Exams can be a stressful time for students, but with the right revision strategies, preparation can become more efficient and effective. Many students struggle with where to start, how to structure their study time, and which techniques work best. This guide provides ten proven revision tips that can help students maximise their learning, stay motivated, and feel more confident going into their exams. From creating a structured timetable to using past papers and taking regular breaks, these strategies are designed to improve focus and retention while reducing exam stress. Whether your child is preparing for GCSEs, A-Levels, or entrance exams, or end of term tests these practical tips can make a significant difference in their performance and overall well-being. Before hiring a tutor check that you have all these tips covered.

1. Prioritise Focus Over Hours

Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to revision. Many students believe that spending hours staring at a book equates to effective studying, but without concentration, this time can be wasted. Short, focused study sessions of around 25–40 minutes, followed by a 5–10-minute break, can be far more productive than endless hours of passive reading. The key is active engagement—taking notes, summarising information, and testing oneself.

Minimising distractions is essential. Mobile phones and social media can significantly disrupt focus, so consider putting the phone in another room or using apps like Offtime and Forest to block distractions. Some students benefit from background noise, like instrumental music or white noise, while others need complete silence. Experimenting with different focus techniques can help students find their optimal study conditions.

2. Use Past Papers Effectively

Past papers are one of the most valuable revision tools available. They help students familiarise themselves with the format and types of questions they will encounter in their exams, reducing anxiety and improving confidence. Working through past papers under timed conditions is a great way to refine time management and identify areas that need improvement.

Many exam boards for GCSE and A-level such as Edexcel, AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas provide free access to past papers and mark schemes on their websites. For entrance exam papers refer to our dedicated page with hundreds of past papers. Reviewing mark schemes is just as important as completing the papers, as it helps students understand how marks are awarded and what examiners look for in responses. Additionally, self-marking or discussing answers with a tutor or teacher can highlight common mistakes and areas for further revision.

3. Create a Balanced Revision Timetable

A well-structured revision timetable is essential for covering all subjects and avoiding last-minute cramming. Many students tend to revise subjects they enjoy or find easier, neglecting weaker areas. A balanced timetable ensures that all topics receive adequate attention. Planning revision in advance also reduces stress and makes the workload feel more manageable.

Mornings are often the best time for tackling difficult subjects since concentration levels are at their peak. Encourage students to mix subjects throughout the day to maintain variety and interest. For example, pairing a more challenging subject like Maths with a preferred subject like English can keep motivation high. Using apps like My Study Life or pen-and-paper planners can help students stick to their schedules.

4. Incorporate Rewards and Breaks

Revision can be mentally draining, and students need to look after their well-being during exam season. Scheduling rewards and enjoyable activities can make the process less overwhelming and provide motivation to stick to a study plan. A simple reward system—such as a favourite snack after completing a study session, or an hour of free time after a productive afternoon—can make a big difference.

Breaks should also be planned strategically. Short breaks every 30–40 minutes help prevent fatigue, and longer breaks for socialising, exercise, or relaxation can improve focus in the long run. Encouraging activities like a walk in the park, a trip to the cinema, or even just listening to music can help students recharge and return to their studies feeling refreshed.

5. Consider Personalised Support

For students struggling with certain subjects or topics, personalised tuition can provide the extra support needed to boost confidence and improve performance. A tutor can identify weak areas, provide tailored explanations, and offer strategies to approach difficult questions. This is particularly useful for students aiming for top grades or those who experience exam anxiety.

Many students waste valuable time during exam leave struggling with concepts they do not understand. A few one-to-one sessions with a tutor can clear up confusion quickly and allow students to focus on effective revision. Whether in-person or online, professional tutoring provides structured guidance and personalised feedback, making study time more efficient.

6. Use Effective Study Tools

The right study tools can make revision more engaging and effective. Colourful notes, highlighters, flashcards, and mind maps help students organise information visually, which can enhance memory retention. Flashcard apps like Anki or Quizlet are particularly useful for quick recall of key concepts and definitions.

