How to Improve Your GCSE Grades

If your GCSEs feel like a mountain you can’t climb, you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of students feel overwhelmed by the pressure of revision, mocks, and upcoming exams.

There are lots of reasons why grades might not be where you want them to be right now. Maybe your revision habits haven’t been working. Maybe you’ve been distracted, or struggled to stay on top of everything. It could even come down to poor time management or simply not knowing where to start.

Whatever the cause, the most important thing to know is this: you can still turn things around. With the right approach, real improvement is possible, even if exams are only a few weeks away. This guide will walk you through exactly how to improve your GCSE grades, with proven strategies you can start using today.

Build Better Study Habits

Set SMART Goals for Each Subject

One of the most reliable ways to improve your GCSE grades is to develop smarter, more efficient study goals. Wanting to “do better in English Language” is a great instinct, but it’s not a clear goal. To make real progress, you need to set SMART goals:

• Specific: Focused on one subject or topic

• Measurable: You can track your progress

• Achievable: Realistic for the time you have

• Relevant: Linked to your actual exam goals

• Time-bound: With a clear deadline

For example:

• “Improve my English Language grade from a 4 to a 6 by writing two timed essays per week until May.”

• “Raise my Chemistry grade from a 5 to a 7 by completing two past papers a week and reviewing organic chemistry flashcards daily.”

When your goals are crystal clear, your brain knows exactly what to focus on.

Create a Personalised Revision Timetable

A solid revision timetable puts you in control. It gives you a plan, a rhythm, and a way to show up for yourself each day, even when motivation dips. The aim isn’t to fill every minute or create a colour-coded masterpiece. It just needs to work for you.

Here’s how to build one that actually helps:

• Start with your subjects. Give more time to the ones you find hardest, that’s where organised revision pays off.

• Work backwards from your exam dates. Count how many days you have, then divide your subjects and topics across the time you’ve got. This helps you figure out when to start revising and actually cover everything. 

• Plan around your real life. If you’ve got clubs, chores or just a brain that switches on after 10am, build your timetable around that. And don't forget to factor in time for meals, sleep, and relaxation. The best plan is one you’ll stick to without fighting yourself. 

• Revise in focused blocks. Aim for 25–50 minutes of solid study, and take proper breaks. Studies show that spaced revision helps your brain absorb more (opens in a new tab), and it’s far more sustainable than marathon sessions.

• Don’t skip the breaks. Rest isn’t laziness, it’s a normal part of the process. Sleep, meals, and downtime all help your brain do its job.

• Make it visible. Use a paper planner, a whiteboard, or a calendar app, whatever helps you see your plan at a glance and stay on track.

Not sure where to start? Read our tips on how to make a GCSE revision timetable or download our free revision timetable template (opens in a new tab).

Use Active Revision Techniques

If your revision feels easy, it might not be working. You can spend hours reading your notes and still come away with very little. That’s because reading, highlighting, and copying things out are passive, they feel productive, but they don’t actually test what you know. 

Active revision, on the other hand, forces your brain to retrieve, apply and make sense of information, and that’s what makes it stick. In fact, studies in cognitive psychology show that actively recalling information (rather than just reviewing it) significantly improves long-term retention (opens in a new tab).

Instead of just reading, try these methods:

Retrieval Practice

This means trying to recall information from memory, without looking at your notes. It strengthens what you know and highlights where the gaps are. And it’s proven to work. A study from Purdue University found that students who used active retrieval remembered up to four times more (opens in a new tab) than those who simply reread their notes.

• Flashcards: Ideal for memorising key facts, quotes, and formulas. Explore teacher-written flashcards that focus on the essentials, with everything you’re most likely to see in the exam. 

• Past papers and practice questions: These test your ability to apply what you’ve learned. Use them regularly to identify weak spots, practise exam timing, and get familiar with how questions are phrased.

• Test yourself without looking at your notes: Write down everything you remember about the topic, then check for gaps. It feels tough, but it’s one of the most effective ways to revise. 

