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Secondary education

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Best study guides to support GCSE learning

10 replies

applecharlotte · 30/08/2025 18:34

DS is about to go into year 10. I'm keen to get some good study guides to help support his learning for each of his GCSEs. I was hoping someone would be able to recommend some good resources that will help engage him and also complement his learning in class. Has anyone DCs found any particular ones useful to boost confidence and knowledge?

He hates watching videos (hangover from Covid) so some physical notes/guides/flash cards that summarise key info etc would be preferable. He's quite negative about year 10 - dreading the pressure and didn't get any of his first choices option wise which hasn't helped.

He's taking:

Sociology - GCSE Syllabus Studied – AQA

Mandarin - GCSE Syllabus Studied – AQA Chinese (Spoken Mandarin)

History - Pearson Edexcel GCSE

Science - AQA GCSE Separate Sciences in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Maths - GCSE Syllabus Studied – AQA

English Language and Lit – AQA

Thanks :)

OP posts:
Booksbussesredyellow · 30/08/2025 18:42

I wouldn't buy anything yet. Dc have just finished gcses and the first few weeks in year 10 we were given lots of textbooks/revision guides we needed (and also ones that would help).
The cgp books are great (make sure you get the right exam board and course especially science).
Also school sold a few at reduced rate as they bulk bought.
You can also buy some secondhand on sites like world of books (but double check I actually found an alevel text last week cheaper new than secondhand.

NeverEverOhNo · 30/08/2025 18:43

CGP guides for English.

applecharlotte · 30/08/2025 18:46

Thank you, I'll wait until he's back at school then! CGP doesn't seem too pricey either, which is a bonus.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 30/08/2025 19:42

If you get the CGP revision guide for maths, also get the workbook because the revision guide doesn't have that many questions in it.

totallylostanddontknowwhattodo · 30/08/2025 19:45

I would wait to see what the school recommend and sometimes they offer them cheaper as well

Ifonlyoneday · 30/08/2025 22:39

applecharlotte · 30/08/2025 18:34

DS is about to go into year 10. I'm keen to get some good study guides to help support his learning for each of his GCSEs. I was hoping someone would be able to recommend some good resources that will help engage him and also complement his learning in class. Has anyone DCs found any particular ones useful to boost confidence and knowledge?

He hates watching videos (hangover from Covid) so some physical notes/guides/flash cards that summarise key info etc would be preferable. He's quite negative about year 10 - dreading the pressure and didn't get any of his first choices option wise which hasn't helped.

He's taking:

Sociology - GCSE Syllabus Studied – AQA

Mandarin - GCSE Syllabus Studied – AQA Chinese (Spoken Mandarin)

History - Pearson Edexcel GCSE

Science - AQA GCSE Separate Sciences in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Maths - GCSE Syllabus Studied – AQA

English Language and Lit – AQA

Thanks :)

York notes books good once you know which books he’s doing for English literature. For English language you can get Mr Bruff book’s secondhand (although most Mr Brufff stuff is online now).
as well as world of books try vinted, lots of last year year 11 selling their stuff now they’ve got their results.

HighburyHope · 31/08/2025 08:28

FlipsCo cards are nice as an additional resource for English.

With DD (now Y13) I don’t think I bought anything extra during Y10, but I did get her doing maths consolidation using a CGP workbook in the summer between Y10 and Y11 which really helped her after a disappointing result in the Y10 end of year exam. She aced the GCSE in the end.

With DS (now Y9) I’ve found it helpful to consolidate maths as we’ve gone along, so this summer he has willingly done regular bite-sized bits of CGP maths workbook at the relevant level (I mean 10mins only at a time). He’s finding that the more maths he does the more he enjoys it, so that’s a virtuous circle I am happy to encourage!

I wouldn’t overdo things in Y10 though. Plenty of time yet.

labradorservant · 31/08/2025 08:40

Whatever you get Amazon 2nd hand is great. Also physicsandmathsstutor have a load of great free resources online. The school will have subscriptions to some stuff too.

applecharlotte · 31/08/2025 14:53

Thank you for all the suggestions 😊 I'll chill out a bit!

OP posts:
StripeyLemur · 03/12/2025 14:08

The Oxford Revise guides are by far the best in terms of quality. They are backed by cognitive science principles on how to learn and they include everything in one book - watch out for CGP ones that look cheap but they only have revision and no practice questions, and you need the questions!

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