How to prepare your students for mock exams
Preparation is crucial to success in all areas, and mock exams are no exception.
The more students are familiar with exam conditions, the types of questions they need to answer, and the expectations placed upon them, the more confident and capable they will feel when it’s time to tackle their assessments.
The most important thing to consider is that not all students are comfortable under pressure, regardless of their academic aptitudes. Therefore, your mock exam preparation support should encompass academic and wellbeing strategies.
As the leading online alternative provision, Academy21 supports thousands of students in preparing for their GCSE exams or exam resits and achieving the best outcomes for them. We spoke with Claire Semple, our Head of Science, who shared her expert advice on approaching mock exams based on her extensive education experience.
What are mock exams?
Mock exams are practice versions of the real exams that students must take for their GCSEs and A Levels. They simulate the experience of the actual assessments, including the structure, content, timing, and even the exam environment itself.
These exams are a valuable opportunity for students to experience exam conditions firsthand. They provide a chance to assess strengths, identify gaps in knowledge, and gain a clearer idea of potential performance. They also help students develop their exam strategies and mental resilience, crucial elements for success on the big day.
Mock exams are typically scheduled in the months leading up to the final exams. GCSE mock exams, for example, are scheduled in three main periods: Winter Mocks in December, offering a mid-course progress check for Year 11 students; Spring Mocks in February or March, just before the Easter break, to help students refine their revision strategies; and Summer Mocks in April or May, providing a final opportunity to practice under exam conditions before the official exams in May or June.
My top 5 tips to prepare your students for mock exams
Mock exams are a crucial part of the learning journey, and it’s essential to equip students both mentally and academically for these assessments. As the Head of Science at Academy21, here are my top five tips to help prepare your students for mock exams.
Use past papers and mark schemes
One of the most traditional but effective ways to prepare students for mock exams is by using past papers and mark schemes. These resources offer invaluable insights into the exam format, question types, and marking criteria. Encourage students to work up to practising with these papers under timed conditions, without referring to notes, to simulate the real exam environment.
For science, focus on identifying common experimental and data analysis questions. Encourage students to practice interpreting graphs and tables. Reviewing mark schemes and decoding them with your students helps them to understand what examiners are looking for in responses. Ideally, students should be exposed to past paper style questions throughout the course so that the format is familiar, and they gain confidence in how to approach them.
2. Set realistic study goals
Setting realistic study goals is crucial for maintaining motivation and avoiding burnout. Encourage students to break down their revision into manageable chunks, focusing on specific topics or subjects each day. This approach not only makes the task less daunting but also helps in retaining information more effectively.
For my subject area, suggest focusing on one topic at a time, such as cell biology or chemical reactions, and using a variety of resources like flashcards, recommended video playlists and interactive simulations. Help students create a revision timetable that balances study with rest and leisure activities. Emphasise the importance of regular breaks and a healthy lifestyle, including adequate sleep and nutrition, to ensure they are mentally and physically prepared for their exams.
3. Speak to teachers
Teachers are a valuable resource when it comes to exam preparation. Encourage students to reach out to their teachers for guidance and clarification on topics they find challenging. Personalised feedback can be particularly crucial for students with SEN to revise effectively and boost confidence.
Teachers can offer insights to tackle revision of complex concepts such as genetics or electromagnetism and provide practical tips for lab-based questions.
Regular communication with teachers can also boost students’ confidence, as they feel supported and guided in their revision journey. Remind students that teachers are there to help and that seeking assistance is a proactive step towards success.
4. Identify what works for you
Every student has a unique learning approach, and it’s important for them to identify what works best for them. Encourage students to experiment with different revision techniques, such as videos, flashcards, mind maps, or recording themselves as voice notes to play back to reinforce new vocabulary and definitions. The key is to help them ensure their efforts make use of known, impactful methods such as spacing, retrieval and elaboration. There are many methods within these, but having the essential components of effective revision is essential.
For science, using visual aids like diagrams and flowcharts can be particularly effective for understanding processes like photosynthesis or fractional distillation. By exploring various methods, students can discover which techniques best support their understanding and retention of information.
5. Work with a friend or family member
Collaborative learning can be a powerful tool in exam preparation. Encourage students to work with a friend or family member to test one another on key concepts and topics. This interaction can help reinforce knowledge, clarify doubts, and provide new perspectives on challenging material.
Students can quiz each other on terminology or explain complex theories to one another, to deepen understanding. Studying with others also adds a social element to revision, making it more enjoyable and less isolating, which is of value to online learners. It can boost motivation and accountability, as students are more likely to stay on track when they have a study partner.
*Important note for this year’s maths and physics examinations
Students don’t have to focus on memorising all the equations. Exam boards are expected to confirm that equation sheets will be provided to students in 2025, 2026, and 2027 as recommended by the Secretary of State for Education in October 2024. Students should revise using the 2024 equation sheets.
Supporting students post-exams
You would hope that students left the exam centre ready to put the accumulated stress and nerves behind them. In reality, however, awaiting exam results can be just as stressful as preparing or undertaking the exam itself. To reduce exam result anxiety, encourage your students to engage in relaxing activities such as medication and journaling, and try to keep a healthy routine by incorporating hobbies, exercise and family time into their daily activities.
Remind them that nothing is lost, even if they feel like they underperformed or are not happy with the results. If you think they could benefit from additional support, Academy21 offers a one-year GCSE course ideal for students who want to resit. This course is designed to strengthen their understanding of core exam concepts in a stigma-free, inclusive environment, with expert teachers and targeted revision activities. Because all our live, adaptive lessons are online, students benefit from a range of tech tools to enhance learning. Schools also have the flexibility to deploy our solution and provide tailored GCSE resit plans without any administrative burden. Learn more here.
