Are The Mock GCSEs Important?

by Anita Naik

Many students feel mocks are a waste of time and add pressure to an already pressurised year. Yet, mocks have an essential purpose in helping you prepare for your real exams, hone your revision methods and understand your exam technique.

Are the mock exams important?

Mocks are vital because they test your current ability in a subject. The results are a benchmark for where you are right now. Meaning they show you how much more work there is to be done, whether you need more help in a specific area, or practise with your exam technique. They can also help as a way of weighting your revision so that you can give more time to subjects you want better grades in.

What do I need to do for my mocks?

It pays to approach your mocks as you would your real GCSEs. Set out a revision timetable, work out precisely what you need to know, check you have covered the syllabus and practice with past papers.

Does the grade matter?

The mock grade matters because it tells you where you are right now. If you get a grade 7 and want a grade 9, you know you have to step up your work. If you fail a subject that you need for Sixth Form College you can regroup and change your tactics to raise your grade level for when you take your GCSEs.

Are mocks a good indicator of the grade I will get in my GCSEs?

If you continue to revise and work at the level you are working now, then the grade for your mock is reflective of your GCSE. Yet, the point of mocks is to show you what you need to do to improve your marks and move forward over the next six months.

Is it possible to bring my marks up after my mocks?

One of the main reasons why mock exams are six months before the real GCSEs is for this very reason. The results allow you time to work on your marks. If you scored poorly, then you have time to rethink how you're working and consider whether you need extra tuition to help you pass.

Who can help me improve on my mock results?

Your teachers can advise you on what you need to be doing in terms of workload and revision techniques and also help you understand where you may have gone wrong in the exam in terms of timings.

A specific GCSE subject tutor can help you with subjects that you need extra help in and help you gain confidence with your exam technique.

What can I do to improve my results?

Once you know what you need to do (see above), it's vital to create a daily timetable for studying that gives you time to prepare in all your subjects. As before, weight this towards the subjects you need to work on and re-adjust your revision timetable as you get nearer to your GCSEs.

What else are mock exams for?

Depending on your school, mock results can be used to work out what paper you will sit for your GCSEs, and also whether a Sixth Form College will accept you on your predicted grades. Though these exams are also there to help you feel confident about the exam environment and to show you all you need to know about exam timings and procedure.

Contact us for a GCSE subject tutor.

Tags: GCSEs Mocks Revision
Categories: GCSE Exams Retakes