Encouraging neat and organised notes can also make revisiting material easier. Some students find that rewriting and condensing notes helps reinforce their understanding. Others benefit from voice recordings or summary videos. Finding the right tools that suit an individual’s learning style can significantly enhance revision efficiency.

7. Take Regular, Structured Breaks

Research suggests that studying in short, focused sessions with regular breaks enhances concentration and retention. The Pomodoro Technique—25 minutes of study followed by a 5-minute break—is a popular and effective approach. Longer study sessions should include a 10–15-minute break every hour to prevent mental fatigue.

Physical activity during breaks can boost brain function and reduce stress. Encourage students to go for a walk, do some stretching, or engage in a quick workout. Even a change of scenery, such as stepping outside for fresh air, can improve focus when they return to their studies. Avoiding excessive screen time during breaks is also recommended to prevent eye strain and mental exhaustion.

8. Identify Your Child’s Learning Style

Every student learns differently, and understanding their preferred learning style can enhance revision efficiency. Some students are visual learners and benefit from diagrams, mind maps, and colour-coded notes. Others are auditory learners who remember information better by listening to recordings or discussing topics aloud. Kinesthetic learners, who learn best through hands-on activities, might find interactive exercises, writing summaries, or using a whiteboard more effective.

Encouraging students to experiment with different learning techniques can help them discover what works best. For example, recording themselves explaining a topic and listening back to it can be helpful for auditory learners, while using spaced repetition flashcards can be beneficial for those who need frequent recall practice.

9. Explore Group Revision and Courses

While some students prefer studying alone, others benefit from collaborative learning. Group revision sessions can be a great way to reinforce knowledge through discussion and peer teaching. Explaining a concept to someone else is one of the most effective ways to solidify understanding.

Revision courses, either in-person or online, provide structured support and expert guidance. These courses often focus on exam technique, helping students develop the skills needed to answer questions effectively under timed conditions. If your child enjoys learning in a group setting, a revision course may be a good investment.

10. Have an Exam-Day Strategy

A well-prepared exam strategy can make a significant difference in performance. Encourage students to get a good night’s sleep before their exam, eat a nutritious breakfast, and arrive at the exam venue with plenty of time to spare. Staying calm and confident is crucial—last-minute cramming can often do more harm than good.

Time management during the exam is key. Students should allocate their time wisely, ensuring they leave enough time to check their answers. For essay-based subjects, structuring responses before writing can help maintain clarity and coherence. In multiple-choice or short-answer questions, it’s essential to read instructions carefully and not rush through the paper.

After the exam, encourage students to move on and focus on the next subject rather than dwelling on what went wrong. Exams can be stressful, but a strong strategy can help students stay composed and perform at their best.

For additional strategies on effective revision, visit Cornell University’s Learning Strategies Center and North Carolina State University’s Study Skills Resources.

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The 11 Plus is an entrance exam used by grammar schools and select independent schools across the country to assess the academic potential of pupils in year 6 before they enter secondary education. 

For state grammar school applicants, the 11 Plus exam is typically sat early in the autumn term and independent school exams are usually sat between October and January of year 6.

The 11 Plus exam is not standardised, so schools across the nation will test in different ways and will in turn have different pass rates, however most exams tend to assess the following:

• Numerical reasoning – to assess a student’s mathematics capabilities
• Non-verbal reasoning (NVR) –  to test a pupil’s ability to analyse visual information, like shapes, pictures or diagrams to solve problems.
• Verbal reasoning – uses written passages to measure a student’s understanding of language and ability to form reason and logical answers.
• English – assesses comprehension and ability to use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling through a creative writing task.

Some independent schools, such as Harrow, Eton College and Westminster School, also have their own standardised 11 Plus assessment in place designed to measure a student’s ability and attainment. This is called the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) Common Pre-Test and results determine whether a student will then be invited to sit the Common Entrance for that specific school in Year 8. 

There is no specific assessment date for the ISEB but it is typically sat in year 6 or year 7 and will be run by the child’s school or at home. 

