
How can you prepare students for mock exams?
The exam season can be a difficult time for students and some will experience a heightened pressure to perform well under timed conditions. The best thing that a teacher can do to prepare their students for this is practise with mock examinations. Most students will admit to cramming before an exam, despite cramming being linked to increased stressed levels, so the trick is to get them started with their revision early. That way they’ll see just how much they need to revise and get off the starting blocks with a head start. Here are four ways you can prepare your students for mock exams:
Supply past papers
If you have previous mock papers or access to practice papers these will help give your students an idea of the structure of the exam and the different command words. Also, the papers will highlight what topics they need to focus on and by using an official marking guide they’ll learn exactly what an examiner will be looking for and how they can pick up those marks. One piece of A* advice from an A* student is that students should start the past papers at least two weeks before the exam.
Help your pupils get started with a distributed practice approach by setting practice papers as homework or do one together in the classroom under timed conditions. It’s important that before the mock exam they understand how long they should spend on answers and how they can make sure they don’t run out of time.
Create topic summaries
A lot of information can be covered in a term or a year, making it hard for students to remember those earlier topics. Creating a summary of each topic ensures they have an overview of the syllabus they’ve learnt so far and is a great strategy to help combat learning loss. The summary should cover the main points and therefore help them to compartmentalise the subject into sub-topics.
Rather than creating the summaries yourself, you can get your students involved by assigning each person a topic and ask them to condense it into five to seven bullet points. Have those students share their bullet points in class and, in turn, hear their classmates’ summaries of the topics they were assigned.
Find helpful revision websites and videos
Technology has changed the education landscape and while web-based learning was becoming the norm, this trend took off in the wake of covid. BBC Bitesize and Seneca Learning are among the best stocked revision websites, with interactive quizzes, videos and step-by-step guides for all age ranges. These websites offer courses across a range of topics but there are also sites dedicated to specific subjects, such as , which is a free online learning platform that gives access to resources, videos and exams questions.
The wealth of free information you can find on YouTube has led to the coining of the phrase StudyTube. The content you can find on the video-sharing platform covers exam techniques, revision tips and guides for tricky topics. Do your research to find the StudyTubers you want to recommend to your students.
Help students plan a revision timetable
As a teacher, it’s important to remember that many things can cause pupils stress and anxiety, one being examinations. The abundance of classroom notes and online resources means that your students have enough materials to get them top grades, but with so much to cover it can be overwhelming and they may not know where to start.
Share a revision timetable template and get them to start by filling in their school hours, other commitments and time for homework. Encourage your students to experiment with their timetable and find what works best for them. For example, they might try the Pomodoro Technique and find that the 25-minute blocks with breaks in between help them stay focused. Advise them to schedule the subjects they find harder at the beginning of the day when their brain is feeling fresh. Lastly, remind your students to set realistic expectations and give themselves enough time to relax.
Bring your education career to Teaching Personnel
Using these tips you can make sure your students are prepared for their upcoming mock exams and feel on top of their revision. You can find plenty more helpful teaching advise from Teaching Personnel, such as our top behaviour management strategies, and we also provide advise on DBS checks and help our candidates understand what their career options are. If you’d like to speak to a member of the team to hear how we can help you, contact us and we’ll be in touch.
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
Market related
Location free text
Great Yarmouth
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£50,000 - £59,999
£60,000 - £69,999
£70,000 - £79,999
£80,000 - £89,999
Sector
Primary
Location
Great Yarmouth
Description
A primary school in Great Yarmouth is looking for an experienced leader to take over as head teacher for a collaborative infants and junior school. They are looking for a dedicated, ambitious, and ene
Reference
MBHeadTeacher2023
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Daisy BiamontiAuthor
Daisy BiamontiSalary
£77 - 100 per day
Location free text
Hungerford
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£20 - £29 per hour
£30 per hour and above
Sector
SEND Support
Location
Hungerford
Description
Calling All Passionate SEN Teaching Assistants across Hungerford, RG17!Are you looking for an incredibly rewarding opportunity to make a significant impact on young lives? Do you have a heart for help
Reference
SJ - OAK
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Daisy BrittenAuthor
Daisy BrittenSalary
£375 - 400 per week
Location free text
Winchester
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
PMLD
Location
Hampshire
Description
Teaching Personnel are currently recruiting on behalf of a SEN School in the Winchester area who are seeking a full time Teaching Assistant to work with pupils with a variety of additional needs.The r
Reference
Student Jobs 442
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lucy MarkhamAuthor
Lucy MarkhamSalary
£22k per year
Location free text
Southampton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£20,000 - £29,999
Sector
SEMH
Location
Southampton
Description
Teaching Personnel, an education agency, is currently seeking a SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) Teaching Assistant for a local provision in Southampton. The school, which began in Septem
Reference
SEMH TA - 2
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lucy MarkhamAuthor
Lucy MarkhamSalary
£30,000 - 46,525 per year
Location free text
Manchester
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£30,000 - £39,999
£40,000 - £49,999
Sector
Business
Location
Manchester
Description
Teaching Personnel is currently recruiting for an experienced Business Studies teacher to join one of our client schools in Central Manchester.This position will be full-time, starting immediately.The
Reference
324
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Robert JordanAuthor
Robert JordanSalary
£22k per year
Location free text
Southampton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£20,000 - £29,999
Sector
SEMH
Location
Southampton
Description
Teaching Personnel, an education agency, is currently seeking a SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) Teaching Assistant for a local provision in Southampton. The school, which began in Septem
Reference
SEMH TA - 1
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lucy MarkhamAuthor
Lucy MarkhamSalary
£150 - 250 per day
Location free text
Thornhill
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
PMLD
Location
Hampshire
Description
Teaching Personnel, a leading education agency, is currently seeking a dedicated and passionate SEN Teacher for a highly regarded Primary SEN School located in Southampton. The school has achieved a
Reference
SEN Teacher - 4
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lucy MarkhamAuthor
Lucy MarkhamSalary
£30,000 - 46,525 per year
Location free text
Dorset
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£30,000 - £39,999
£40,000 - £49,999
Sector
English
Location
Dorset
Description
Are you looking for your next English teaching position?The Permanent Workforce Resource team are working in collaboration with an outstanding trust to assist them with their recruitment for the 2023/
Reference
PWR English DORSET
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Nicola PollittAuthor
Nicola PollittSalary
£80 - 95 per day
Location free text
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
Less than £500 per week
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
SEMH
Location
Kent
Description
Teaching Personnel is working with a SEN School who is looking for an individual that has previous experience working in a SEN School or has come from a care background and is looking to gain experien
Reference
BA/LSA/SEN/ER
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lottie CroweAuthor
Lottie CroweSalary
£77 - 85 per day
Location free text
Camberley
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
SEND Support
Location
Camberley
Description
Are you looking for a new, rewarding career in education? We are currently looking for amazing Teaching Assistants to join our SEN and SEMH schools across Surrey. We work with a range of primary and s
Reference
KH TA General 4
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Daisy BrittenAuthor
Daisy BrittenRelated posts