Spaced repetition

This is a method of reviewing information at carefully spaced intervals to help it stick. By revisiting topics over increasing gaps (like 2, 3, 5, then 7 days) you train your brain to remember them long term. It’s one of the most efficient ways to beat forgetting and improve retention. Here’s how to set up a spaced repetition schedule.

You don’t need to do everything at once. Start by swapping one passive habit for an active one. Over time, your revision will become more efficient, and far more effective.

How to Tackle Weak Subjects

Diagnose Your Gaps

You can’t improve what you haven’t identified, so the first step is figuring out exactly where you're losing marks. The better you understand where you're struggling, the easier it becomes to target your revision.

Start with past papers and topic checklists. Go through them steadily and look for patterns. To make this easier, ask yourself:

• Which topics do I dread seeing on a paper?

• Where do I lose the most marks: facts, structure, timing, or careless mistakes?

• What feedback have I had from teachers that I’ve not acted on yet?

• Which questions do I always leave blank or guess on?

• Which topics do I always push to the bottom of my to-do list?

Save My Exams offers detailed, topic-by-topic practice questions that make it easy to pinpoint your weaker areas.

Once you’ve found the weak spots, write them down. You don’t need fancy tools, a spreadsheet, a notes app, or a page in your revision journal will do. Whatever helps you keep a running list of where to focus your efforts.

Make the Most of Your Resources

Past Papers and Mark Schemes

Practicing past papers is one of the most reliable ways to improve your GCSE grades. They show you the format, the wording, the mark allocation, and, importantly, where students tend to lose marks.

But they only work if you use them properly.

• Do the paper under timed conditions. No notes, no help. This isn’t about proving anything, it’s about building stamina, spotting where you run out of time, and practising how to structure answers under pressure.

• Mark it using the official mark scheme. Don’t just check what’s right, look at the phrases that get marks, the way answers are worded, and how specific they are. The more you study mark schemes, the more you start to think like an examiner.

• Keep track of your mistakes. If certain topics or question types keep going wrong, log them. That’s where your focus should go next.

You’ll find past papers and mark schemes on Save My Exams, all organised by topic and paper.

The more familiar you are with real exam questions, the more confident you’ll feel walking into the exam hall.

Revision Notes and Study Guides

There’s no shortage of study guides and revision videos online, but not all of them are accurate, and not all of them match your exam board. If you’re not careful, you can end up revising content you don’t even need to know.

Stick to resources you trust.

• Use guides that are exam-board specific, so you’re covering what will actually come up.

• Check who created them, teachers and examiners know what to include (and what to leave out).

• Don’t overload yourself with multiple sources. Pick one or two reliable ones and build from there.

Explore revision notes written by teachers and examiners from Save My Exams, all organised by topic and exam board.

And remember, don’t just read notes, use them actively. Summarise them in your own words. Turn them into flashcards. Teach them to someone else. The more you do with the information, the more it sticks.

Get Support from Teachers, Tutors, or Study Groups

If you’re finding a topic hard, you’re not doing anything wrong, some parts of the course are just more challenging than others. Getting support can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Start with your teachers. They know the exam, the spec, and the common sticking points. You’ll get better answers if you’re specific in what you ask. Try questions like:

• “How should I structure this type of answer?”

• “Which areas should I focus on first?”

• “Is this topic worth prioritising?”

Study groups can also help, especially if you’re talking through ideas, testing each other, or explaining tricky topics in your own words. It doesn’t need to be formal. Sometimes just working alongside someone else can keep you motivated.

If you’re still feeling stuck, it might be worth speaking to a tutor. Even a few sessions can help you understand the core ideas and build a bit of confidence back.

Stay Motivated and Track Progress

Use Visual Progress Trackers

When you’re deep in revision, it’s easy to forget how much you’ve already done. Tracking your progress helps keep things in perspective, and keeps motivation ticking over.

You don’t need anything complicated. Try:

• Mind mapping: A great way to connect ideas and see how topics fit together at a glance.

• Visual notes and diagrams: Sketch out processes, timelines, or cycles to bring dry content to life.