How To Prepare Your Child For The 11 Plus Exam

As every school has its own assessment criteria and pass rate, it can be worth checking with prospective schools in advance of sitting the exam to best understand timelines and any specific skills that pupils will be assessed on.

Every child is different and will learn at their own pace but (if feasible) we recommend starting exam prep 12-months prior to the 11 Plus. Some skills, like verbal-reasoning, may be unfamiliar to children, whereas other skills they will already have a firm grasp on but may be thrown by the exam format so it’s good to start preparing as early as possible.

Some schools may offer support for 11 Plus exam preparation from Year 5 but as the 11 Plus is not mandatory and some families opt out of their child sitting the exam, this does not apply to all schools, so it falls to parents to help their children prepare in their own time.

Fortunately, there are a number of excellent resources and tools available to help equip children with the skills and confidence they need to excel in their 11 Plus exams.

Practice Papers

One of the most common and easily-accessible resources available is 11 Plus practice papers. These can be bought easily online and from select stores like Waterstones and WH Smiths and allow your children to familiarise themselves with the style of questions they’ll see in the real exam.  

A bonus of using practice papers is that you can replicate a timed exam environment at home and use the results to gauge whether your child has any areas for improvement and if they’re able to get the results needed for entry to your preferred grammar or independent school. Links to practice papers can be found in our useful resources section at the end of this post.

Engaging an 11 Plus Tutor

At Hampstead and Frognal Tutors, we want to make senior school applications as simple and stress-free as possible. Our team of expert tutors have guided hundreds of families through the 11 Plus exam process and we know better than anyone that each student is unique. While some will benefit from a few intensive 11 Plus sessions, some may require longer-term support. 

Our tutors will help identify your child’s individual learning style and implement a bespoke programme of tuition to equip them not only with the skills they need but also with confidence in an exam environment so they are mentally prepared and can excel when the time comes. 

Reading at home

Whether or not a child is sitting the 11 Plus exam, reading at home is always encouraged to help with literacy skills and helping develop a child’s vocabulary. Reading regularly in the lead up to the 11 Plus exam can help strengthen the skills they need for the English element of the test in a more relaxed and engaging format than typical exam preparation.

Encourage writing at home

The 11 Plus exam will assess a child’s grammar, vocabulary and spelling so practising with creative writing tasks at home can be helpful. This could be something as simple as encouraging them to write a short story but provides an opportunity for children to practise the skills needed for the exam and inspire their creativity.

Managing Exam Anxiety

All the preparation in the world can be futile if children aren’t prepared mentally and emotionally for an exam environment as nerves, stress and anxiety can play a huge role in exam performance.

There are, however, plenty of techniques to help parents understand the causes, signs and coping techniques to help manage 11 plus exam anxiety and better a child’s chances of success when they sit their 11 Plus exam. 

Many parents have a clear vision in mind when it comes to their child’s secondary education, meaning both parents and children worry about the 11 Plus exam but, with the help of one of our specialised 11 Plus tutors, it really needn’t be a concern. 

For us it’s important to take the time to understand families and parents’ ambitions for their children. Contact us for more information and our 11 Plus tutors will work with you to establish what is required to raise your child’s academic attainment so we can provide you with the best tuition services and advice to support and invest in your children’s future.

Useful resources

• 11 Plus Exam practise papers
• Find out more about applying for secondary school and the assessment criteria.

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Many young people will have spent the past year, if not longer, preparing for the upcoming 11 Plus exams meaning children, tutors and parents alike are more than au fait with the likes of verbal reasoning practice papers. The summer holidays mark the “home stretch” of revision as well as a much-needed period of relaxation before the exams and the start of a new school year but for some, the sense of exam anxiety will linger.

Nerves, stress and anxiety can play a huge role in exam performance, meaning all the preparation in the world can be futile if children aren’t prepared mentally and emotionally for an exam environment. In this post we aim to help you understand the causes, signs and coping techniques to help ease your child’s nerves and better their chances of success when they sit their 11 Plus.

So What Triggers 11 Plus Exam Anxiety?

