Mocks are a practice run for your real exams. They show you what you know, what you don't, and how you cope under exam conditions. Knowing how to revise for mocks matters, because this is often the first time you'll need to revise a lot of content in a short time. Use your mocks to test revision techniques as well as your knowledge. Techniques built on active recall and structured repetition work better than re-reading your notes.
Here are five to try.
1. Blurting
Pick a topic. Write down everything you remember about the topic, without checking your notes. Then compare what you wrote with your notes and fill the gaps in a different colour.
Blurting shows you exactly what you've forgotten, so you know where to spend your time. Practising fast recall also helps you stay calm when the clock is running in the exam.
Read our full guide to the blurting method.
2. Flashcards
Flashcards make you recall answers instead of reading them. Each card holds one fact or idea, so you learn in small chunks. Pair them with spaced repetition. You review hard cards more often and easy cards less often, so you spend your time on the cards you find hardest.
Read why flashcards are still one of the best revision tools.
3. Revise with a study buddy
Revising with a friend makes you more likely to turn up and stay on task. Quiz each other, explain topics out loud and compare answers. A friend's explanation of a tricky topic can make more sense than your textbook's. Set a time and a topic before you meet, so the session stays focused.
4. The Feynman technique
Named after physicist Richard Feynman, this technique asks you to explain a topic in simple words, as if teaching a 12-year-old. Pick a topic. Explain the topic out loud or on paper, in plain language. Note where you get stuck or use jargon. Those are your gaps. Go back to your notes, fill the gaps, then explain again. If you can explain a topic clearly, you understand the topic.
5. Mindmapping
A mind map puts a topic on one page. Start with the topic in the centre, then add branches for key ideas and smaller branches for detail. Mind maps help you see how ideas connect, which helps with essay and longer answers. Building the map yourself also shows you which links you can't remember yet. Use colours and simple drawings to make each branch easier to recall.
How do you plan revision for mocks?
Start four to six weeks before your first mock. List every topic for each subject. Rate each topic red, amber or green based on how confident you feel. Start with red topics and revisit green ones less often. Keep sessions short, around 25 to 45 minutes, with breaks.
After your mocks
Your results are a guide. Look at which questions lost you marks and which techniques worked. Keep the techniques that helped and drop the ones that didn't before your real exams.
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