Study BuddyRevising French and Spanish: 15 minutes a day
Languages are different from most subjects. You can't cram them in a week, because vocabulary and grammar need to become automatic. The good news is that small, regular practice works very well. Fifteen focused minutes a day will beat a three-hour panic.
Why little and often works
Learning words is a memory task. Memory improves when you recall things repeatedly over time. A short session each day brings words back just as you're about to forget them. The result is that vocabulary moves from "I recognise it" to "I can say and write it".
The 15-minute routine
Try this pattern, and swap pieces around to suit you:
- Minutes 1 to 5: vocabulary recall. Use flashcards with the English on one side and the target language on the other. Say each answer out loud before flipping. Test both directions.
- Minutes 6 to 10: speaking. Answer one speaking question aloud, such as "describe your weekend" or "what are your plans for the holidays". Talk for a minute without stopping, even if it's rough.
- Minutes 11 to 15: listening or reading. Listen to a short recording or read a short text, then note three new words or phrases.
Weekly additions
- One short writing task. Write a paragraph on a topic from your course, then compare it with a model answer or ask your teacher.
- One grammar focus. Pick a pattern, such as the past tense, and practise it with ten sentences.
Make vocabulary stick
- Learn in phrases, not single words. "Je vais au cinéma" or "voy al cine" is easier to use than a lone noun.
- Group by topic to match your exam themes: school, family, free time, travel, the environment.
- Use cognates and clues, but double-check false friends.
- Revisit mistakes. Keep a list of words you keep getting wrong and look at it every few days.
Speaking: get comfortable out loud
Say answers aloud, even when alone. Record yourself on your phone and listen back. Speaking exams are mostly about fluency, pronunciation and using a range of structures, and none of that develops silently in your head. Practise your prepared answers, but also practise unexpected questions.
Listening and reading
Use your exam board's listening practice, BBC Bitesize and past papers. Listen once for the gist, then again for detail. Read the questions first so you know what to listen for.
Writing
Plan with a few key phrases and a mix of tenses and opinions. Examiners reward accurate use of different structures more than long, error-filled sentences. Check verb endings, genders and spelling before you finish.
Using AI
AI can create vocabulary quizzes, give you speaking prompts and explain a grammar point simply. It can slip up on accents, spelling and register, so confirm anything important in your textbook or with your teacher.
The simplest rule
Do something every day, even if it's only five minutes on the days you're tired. Consistency is what turns languages from a worry into a strength.