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
In the fast-moving world of education, headteachers and schools face the challenge of ensuring a continuous and reliable supply of qualified teachers. Unforeseen teacher absences due to staff sickness

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Embarking on the journey to become an educator is both exhilarating and demanding. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is crucial to achieving your teaching ambitions. The road ahead
.jpg)
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD08YY
Summary
Teaching is a rewarding profession that plays a crucial role in shaping our society's future. However, it comes with its challenges. The workload can be demanding, which might sometimes lead to feelin

Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD07YY
Summary
Being a Teaching Assistant (TA) is a rewarding and challenging role that requires a diverse skill set. One of the responsibilities of a TA is supporting the teacher in managing classroom behaviour eff
.jpg)
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
Teaching is a noble profession that holds the power to shape young minds and inspire future generations. Many people find great joy and fulfilment in pursuing a career in education. One avenue within

Teaser
Education NewsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
There are around 295,000 teaching assistants (TAs) working in schools across England and Wales. Today, teaching assistants play a crucial role in supporting students and teachers. In 2022, TAs account
.jpg)
Teaser
Primary EducationContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
While it is true that “accidents will happen”, keeping children safe and preventing as many accidents as possible should be a concern of every school. By raising awareness of risk sensitively, schools

by
Scott Owen
.jpg)
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD05YY
Summary
In the last three years, the likelihood of young people having mental health problems has increased by 50%. According to a report by The Health Foundation, one in six children aged six to 16 in Englan

by
Scott Owen

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD05YY
Summary
In 2023, it is impossible to watch the news without an item discussing the threats posed and potential benefits offered to society by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Most people, by now, will have t

by
Scott Owen

Teaser
Primary EducationContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD05YY
Summary
There is little doubt that school leaders across the country are facing a recruitment and retention crisis. It is a simple yet frustrating equation; fewer people are entering the workforce than ar

by
Scott Owen
Register with us
for work in schools across England & Wales
Register today
Recent job