Exam or test anxiety is quite a common form of stress that occurs before, during and sometimes after exams. It is commonly triggered by:

• A feeling of unpreparedness in the lead up to exams
• Excess pressure to succeed or fear of disappointing others – either stemming from self-placed pressure or from family and teachers
• A feeling of inadequacy 

It can also be triggered by less obvious factors, like the manifestation of emotions following a big life transition. Whatever the reason, exam anxiety can take its toll mentally, emotionally and physically, which doesn’t put young people in good stead for a high-pressure exam environment. Spotting and managing stress can be crucial to your child’s success.

Tell Tale Signs That Your Child May Be Struggling With Exam Anxiety

You know your child better than anyone so will likely be able to spot if their behaviour is different than normal and establish whether something may be playing on their mind, like 11 plus exam anxiety. But a few tell tale signs to look out for include:

• A short temper or notably more irritable than usual
• Uncharacteristically quiet or withdrawn
• Skin breakouts or rashes
• A shift in appetite – either comfort eating or a sudden disinterest in food
• Nail biting or teeth grinding
• Difficulty sleeping
• Frequent use of negative language like ‘stupid’ or ‘rubbish’ to refer to themselves, eluding to a feeling of inadequacy
• Actively avoiding school

How can Parents Help Manage The Stress and Prepare Children For An Exam Environment?

Building up the knowledge and skills a child needs to confidently sit the 11 Plus takes time but implementing the following techniques can be done quickly and easily to help them manage exam stress, nervousness and anxiety, and put them in good stead for September. 

In The Lead Up to the 11 Plus Exam

Promote healthy study habits

We all want the best for our children so there can be a tendency among parents to overdo it with practice papers and excess revision, which only feeds into the stress and pressure to do well. Simple changes like the below will help promote healthy study and balance, setting your child up for success.

Take regular breaks

Ensure there are regular opportunities for breaks from study to give them time to reset an unwind in between papers.

Encourage exercise

This could be anything from a short walk outdoors to a very active sport like tennis but encouraging exercise can help boost energy levels, clear the mind and alleviate stress. Group activities that provide an opportunity to interact with others are particularly positive during a stressful period. 

Adapt to your child’s learning style

Some children find it easier to study with background music on or in an environment with natural background noise, where others prefer silence. Either way, remember to be flexible to your child’s individual learning style.

Keep practising

You’ll likely have been doing practice papers with your child for a while now but one additional measure to consider is giving your child the opportunity to do practice papers in a timed and silent environment. That way, your child won’t be unfamiliar with exam conditions and subject to additional stress when the 11 Plus comes around.

Positive reinforcement

This is a tip that should carry throughout the exam process. Children experiencing exam anxiety are more likely to manage their stress if they feel supported by parents, tutors and teachers.

Express yourself

Encourage your child to talk openly about how they’re feeling in the lead up to the 11 Plus. Expressing their feelings can help them to rationalise their nerves and gives you the opportunity to tackle matters head on and offer advice to help minimise their anxiety. If they find it difficult to express themselves verbally, encouraging them to write down a couple of lines about their concerns, or draw something that visualises their feelings can help as a first step.

Meditate

There are a lot of useful resources online that explain the best breathing techniques to self-soothe and calm nerves during stressful periods. Practising these with your child in the lead up to exams can be hugely beneficial as they can then implement these techniques and manage stress if nerves kick in in a test environment.

On 11 Plus Exam Day

On the day of the 11 Plus exam, children may need to venture outside of their beloved Coco Pops and have a more balanced breakfast that will sustain them throughout the exam. There’s not much that can be done by way of revision on the journey to school but there are lots of opportunities to give your child positive reminders that will help ease their nerves:

Remind children of their strengths

There’s no use in a child dwelling on the areas they feel less confident but pointing out the areas they excel in may help give them a confidence boost going into the exam.

Give a good luck charm

If possible, give your child a small good luck charm to take into their exam with them. Although there may not be a science behind good luck charms, having a token of good luck can help to increase confidence and self-belief during an exam. It also acts as a reminder that you’re thinking of them which is equally important.

