When Should I Start Revising for Year 12 Mocks?

Your Year 12 (AS) mocks are your first real test of A Level skills. They show how well you’ve made the jump from GCSE, but they don’t have to be stressful. Too often, students fall into last-minute cramming, when a clear plan works far better.

If you’re wondering, “When should I start revising for my Year 12 mock exams?” or you’re unsure how to structure your sessions, don’t worry. I’ve guided many A Level students through this stage of their studies. In this guide, you’ll find a simple timeline, step-by-step plan, and proven techniques to help you feel confident and prepared when you walk into your mocks.

Key Takeaways

• Year 12 mocks are a rehearsal that build exam skills and inform predicted grades.

• Aim to start revising around 6–8 weeks before your exams.

• Use active recall, spaced repetition, and past papers instead of passive methods.

• Prioritise weaker topics and high-mark areas when planning your time.

• Even with only 2–3 weeks left, focused, timed practice can still pay off.

Why Year 12 Mock Exams Are Important

Year 12 mock exams are designed to show your progress on your A Level courses. They check how well you’ve made the jump from GCSE to A Level and highlight areas that need strengthening. Teachers use them to track progress and guide your plan for Year 13, and, in many schools, they contribute to predicted grades on your UCAS application.

It’s important to remember that mocks are there to support, not scare you. They provide a safe space to practise exam technique, get feedback, and learn from mistakes long before the real exams. Think of them as a rehearsal rather than the final performance.

When Are Year 12 Mocks Usually Held?

Most schools schedule Year 12 mocks either in January (soon after the Christmas break) or in the spring term, often just after Easter. Some also hold end-of-year mocks in June or July. The exact timing varies, so check with your teachers and confirm the dates early.

Once you know your timetable, you can shape your revision plan around it. Earlier mocks mean starting preparation sooner, while later ones give you more space to spread out revision and build gradually.

When Should You Start Revising for Year 12 Mocks?

A good rule of thumb is to start revising for your Year 12 mocks about 6-8 weeks before your first exam. This gives you enough time to review content thoroughly, practise exam-style questions, and still have a buffer to allow time for any topics that take longer to master.

A sensible structure might look like this:

• Weeks 1-2: Organise your notes, identify weak areas, and begin a light review of core content. This is a good time to ask your teachers if you require extra help with any topics or if you think you’re missing any course content.

• Weeks 3-5: Move into active recall methods, such as flashcards, quizzes, and past paper practice.

• Weeks 6-7: Increase the number of timed questions and practise applying knowledge under exam conditions.

• Final week: Focus on quick-fire revision by creating summary sheets, checking key definitions, and revisiting your trickiest topics.

This is a guide, not a strict rule. If you start later than planned, don’t panic. A shorter, yet focused, revision plan can still be effective. The key is to use high-impact techniques (like past papers and active recall) rather than re-reading notes. Even with just 2-3 weeks of structured effort, you can walk into your mocks prepared.

Planning Your Revision: Step-by-Step

A solid plan makes revision less overwhelming and keeps you on track. Here’s how to build one that works around your school commitments and gives every subject the attention it needs:

1. Break down the syllabus by topic
   Write a complete list of topics for each subject, using your course specification. Use a traffic-light system:

   • Green: topics you’re confident in

   • Amber: topics you need to review

   • Red: topics you struggle with most

2. Build a realistic timetable 

   • On school days, aim for 1- 2 hours of revision in focused blocks.

   • At weekends, aim for 3-5 hours total, spread across your subjects.

   • Balance is essential, so protect time for sleep, exercise, and downtime.

3. Prioritise your content
   Focus first on your red/amber topics and areas that carry more marks in the exam. Use past papers and specifications to identify which questions appear most frequently. Your teachers are likely to give you guidance on this.

4. Set clear weekly goals
   Replace vague goals, such as “revise biology”, with specific ones. For example:

   • “Finish a summary sheet on photosynthesis”

   • “Answer two 6-mark practice questions”

   • “Plan one 25-mark essay outline for history”

5. Use simple tools

   • A revision calendar with a weekly or monthly view is a simple but effective tool to keep you focused.

   • To-do lists are great, but keep them focused using action verbs such as “practise,” “test,” or “plan”, so you know what activity you plan to do.

   • Timers can help with focus and avoid time-wasting. For example, the Pomodoro method involves 25 minutes of focus and 5 minutes of rest.

Your revision plan is an active tool. At the end of each week, review your progress and adjust your plan to cover any topics that still need attention.

Effective Revision Techniques for AS Level Mocks

At AS and A Level, the revision techniques you use matter as much as the time you put in. Maximise your time by using active, exam-focused methods tailored to your subjects.

Active recall

• Close your notes and blurt everything you know about a topic onto a blank page.

• Use flashcards with short prompts (e.g., “Explain the process of natural selection” on one side, with the key steps on the other).

• Practise teaching a concept aloud to a friend, family member, or even to yourself — if you can explain it clearly without notes, you’ve really learned it.

Spaced repetition

• Revisit topics on a schedule: after 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, then keep extending the gap.

