Ask Becki Bradshaw, Head of Revision and Test Practice, your questions about revision and exams

[MaddyMumsnet]

Created for Oxford Revision
Do you need tips to help your child revise effectively, manage exam stress, or create a study plan that works? Becki Bradshaw, Head of Revision and Test Practice at Oxford University Press, is here to answer your questions.
With years of experience and a team of experts behind her, Becki has developed resources and support that uses proven strategies to help students build confidence and succeed in their exams.

• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by 5/3/25 will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Becki will be back on the week of the 10/3/25 to answer some of your questions

About Becki Bradshaw: “As Head of Revision and Test Practice at Oxford University Press, Becki pulled together the best subject and cognitive science experts working in secondary education today to create the Oxford Revise team. Collectively, they have one mission: to give students access to the best strategies and guidance so that they can approach their exams with confidence, and succeed!"

Here’s what Oxford Revision has to say:
“By this point you’ve supported your child through many, many years of schooling and now, somehow, it’s time for exams! The Oxford Revise team knows what this is like first-hand, in fact many of us feel like we sat the exams ourselves. But one thing we’re certain of is - you’ve got this!””

So, whether you’re wondering how to structure revision sessions, looking for advice on balancing study and downtime, or simply want to know how to keep your child motivated during exam season, post your question on this thread for Becki to answer.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Terms and Conditions

Thank you for this question @DenDenDenise. Working with someone else can really help with the retrieval process. This could be as simple as using their study guides/notes to ask them questions or defining key vocabularly. There are quick retrieval questions for every topic in the Oxford Revise guides with the ever-important answers next to them, therefore you don't need to have any prior-knowledge to be able to help! Your child may have knowledge organisers or mind-maps, and you ask them to tell you everything they can about that topic. The important bit for the student is that they are practising retrieving or getting the information out of their long-term memory.

Yes, @Onceuponatimethen - we really do. It is never too early to start familiarising children with different types of revision. It's a skill that needs practise and a habit that can help with focus, anxiety and motivation. As I mentioned in another answer, there's some advice from Primrose Kitten, Series Editor for Oxford Revise and revision guru here: www.oxfordrevise.com/home/good-study-habits-at-ks3-primrose-kitten/

Hi @Pushmepullyou ! It's great that you know this and with 10 weeks to go before the exams it's something your daughter can hone and get good at! Don't panic! Really focus on doing lots of exam-style practice questions in the Oxford Revise Revision Guides. These are going to help her get used to what the exam questions are like and how to answer them, before tackling those longer past papers. They are packed with tips and tricks for what the examiners want to see. Our History Series Editor Aaron Wilkes has lots of advice for effective History revision and talking through expectations. Take a look here: www.oxfordrevise.com/gcse/history/

When is the best time of the day to revise and for how long?

When is the best time of the day to revise and for how long?

Hi @mummersintheattic. The Oxford Revise team work hard to make each Oxford Revise guide is as accessible as possible for all students so that they can revise for exams with confidence. It's important that each guide does their job without adding to students' cognitive load. For example, you'll find there's not too much on a page and every element, eg. feature box, icon, images, is there because it is important.

It's very hard to offer general advice for children that need additional support as each situation is so unique, requiring specific solutions. Working closely with your child's schools will provide you and your child with support and advice that gives your child the best route to success!

@ohdannyboy , Sticky notes are great. In fact, one of our expert authors recommends sticking English Literature quotes on the fridge so that they can be read everytime they grab something! I remember learning some German grammar by making a poster that I put above my bed so that I read it before I went to sleep and when I woke up. Index cards for making flash cards are also useful, although this can also be done digitally. The key thing to remember is to encourage revision that is active.

Hi @lovemyflipflops. It is a skill to be able to realistically assess how good we are at something - we may not always be that truthful to ourselves! So working with someone else can be a great way of understanding how secure they are in a topic. If they struggle in one area, then this can be noted down and then used to help plan future revision sessions.

GCSE and A Level Revision is long-haul. It's great to have some time studying with friends for motivation and enjoyment as well as effectiveness.

Hi @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo ! I hope some of the answers to your questions have been covered elsewhere, but I did want to add that it's always recommended to mix up the subjects/topics throughout the day, not do one, as they're more likely to get a bit bored and lose focus.

If they're still at school and have an evening to study then they could fit in one or two sessions of 45 mins, which could be used on some quick retrieval practice or working through an exam-style question.

With around 10 weeks to go before the first exams, @Britanniaa, this is the ideal time to work out which areas/topics/exam skills are stronger and weaker, and focus on the weaker areas.

