Top Revision Tips for GCSE Chemistry (and Combined Science)
From active recall to smart cramming — how to revise Chemistry effectively and feel confident in every paper.
🧭 1) Plan & Prioritise
Great grades come from two things: understanding how ideas connect, and practising how to express that understanding under exam conditions.
- Start small and regular: 20–30-minute sessions most days beat long weekend crams.
- Interleave topics: Mix bonding, rates, and energy changes rather than spending hours on one.
- Use your exam-board specification: Tick off subtopics as you go — it keeps you honest and motivated.
- Schedule recovery: Sleep, movement, and short breaks improve memory far more than “just one more hour”.
⚡ 2) Be Active, Not Passive
Revision isn’t about reading or highlighting — it’s about retrieving what you know.
- Flashcards: For ions, definitions, and tests for gases — use spaced repetition (Anki or Quizlet).
- Explain aloud: Teach someone else or record a 90-second summary per topic.
- Error logging: Keep a “mistake bank” and re-test those questions after a few days.
- Past papers and question packs: The single most powerful revision tool you have.
The process should always look like this:
Past paper → mark with scheme → identify gaps → relearn → repeat.
Familiarity with command words, mark-scheme phrasing, and timing turns good understanding into high marks.
🧮 3) Exam Technique
Chemistry success is as much about how you answer as what you know.
- Underline command words (“state”, “explain”, “evaluate”).
- Use units and significant figures consistently.
- Show your working — you can earn method marks.
- Practise writing concise, balanced comparisons and full conclusions.
- Leave a few minutes at the end to check for missing units or incomplete answers.
If exam technique is your weak point, practice is the key to success. Every paper you attempt builds automaticity.
💪 4) Manage Stress & Motivation
Science revision isn’t just mental effort — it’s also about protecting the energy you bring to each session. Healthy stress helps you perform; unmanaged stress drains energy.
- Pomodoro: 25 min focus / 5 min break; after four rounds, take 15 minutes.
- Look after your body: Hydration, decent food, and exercise directly boost recall.
- Track progress: Note what improved this week, not just what’s left to learn.
- Walk the dog (or yourself!): Fresh air helps your brain consolidate information.
🔬 5) GCSE Chemistry Resource Bank (2025)
Core Practice Sites
- BBC Bitesize – concise notes and quick quizzes
- Seneca Learning – adaptive recall drills
- Physics & Maths Tutor – topic questions and past papers
- Cognito – animated lessons and auto-marked quizzes
- Maths Made Easy – topic-by-topic practice
Extended Science Resource Bank
- Kerboodle – official textbooks and self-marking tasks
- AQA Required Practicals – via Physics & Maths Tutor – past questions by topic
- AQA Maths in Science Factsheet (PDF) – essential for calculation questions
- Corbett Maths – practise the maths skills used in chemistry (ratios, percentages, graphs)
- Dr Frost Maths – worksheets for “Maths in Science” skills
Video Channels
- Free Science Lessons – complete topic coverage
- Primrose Kitten – walkthroughs and exam tips
- Science with Hazel – visual explanations
Exam Boards
Tech tools that help you stay consistent
- TomatoTimer.com – Pomodoro focus blocks
- Quizizz / Kahoot – quick recall games
- GCSE Pod – curated revision playlists
- Ali Abdaal YouTube – evidence-based study methods
⚠️ 6) Common Pitfalls
- Revising only favourite topics — start with weak areas.
- Ignoring required practicals — they can be up to 20 % of marks.
- Only watching videos — retention comes from doing questions.
- Not studying mark schemes — they show exactly how examiners think.
🌟 7) Final Thought
Small, consistent effort beats heroic last-minute cramming — but if you’re reading this right before your exams, don’t panic.
Smart, focused cramming can still help: work through past papers, target the weakest topics, and use the mark schemes to see what earns marks.
Build recall, practise applying ideas, and look after your energy — progress comes faster than you think.
📞 Need a bit of structure or motivation?
I offer tailored 1-to-1 online Chemistry tuition focused on revision planning, active recall, and exam technique. Book a free consultation to prepare effectively and confidently.