Are you worried about how to deal with the revision of your IGCSE exams? You are not alone. The excessive amount of content, pressure to do well in the last minutes can feel challenging to many students. However, the right plan of study, professional help from expert IGCSE tutors, and practice using past papers can effectively prepare you in all subjects and make you feel confident when coming to the exam room. In this complete guide, we will walk you through step-by-step revision strategies designed specifically for IGCSE students. From creating a detailed timetable to subject-specific revision techniques, here is everything you need to know to succeed in your IGCSE exam.
The earlier you begin your preparation process, the better. Ideally, you will start building understanding in Year 10, but focused revision should begin around six to four months before your exams.
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Early preparation divides the load of work, reduces stress, and helps you memorise subject content more effectively. It also gives you time to specify and resolve any gaps in your learning before the day of the exam. Below is the step-by-step plan for preparing for your IGCSE exams.
One of the biggest mistakes students make is revising without knowing exactly what is on the exam. Your IGCSE syllabus is your revision roadmap. Here are some steps you can take to get to know your syllabus in detail and start organising your revision:
Click on the following link to access the recent a complete list of past papers for IGCSE or any curriculum.
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As you will likely be revising for multiple IGCSE subjects, it is essential to be realistic about how much time you have to spend revising each one and to organise your time.
Looking for tools to help you create a revision timetable and track your progress? Here are some useful tools for helping you schedule your revision blocks:
Active revision techniques are more effective in helping you learn, memorise, and effectively recall important information and concepts. In contrast, passive revision, when you just read and highlight text or copy notes from a textbook, can feel productive but usually does not help much with memorising or consolidating information.
Active recall is when you revise information through testing your knowledge. This can be done through a range of methods, including:
These techniques are particularly useful for learning new vocabulary and definitions, short facts, statistics and equations and real-world examples.
Reviewing information at increasing intervals over time (e.g., 1 day, 3 days, 7 days) can help you space out your revision sessions so content stays in your long-term memory.
Past papers are another great way to revise. You can test your knowledge of topics by completing individual questions and using the mark scheme to check your answers are correct and meet the exam criteria. To improve your time-management skills and exam technique, it is best to complete questions under timed conditions.
These subjects demand memorisation and regular practice. Focus on understanding key formulas, definitions, and processes using flashcards, mindmaps, graphs, or flowcharts. Upon covering the content, practice solving a wide range of problems. Use past papers to build confidence, and time yourself to improve speed and accuracy under exam conditions.
In these subjects, start by closely reading and annotating your core texts, such as essays or historical evidence. Make a collection of key quotes or case studies, and ensure you know how to use them effectively. To develop strong essay-writing skills, practise planning and structuring arguments. Use past paper questions and their answers to guide your approach. Then write your own essays regularly to build clarity and confidence.
Review and track your progress after every week or two. Check if you are meeting your goals? Are there any revision methods more effective than others? If something is not working, don’t panic to switch techniques. Mock exams are a great way to check your progress and get used to the format and pressure of real exams. Use your results to fine-tune your study strategy.
Exams can be stressful, so it is essential to take care of your physical and mental health. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly. Taking proper breaks and spending time with friends or family can help prevent burnout. Mindfulness techniques like breathing exercises, meditation, or journaling can also be great tools to manage stress during revision periods.
Improving your child’s grades is a key reason why many families choose to start their tutoring journey. In fact, more than 95% of families chose Mixt Academy tutoring to achieve a grade or pass an exam. Luckily, tutoring has proven time and time again that it can significantly improve grades! The study, focused on online tutoring, found that:
Mixt Academy students are even more successful, with 90% of our students improving by at least one grade. In fact, a huge 98% of our students said their tutors positively impacted their exam results!
Here are some of the key areas where expert online IGCSE tutors from Mixt Academy can help students to improve their exam grades.
In school, your child will often be competing with 30 other students for their tutor’s attention. On the other hand, online tutoring will give your child one-on-one attention with an expert IGCSE tutor. In this way, tutoring is a fantastic way to accelerate your child’s learning and understanding, improving their performance both in the classroom and the exam room.
An online IGCSE tutor will create lesson plans that are tailored to your child’s strengths, weaknesses and learning style. This means they can focus on the areas where your child needs it most, making the biggest impact in the smallest amount of time. It also means your child’s tutor can plan lessons that they know will hold your child’s attention.
Online tutoring for IGCSE is a fantastic way to improve your child’s confidence, as it gives them a safe space where they can make mistakes away from the eyes of their peers. Our IGCSE tutors are also experts in bringing your child out of their shell.
Each session is designed not just to further your child’s learning, but to give them courage in their own abilities, helping them to walk into the classroom and exam hall more confidently.
The right tutor for IGCSE can be the perfect cross between a teacher and a mentor. They are there to support your child through every step of the exam preparation process, which can look different for every student. An IGCSE tutor can hold them accountable and encourage them.
Each session is designed not just to further your child’s learning, but to give them courage in their own abilities, helping them to walk into the classroom and exam hall more confidently.
Sometimes, your child might know that they need to improve their grades. But that does not mean that they know where to start. A tutor will be able to assess where your child is currently in their learning and identify areas where there is the most room for improvement, for instance, by going over your child’s mock exam results or setting practice tests.
Each session is designed not just to further your child’s learning, but to give them courage in their own abilities, helping them to walk into the classroom and exam hall more confidently.
Here are some common mistakes that students must avoid when preparing for IGCSE exams.
Preparing for the IGCSE exam does not have to feel challenging. All you need is to start early preparation, use the latest revision techniques, and stay consistent. The key is progress, not perfection. With the right mindset and tools, you can walk into your exams feeling confident and in control. At Mixt Academy, our IGCSE tutors are all carefully chosen and have years of experience. So you can trust them with your child’s learning journey. In fact, we are so confident in the quality of our IGCSE tutors that we even offer a first lesson guarantee. What are you waiting for? Start your preparation journey toward excellent IGCSE grades with the right direction and expert support.
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Each session is designed not just to further your child’s learning, but to give them courage in their own abilities, helping them to walk into the classroom and exam hall more confidently.
This depends on your learning style, pace, and the time left for your IGCSE exams. However, a good target is to revise for 2 to 5 hours per day.
There are several reasons why students choose to take the IGCSE, including its global recognition, broad subject choices, and rigorous nature, which prepares students for further education at A Level, IB and beyond.
Active recall, spaced repetition, and past paper practice are the most effective revision techniques. Try them all out and see what works best for each subject.
If you are asking the question, the answer is yes! An online tutor can be a great way to improve your child’s:
Yes, research shows that online tutoring can improve your child’s grades. It is also a great way to boost your child’s confidence, improve their motivation and enhance their enjoyment of learning.
Yes, but it is better to start earlier. With earlier preparation, you will have more time to revise your content thoroughly and practice writing answers under timed conditions. If you have 2 months to revise, the best thing to do is create a focused, consistent plan. You will need to revise daily, prioritise the most important topics, and avoid distractions. If you are short on time, using efficient, active revision techniques becomes even more crucial.
Mixt Academy is a global online tutoring platform that connects students with expert IGCSE, GCSE, and A-Level tutors for one-to-one learning. With flexible scheduling, personalized lesson plans, and experienced teachers from top curricula, Mixt Academy helps students strengthen concepts, improve exam skills, and achieve higher grades with confidence.
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