With your maths example, it sounds like they're already most of the way there which is great! If they have the knowledge and know what they need to do to answer the question but the issue is with timing, completing as many timed past papers as possible is key. A member of our Science and Maths team suggests going through the paper and writing down the calculation / equation needed for each question and then going back to fill in the numbers/complete the calculations. This means that they would still pick up marks for knowing what is being assessed, which would be better than skipping questions entirely.

Remember that they won't get the full marks without a correct answer so completing the exam is still important. Practice with a timer will help them get used to working efficiently.

Apart from going through past papers, do you have any advice on how to tackle the MAT please?

Thanks for this question @DinkyDaffodil. Examiners have to be able to read the exam script so it should try to be as clear as possible.

When it comes to workings for maths, we would say that it is important for students to show their thinking. Not only does writing down the steps, relevant calculations etc, help students to get their thoughts in order, there will be marks available for showing that they have this knowledge, which is what the exam is testing. They may make a mistake in the numbers they use, but will still get marks for being able to demonstrate the processes they've gone through.

Hi @Ilostmyhalo, and also to @StickChildNumberTwo, @kennythekangaroo, and @notnowdennis, and @TheLimeMaker - this answer might be useful to you as well!

Every single year, the biggest feedback across subjects is that students haven't read the question properly. Therefore, I can not stress enough how important it is for students to do as many past papers as possible - there are so many benefits!

Firstly, being familiar with the structure of the exam paper and knowing what to expect can help to minimise anxiety. There are exam walk-through videos on the Oxford Revise hub, which students will find useful!
Secondly, each completed paper helps to hone exam technique and understand the requirements of each exam - like where they can pick up those easy marks! Past papers can also really help to prepare for the longer essay-style or multi-part questions eg. getting better at retreiving relevant knowledge and practise writing arguments.
Lastly, it can also be useful to mark a friend's past paper. Using the mark schemes, this will help to make sure that they understand what the question is looking for which can be used for their own revision.

Oxford Revise guides have loads, and I really do mean loads, of exam-style questions in them for practice, and you'll also find past papers on the Oxford Revise hub. https://www.oxfordrevise.com/

For AQA GCSE Science students, we've just launched the Oxford Revise Exam Tutor which is also packed with exam-style questions which are marked in real time, offering instant feedback that helps you understand where you can improve and what to revise next. It's completely free and you can give it a go here: https://www.oxfordrevise.com/home/exam-tutor/

Thanks for the question @Beabeautiful. It's all about locking that content in your long-term memory so that you can pull it out just when you need it. The Oxford Revise approach is built on the Science of effective revision, working with lots of experts who know what works. Remembering quotes for English, sources of authority for RS, Historic dates and events are things we get asked about a lot. Our top tip is to do lots of retrieval practice. So keep testing yourself over and over again to lock them into your long-term memory. Making flashcards and sticking them on the fridge is something that many find effective. So you have to read a quote each time you go there. Oxford Revise Revision Guides (including for English Literature!) have lots of quick-fire retrieval questions in which a friend or family member can help test with. Active revision is what's key; make sure that brain is getting a workout.

I really appreciate all of the questions that have come in. I know that exams and revision can be a stressful time for everyone involved, so I hope that I've helped to ease some of your concerns. When it comes to revision planning here are my top 3 tips:

1. Identify strengths and weaknesses across subjects, and create a revision plan that focuses on the weaker areas.
2. Mix up the revision - do active revision that brings knowledge in and activities that practice bringing that knowledge out
3. Take breaks! Shorter, concentrated sessions are more impactful than very long sessions.

I’m going to read through the thread sorry if this has already been asked.

how much revision per night would you recommend, and would you concentrate on the important subjects like maths.

also would you recommend more revision the day before an exam? Only asking as out piano tutor recommends no playing the day before the exam

Is it better to revise raw material or exam questions? How do you revise for languages other than just learning reems of vocab? What are the best ways to improve exam stamina?

Is there a trick to finding bullet points to revise for topics? DC struggle when they have a topic over a few pages to pull out the main/key facts if there isn't an information box. I've tried to suggest looking for themes but for subjects like science that doesn't always work and they worry they've missed a key theme.

@MaddyMumsnet has the winner been drawn ty :)

@MaddyMumsnet Just bumping this one - has the winner been chosen please - or can you update this thread with the winners name ?

@MaddyMumsnet just bumping this again - please have you selected a winner of the voucher ? ty

@MaddyMumsnet Would also like to know!

@MaddyMumsnet hello just looking at old sponsered threads for revision tips - did Mumsnet ever choose a winner for this thread please ??

@MaddyMumsnet I'd like to know this too !