• Use digital flashcard apps (e.g., Anki, Quizlet) to automate intervals and track your progress. For example: Revise natural selection today, test yourself again tomorrow, revisit it three days later, and then a week later. By the time you return to it after two weeks, the knowledge will feel much more secure.

• Keep difficult cards or topics in your rotation until they feel automatic.

Past papers and mark schemes

• Practise answering specific question types with timed questions. For example, set a 7-minute timer for a 6-mark Biology question.

• Self-mark your work using the official mark scheme, and note down any keywords or ideas you missed.

• Keep a “mistake log” of tricky questions and revisit them within 48 hours to check you can now answer them correctly.

Subject-specific strategies

Different subjects benefit from slightly different approaches. In the sciences, problem sets and formula sheets are vital. For essay subjects like English or History, practise writing short, timed essays with a clear thesis and conclusion. For languages, little-and-often vocab practice works best, while subjects like Geography and Economics reward the use of diagrams and case study recall.

Here are some ideas from the subject experts at Save My Exams: 

• Biology: Use past-paper questions to practise applying processes (e.g. photosynthesis) to unfamiliar contexts, not just recalling definitions.

• Chemistry: Build a formula and mechanism flashcard set, and practise applying them in structured calculation steps under exam timing.

• Physics: Keep a formula sheet and practise mixed-topic exam questions so you can decide which formula to use, a key exam skill.

• Maths: Do exam questions in “topic bursts” (e.g. all differentiation Qs), then mix them to build flexibility.

• English Literature: Practise writing paragraph-length analysis of set texts, embedding short quotes smoothly. 

• English Language: Work on timed analysis of unseen passages, consistently applying linguistic terminology.

• History: Write essay plans with a clear thesis and three supporting arguments, making sure each paragraph answers the exact question.

• Geography: Create case study sheets with 3–4 key stats and one diagram — keep them concise so they’re easy to memorise.

• Religious Studies: Practise essays by planning arguments that include at least two scholars and end with a justified conclusion.

• Computer Science: Test yourself on pseudocode or logic-trace questions to practise applying theory in problem-solving contexts.

• Sociology: Link AO1 knowledge to AO3 evaluation by pairing each definition with at least one strength and one limitation.

• Business: Use past-paper data response questions to practise applying theory to case study evidence and making recommendations.

Each subject benefits from a slightly different revision style, but the key is consistency. Use these strategies alongside the detailed guidance in the Save My Exams Learning Hub to ensure you’re fully prepared.

What to Do If I Start Revision Late

Not everyone manages to start 6–8 weeks before mocks — and that’s okay. If you find yourself with only a few weeks to go, you can still make substantial progress by focusing on high-impact revision methods.

• Make a 2–3 week plan: Break your subjects into daily chunks so every topic is covered at least once before the exam.

• Focus on priority topics: Revise the areas that carry the most marks, and spend extra time on topics where you know you struggle.

• Use active methods only: Skip passive revision (just reading notes). Instead, do past-paper questions, self-quizzing, and flashcards.

• Simulate exam conditions: Practise writing answers under timed conditions so you’re prepared for the pressure of the real thing.

• Review mistakes quickly: If you miss a question, check the mark scheme straight away and re-test yourself within 48 hours.

Even if you’re short on time, this approach helps you walk into mocks having done the most effective preparation possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even if you’ve started early, certain habits can hold back your revision. Watch out for these common pitfalls:

• Leaving revision too late: Trying to cram everything in the week before mocks usually leads to stress and poor recall.

• Passive revision: Simply re-reading notes feels productive, but doesn’t test what you actually know. Use active methods instead.

• Ignoring feedback: Mark schemes and teacher comments show you precisely what examiners want — don’t skip over them.

• Over-focusing on one subject: It’s tempting to spend all your time on your favourite subject, but mocks test everything. Balance is key.

By avoiding these mistakes, your revision will be more efficient and exam-focused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Year 12 mocks important for university applications?

Yes, indirectly.

While they don’t appear on your UCAS form, most schools use mock grades as the basis for your predicted grades. Those predictions are what universities see when you apply, so strong mock results can help strengthen your application.

How many hours should I revise each day for Year 12 mocks?

Aim for 2–3 focused hours on school days and 4–5 hours on weekends in the run-up to mocks. 

Quality matters more than quantity: short, active sessions are better than long stretches of passive revision.

Can I still do well in mocks if I start revising late?

Yes, but you’ll need to focus on high-yield topics and employ active methods, such as past papers and self-testing. 

A tight 2-3 week plan can still make a big difference if you’re consistent and use the time wisely.

Should I revise for all subjects equally?

Not necessarily. 

Prioritise subjects or topics where you’re struggling most, but ensure you allocate at least some time to every subject. Balance is key: you don’t want to go into a mock completely underprepared in one area.

Final Thoughts

Think of your Year 12 mocks as a rehearsal, not the final performance. Starting your revision 6–8 weeks early gives you time to build confidence. But even if you begin later, focused methods like active recall and using past papers can still make a big difference.

With Save My Exams revision notes, exam questions, and flashcards, you’ve got everything you need to prepare with confidence. Use your mocks to learn, grow, and set yourself up for success in Year 13 and beyond.