come up in your exam.

That doesn’t mean succumbing to temptation and opting for the easy-to-revise content.

Think about it. If you can reel off the causes of World War One without blinking, why waste precious revision time on it?

Here's what to do instead: focus on your weak topics first.

For each subject, split your topics into three groups:

Be brutally honest with yourself. That 'weak' list is where most of your revision time should go.

If you’re not sure where a topic belongs, test yourself:

1. Hop over our Exam Questions section.

2. Answer a few exam questions on the topic.

3. Check the Strengths and Weaknesses tool. 

4. If it flags the topic as weak, there's your answer.

Your timetable should give more time to weak topics and less to confident ones. This way, you're adding to your knowledge and understanding, so you can climb those grade boundaries.

Step 2: Plan Specific Tasks

There’s nothing worse than opening your timetable and seeing a vague statement, like "Revise Biology" or "Learn German."

While your intentions might be good, they aren’t specific enough.

Every session in your timetable needs a clear task, like:

• Answer 5 GCSE Biology exam questions on enzymes

• Revise Animal Farm quotes using flashcards

• Complete a timed Maths past paper section

This is where Save My Exams GCSE study tools make a huge difference to your revision. You need:

• Revision notes to understand weak topics.

• Exam questions to practise recall.

• Past papers to build exam technique.

• Flashcards for daily review.

Being specific means you’ll be able to see concrete progress.

Step 3: Build Your Weekly GCSE Revision Plan

There’s no need to design a schedule from scratch. Download the weekly revision timetable PDF from Save My Exams (opens in a new tab). It's completely free and breaks down every day into handy one-hour slots.

First, block out your non-negotiables. These might include:

• School

• Homework

• Clubs

• Family commitments

Then add revision around your life. Not instead of it.

For most students, two hours of revision per weekday is enough when done properly. Weekends can be slightly longer, but you still need breaks.

Try the Pomodoro Technique

An effective way to structure your revision is to use the Pomodoro Technique.

One Pomodoro = 25 minutes of focused work + 5 minutes of rest.

And rest means actual rest. This doesn’t mean doomscrolling TikTok. Instead, grab a snack. Stretch. And, look away from your screen.

You can even group some Pomodoros together. Do four Pomodoros in a row, and that's a full two-hour revision session.

For example, you might:

• Spend one Pomodoro creating a mindmap for different types of weather hazards in Geography.

• Spend the next two Pomodoros completing ten Geometry exam questions and marking them.

• Spend your final Pomodoro using flashcards to nail Macbeth quotes.

You don't need to revise every subject every day. Instead, rotate subjects across the week, so your brain stays fresh.

Step 4: Use Active Revision

Your revision timetable only works if the revision itself is effective. You need to find the ideal revision strategies for you, that’ll help information stick.

Reading notes for an hour might feel productive, but it doesn't help you retain knowledge.

Instead, plan active recall into your timetable:

• Testing yourself with exam questions.

• Using flashcards.

• Doing timed practice, like mock exams.

• Marking your work with official mark schemes.

Active recall gives your memory a boost by making you hunt for information. Instead of just rereading notes, you test yourself to strengthen your long-term recall and improve exam confidence.

Step 5: Review and Adjust Your Timetable Weekly

You shouldn’t be revising the same subjects and topics every week. Your GCSE study plan should adapt as you begin to feel more confident with concepts.

Every week, ask yourself:

• What went well?

• What didn't I stick to?

• Which topics are still weak?

If you’re still struggling to apply those pesky trigonometry formulas, plan in a few more exam questions and organise a flashcard session with friends for the following week.

At the same time, if you're finally getting those German past participles, reduce the time you spend revising them. 

Keep your timetable flexible, so you can adapt it as you improve.

What a GCSE Revision Plan That Works Looks Like

You've learned the five steps. You know what to do. But what does a revision timetable that gets results actually look like in practice?

Here’s the checklist:

• It focuses on your weak topics

• It’s made up of clear, specific tasks

• It’s balanced with breaks and real life

• It uses active revision

• It gets reviewed and adjusted regularly

If you want to take your revision to the next level, check out our revision techniques guide for loads of proven strategies that actually work. Combine the right techniques with a solid revision timetable for your GCSEs, and you'll be in the best possible position to smash your target grades.

For Parents: Supporting Your Child's Revision

If your child is struggling to get started with their revision timetable, the best thing you can do is help them keep it realistic. Here’s how:

• Encourage two-hour sessions on weekdays rather than marathon study days. 

• Check in weekly to see what's working and what isn't. 

  • Help them to adjust their plan as they learn what suits them best. 

• Consider creating a quiet, distraction-free space at home where they can focus.

For Teachers: Helping Students Plan Effectively

When guiding students through revision planning, emphasise the importance of prioritising weak topics over comfortable ones. Help them to do this by:

• Encouraging them to use past papers and mark schemes to spot  knowledge gaps early.

  • The Strengths and Weaknesses tool on Save My Exams can help students track their progress across topics. 

• Consider setting aside class time for students to create their timetables together.

• Discuss what's working (and what isn't) as a class to help students stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours should I revise each day?

For most students, two hours on weekdays is plenty when you're revising for your GCSEs. Weekends can stretch to 3-4 hours if you're feeling up to it, but quality beats quantity every time. 

Four focused Pomodoros (that's 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of rest, repeated four times) will get you way better results than six hours of half-hearted note reading.

What's the best way to stick to my timetable?

Keep it realistic. Don't create a timetable that expects you to be superhuman. Build in breaks, social time, and days off. And, review your timetable every week and adjust it. 

If something's not working, change it. The students who stick to their plans are the ones who made flexible plans in the first place.

Do I need to revise every day?

No. You need rest days to let your brain process what you've learned. Aim for 5-6 days of revision per week, with at least one full day off. 

What matters more is consistency over time. The University of Edinburgh (opens in a new tab) states that regular, focused sessions beat occasional marathon cram sessions. Your brain learns better when you space things out, so revising a little bit regularly is far more effective than trying to do it all at once.

Achieve your GCSE Revision Goals With Save My Exams

Your GCSEs don't have to feel so overwhelming. With a solid revision timetable and the right revision strategies, you can walk into that exam hall feeling confident and prepared.

Start by identifying which topics need the most attention. Break your revision into specific, manageable tasks. Use active recall to make information stick. And don't forget to build in proper breaks and rest days. Your brain needs time to process everything you're learning.

If you want help putting all of this into practice, Save My Exams has everything you need to make your revision timetable work. From revision notes and exam questions to flashcards and full mock exams, you'll find all the resources in one place, organised by subject and exam board.

You've got the tools. Now it's time to put it all into action. Good luck!

References

University of Sussex - Revision and Exams (opens in a new tab)

University of Edinburgh Study Hub - What’s wrong with cramming? (opens in a new tab)

https://www.tiktok.com/@savemyexams/video/7291903004200963361?lang=en