Signs you need exam preparation help: GCSE & A-level guide
The pressure surrounding GCSEs and A-level exams has intensified in recent years, thanks to increased university competition and the return to zero coursework. As a result, many students feel uncertain about the best way to maximise marks in their exams, which is why exam preparation support from a tutor is on the rise.
If you're someone targeting competitive universities or transitioning from GCSE to A-levels, you can benefit from this kind of support. Recognising early warning signs can also make the difference between reaching your desired grade and falling short. Here's how to identify what you might need and the exam preparation skills to master.
What is exam preparation help?
Exam preparation help focuses specifically on exam strategies and preparation skills. What many students don't realise is that there is a skill and method to being good at taking exams, and extensive research confirms this. Exam performance isn't just about knowledge; it involves specific strategies to help you improve your grades.
Unlike academic tutoring, which addresses subject-specific content, knowledge, skills, and confidence, exam prep help focuses on how to understand and gain the most marks possible in high-stakes assessments like GCSE exams or A-levels. It focuses on everything from understanding what examiners want from you, to revision strategies, exam techniques, managing panic and the best way to use past papers.
Signs you need exam preparation help:
Stagnant or declining test scores are often the most obvious indicator that you are losing unnecessary marks on test papers. If you have taken multiple practice tests at school or at home without meaningful improvement, you may have hit a plateau that self-study can't break through. Feedback from teachers and help from a tutor can identify exam skill gaps and provide you with targeted help.
Significant gaps between classroom performance and test results are another red flag. If you excel in maths lessons, homework, and coursework but struggle with timed problem-solving, particularly in exam conditions, you likely need help translating your knowledge into test performance. These gaps often show an unfamiliarity with test format and timing issues, rather than a lack of understanding/
Retake situations nearly always warrant exam preparation help. A tutor can analyse your previous exam performance and create focused strategies for grade improvement.
Exam anxiety that interferes with exam performance shows you likely need help with anxiety management within an exam situation. Confidence-building strategies, exam time management, and exam techniques can all help here.
Avoidance around exam preparation often signals that you may feel overwhelmed or defeated by the thought of exams. If you consistently put off trying practice papers, you may feel defeated by the thought of exams. Or the gap between your current grades and your target grades feels insurmountable. Breaking this pattern means working with someone to rebuild your confidence through tried and tested methods.
Perfectionist tendencies can also hinder exam performance, especially if you are someone who spends too much time on individual questions or refuses to work strategically.
Misunderstanding command words in exams. Misunderstanding command words in exams can sabotage your scores even when you know the subject material. Words like "evaluate," "analyse," "compare," and "justify" require different approaches and depth of responses. For example, "explaining" a concept when asked to "analyse" it misses the command to break down components and examine what's happening, and so loses you marks.
How to perfect your exam technique
Research identifies several key components of practical test-taking skills, and by focusing on these, you can perfect your exam technique. Based on cognitive psychology research, several key cognitive skills are essential:
Working memory: Students with stronger working memory can juggle multiple pieces of information simultaneously—like keeping track of essay arguments while constructing sentences or maintaining awareness of all the variables in mathematical problems.
Exam prep tip: When tackling a multi-part question, practise noting down each component rather than trying to hold everything in your head simultaneously. This frees up your memory to focus on analysis and problem-solving rather than just remembering information.
Executive functions: These are skills that help you organise, plan, and carry out tasks effectively. In exams, this translates into planning how you'll tackle questions, allocating time wisely between questions, and organising complex answers in a clear, logical way.
Exam prep tip: During your revision sessions, develop go-to formats for common question types. Having these blueprints ready means you won't waste exam time figuring out how to structure your answers.Processing speed: A faster processing speed allows you to work through questions efficiently, leaving more time for review and complex items.
Strategic reading and question analysis: Studies show that successful test-takers approach questions systematically, identifying command words and requirements before attempting answers.
Exam prep tip: Create a personal "command word cheat sheet" that defines what each command requires, and reference it during practice until recognition becomes automatic. Practice the "question autopsy" technique - after completing practice questions, go back and identify what the question was actually asking versus what you answered to spot gaps in your analysis. Every exam board publishes specific definitions for their command words, and these can vary slightly between boards and subjects.
Time management and pacing techniques: Students who structure their time allocation during exams consistently outperform those who don't, regardless of subject knowledge levels.
Exam prep tip: When working with past papers, develop visual time checkpoints throughout the exam - for example, knowing you should be halfway through the paper at the 45-minute mark in a 90-minute exam.
Reflective thinking: Research indicates that students who know when to skip questions, double-check answers, and allocate mental resources effectively achieve better results than those who lack these skills.
Exam prep tip: Read as many past papers as you can to develop pattern recognition for common question types and formats. Most exams follow predictable patterns in how they present information and ask questions. Recognising these patterns allows you to respond more quickly and accurately.
Related posts
How to strengthen your weaker areas while studying