Show your pride

It may sound obvious but remind your child that you’re proud of them regardless of how the test goes. This may sound obvious but as parents we often get caught up in wanting our children to do well that this simple step gets forgotten and the great weight of high expectations can often play a role mentally and affect exam performance. Helping to lift some of that pressure will in turn help alleviate 11 plus exam anxiety.

Use remaining time wisely

Remind children to re-read questions and answers if they have time to spare at the end.

A helpful reminder

Remind children that everyone finishes at different times but finishing slower doesn’t translate to poor performance.

After The 11 Plus Exam Is Done

Once the exam is over, the wait for results begins and that in itself can be just as nerve wracking. If your child is upset after the exam, take the opportunity to talk through the areas they feel they may have gone wrong so you can talk them through how to tackle future exams. This also allows you to identify areas where they might need the support of a tutor in future.

The end of the last exam is also a good time to remind your children and yourselves that dwelling on performance won’t help matters and if things haven’t gone to plan, that doesn’t mean the end of the line. 

The biggest thing you can do to relax your child(ren) after their last exam is to praise them for having done their best (because ultimately that’s the most important thing) and try to mark the end of the exams as a celebration to end this period on a positive note.

Useful resources:

Meditation techniques to self-calm during exams

Suggested breakfasts for exam day

The post Preparing Children For Their 11 Plus And Managing Exam Anxiety appeared first on Hampstead and Frognal Tutors.

With school entrance exams and GCSE and A Level mocks just around the corner, you may be wondering how to help your child with exam revision over the Christmas break. No student wants to be glued to their books during yuletide activities, so here are a few suggestions to make holiday schoolwork a little less Grinch-like.

Little and often is key

For children taking the 11+ or the 13+ in January, it is sensible to set aside a little time every day, or every other day, for revision. With younger children, it is important to keep things ticking over as tricky mathematical methods and difficult spellings are easily forgotten over the Christmas break. Short, regular revision sessions are likely to be more effective —and more fun —thanlong stints sitting at a desk.

Plan some treats

Whether it is a trip to the ice rink or a visit to some Christmas markets, make sure to intersperse revision with some festive outings. A few rewards will provide more motivation to study and —more importantly —give children the chance to enjoy their well earned school holiday.  

Get the whole family involved

Nothing is worse than hearing everyone having fun together in the kitchen as you sit staring at a page of trigonometry. Revision doesn’t have to a solitary affair, however: take the time to quiz your child on arithmetic and spelling, and encourage other members of the family —older siblings, aunts, grandparents —to do the same. A maths problem shared is a maths problem halved.

Try to inject some yuletide cheer

Although an 11+ past paper may be the least festive thing known to man, do your best to make it fun. Hunt down some Christmas maths quizzes, or find a Noel themed English comprehension passage. Schoolwork will never be as enjoyable as eating mince pies, but it doesn’t have to be chore.

Schedule in some private tuition

If you have decided to hire a tutor, it is a good idea to timetable in a couple of lessons during the Christmas break. Whether your child is struggling with a particular topic, or is experiencing pre-exam nerves, a tutor will boost their confidence and help clear up their confusion before school starts again in January.  

Play games

For young students, sometimes a game of Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit is just as worthwhile as agonising over a non-verbal reasoning test. Anything that keeps children’s brains active over the holiday is sure to be a good thing —plus Christmas is a time for families to spend quality time together.

Draw up a timetable

If your child has GCSE or A Level mocks in January, encourage them to make a timetable. It is hard for teenagers to know how much progress they are making over the holidays, and a timetable will make them feel like they are making real headway. It is important to be realistic — don’t let them schedule in 14 hours of Chemistry revision on Christmas Eve. But scheduling in a few hours in every day — and marking in some work-free days — is a great way for teenagers to make the most of the Christmas break.  

Set some goals

Whether your child is about to sit the 11+ or an A Level exam, think about some key objectives they should aim to achieve over the holiday. These don’t have to be detailed, but it will help to avoid panic later in the day, and fill your child with a real sense of achievement once Christmas comes to an end.

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