Study BuddyMock exams in December: how to prepare in four weeks
Many schools hold mock exams in the winter. If yours are coming, four weeks is enough to make a real difference, provided you spend them sensibly. The idea is to build a base, practise, then polish.
Why mocks matter
Mocks show you where you stand while there's still time to improve. In some years they also feed into predicted grades for sixth-form or university applications, so it's worth finding out how your school uses them. Either way, a good mock gives you momentum for the real exams.
Week 1: Get organised
- Find out the dates and what's covered. Ask your teachers for topic lists.
- Make a master list of topics for each subject and mark them red, amber or green.
- Gather materials: notes, past papers, mark schemes.
- Plan your weeks. Slot short sessions into a timetable, with rest days. Our guide to a realistic revision timetable can help.
Start with red topics in your hardest subjects.
Week 2: Learn and test
- Revisit red and amber topics using notes and free sites.
- Turn each topic into flashcards or a quick quiz and test yourself.
- Finish each session by listing three things you still can't do.
Aim for two or three short sessions a day on school days and a bigger block at the weekend.
Week 3: Practise under pressure
- Do exam-style questions on each topic, then whole sections of papers.
- Time yourself.
- Mark using the mark scheme and note what you lost marks on.
- Fix the most common mistakes and retest in a few days.
Our guide to using past papers properly shows how to mark and follow up.
Week 4: Polish and rest
- Do one full timed paper in your most important subject.
- Review your mistakes list and flashcards each day.
- Keep sessions shorter, and finish early.
- Prepare your equipment: pens, calculator, water bottle, ID if needed.
The day before
Do a light review, no new topics. Look at your mistakes list, pack your bag, eat properly and go to bed at a normal time. Sleep helps memory more than another hour of cramming.
In the exam
- Read each question carefully and underline the command word.
- Start with a question you can answer.
- Watch the time per mark.
- If you blank, move on and come back.
After the mock
Don't just look at the grade. Go through the paper with your teacher or the mark scheme and make a list of what to fix. That list is the best revision plan you'll get this year.
Using tools
A free AI helper can speed up the prep, with flashcards and quizzes from your notes and explanations of topics you're stuck on. Use it to start faster, then spend your energy on the recall and practice that actually build marks.