Even a simple visual cue can remind you that your effort is building up, and that you’re moving in the right direction. If this sounds like the approach that’d work for you, check out these effective revision techniques for visual learners.

Reward Systems and Breaks

Gamify your revision by building in small rewards. After finishing a challenging topic, give yourself something to look forward to. Maybe a favourite snack, an episode of your show, or a quick catch-up with friends. It helps keep your motivation ticking over, especially on days when focus is harder to come by.

And don’t skip your breaks. Regular pauses help improve focus and protect you from burnout, that’s not just advice, it’s backed by research.

Make sure your timetable includes proper downtime. Your brain needs rest to process what you’ve learned. Push too hard for too long, and your performance can take a hit.

Improving Your GCSE Grades After Poor Mock Results

If your mock results were lower than expected, it’s easy to feel disheartened, but mocks aren’t the end of the story. In fact, they’re one of the most useful tools you’ll get before the real exams.

Think of them as feedback, not failure. They show you exactly where you’re dropping marks and give you time to fix it. That’s something you can work with.

Start by analysing the paper, not just the grade. Where did you lose marks? Was it gaps in knowledge, poor timing, misreading questions, or running out of steam on longer answers.

Now turn that insight into action. Focus your revision around:

• The topics you struggled with most

• The question types that tripped you up

• Time management if you didn’t finish in time

It’s also worth remembering: plenty of students go up by one or even two grades between mocks and final exams. What matters most is what you do now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to improve my GCSE grades?

Not at all. Even if your exams are just weeks away, there’s still time to make meaningful progress. The key is to work smarter, not just harder. 

Prioritise high-impact topics, use active revision techniques like retrieval practice, and don’t be afraid to ask for support. A few focused changes now can still lead to real improvements.

How many hours should I revise a day?

It depends on the time of year.

In Year 10, fit revision around your homework. If you finish early or have a light evening, use that time to review recent lessons or create flashcards. Little and often will make a big difference later.

In Year 11, aim for 1–2 hours of revision a day alongside homework. If homework takes longer, reduce revision time slightly, rest matters too. A weekly plan can help ensure you're covering all subjects.

During the holidays, try not to revise for more than 4 hours a day. Take regular breaks, get outside, and allow time to recharge. You’ll need your energy for exam season.

During study leave, your revision can increase to reflect the school day, up to 6–8 hours, broken into blocks with proper breaks. If you’ve had an exam that day, rest for a couple of hours before picking up your next session.

Are GCSE predicted grades important?

GCSE predicted grades are important for college and sixth form applications, and can affect university admissions if you're applying early. However, they're not set in stone.

Many students exceed their predicted grades, particularly those who implement effective revision strategies after receiving their predictions.

Focus on your actual performance rather than worrying about predictions. Your final grades are what ultimately matter.

What should I do if I feel unmotivated?

Motivation naturally fluctuates, so don't panic if you're feeling unmotivated. Start with small, manageable tasks to build momentum.

Break large revision goals into tiny steps. Instead of "revise all of biology today”, try "complete one past paper question on photosynthesis."

Remember your bigger goals, whether that's getting into sixth form, pursuing a particular career, or simply proving to yourself what you're capable of.

Connect with friends who are also studying. Sharing the challenge can make it feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been asking yourself how to improve your GCSE grades, the answer lies in small, focused changes. It’s about using your time and energy wisely, with clear goals, smart revision techniques, and a plan that works for you.

Even small changes can add up. Set a SMART goal. Build a timetable that fits your life. Swap one passive habit for an active one. Each step is a step forward.

Plenty of students have turned things around, not because they were the ‘best’ or the ‘brightest’, but because they found a system and stuck with it. You can too.

And if you ever get stuck? Come back to the strategies in this guide, or explore our GCSE revision hub for expert resources designed to help you succeed.

Good luck with your GCSEs!

References

A controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of different spaced learning models (opens in a new tab)

Test-Enhanced Learning (opens in a new tab)

Active Retrieval Promotes Meaningful Learning (opens in a new tab)