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Why is it Important to Use Additional Resources?
As a GCSE student, you are likely facing a lot of pressure to perform well in your exams. While studying and revising from your textbooks and class notes is certainly important, using additional resources can also be a valuable part of your GCSE revision process. Here are a few reasons why:
📌 Supplement your knowledge
Additional GCSE revision resources can help you supplement and deepen your understanding of the material you are studying. This can be especially helpful if you are struggling with a particular concept or topic.
📌 Practice and apply what you have learned
Many additional resources, such as online practice tests or interactive quizzes, can help you apply what you have learned and test your knowledge in a more realistic setting.
📌 Enhance your learning experience
Using additional revision resources can also help make your revision more engaging and enjoyable. 😄 This can be especially important if you are feeling overwhelmed or demotivated. By mixing up your study routine with different types of resources, you may find that you are more motivated to study and more likely to retain the information you are learning.
Now, let’s go and review all these apps and how they can help you!
1. S-cool Revision
What Do They Offer?
S-cool revision is a website for students studying GCSE and A-levels. It provides revision guides, question banks, revision timetables, and information about subjects, teenage lifestyle and issues, and learning and career opportunities for students between the ages of 14 to 19 studying for the UK examination system.
Pros:
✅ Wide range of subjects. S-cool offers revision materials for a wide range of subjects.
✅ Personalised study plans. S-cool revision allows you to create personalized study plans and track your progress. This can help you stay organised and focus your revision efforts more effectively.
✅ Free to use
Possible Cons:
❌ Limited interactive features. While S-cool offers a range of multimedia resources, it may not have as many interactive features or opportunities for practice as some other revision resources.
2. GetRevising
What Do They Offer?
GetRevising is a website that offers a range of tools and resources to help students study for exams including GCSE, AS, A2, and International Baccalaureate. The website’s aim is to help students actively engage in their own learning and provide an outlet for their creativity and helpfulness.
Pros:
✅ Wide range of content: GetRevising offers a wide range of revision timetable creators, interactive revision cards, games, and a shared resource library created by members of the website.
✅ Personalised study plans. GetRevising allows you to create personalised study plans and track your progress. The website states that users can “Tell us what you’re studying and get a personalised study plan in under 5 minutes.” This can help you stay organised and focus your revision efforts more effectively.
✅ Community support. GetRevising has a large and active community of students and teachers who can provide support and advice on revision and study techniques. Check out The Student Room.
✅ Free to use
Possible Cons:
❌ User-generated content. Some of the content on GetRevising is user-generated, which means that the quality and accuracy of the materials may vary. It’s important to carefully evaluate the materials you are using to ensure that they are reliable and accurate.
3. BBC Bitesize
What Do They Offer?
BBC Bitesize is an online learning resource provided by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that offers a range of revision materials and interactive activities to help GCSE students prepare for their exams. BBC Bitesize is considered to be one of the best science revision websites for UK student.
Pros:
✅ Wide range of subjects. BBC Bitesize offers revision materials for a wide range of subjects, including English, Maths, Science, and more. This can make it a useful resource for students looking for comprehensive revision support.
✅ Engaging multimedia resources. BBC Bitesize offers a variety of multimedia resources, including videos, games, and interactive activities, which can help make revision more engaging and enjoyable.
✅ Trusted and reliable. BBC Bitesize is provided by the BBC, which is a trusted and reliable source of information. You can be confident that the materials you are accessing are accurate and up-to-date.
✅ Free to use
Possible Cons:
❌ Limited personalisation. They offer a wide range of revision materials, but they may not provide as much personalised support or guidance as some other revision resources.
❌ Limited interactive features. While they offer a range of multimedia resources, they may not have as many interactive features or opportunities for practice as some other revision resources.
4. Physics & Maths Tutor
What Do They Offer?
PMT is a revision and study resource that provides a range of materials and tools to help GCSE students prepare for their exams. Resources include revision notes, factsheets, worksheets, model solutions, and past papers. PMT is also a great science revision resource!
Pros:
✅ Subject-specific content. PMT provides a wide range of revision materials specifically tailored to the GCSE curriculum. This can be especially helpful if you are looking for targeted support in these subjects.
✅ Practice and revision resources. They offer a range of practice questions, quizzes, and exam-style questions, which can help you apply what you have learned and test your knowledge in a more realistic setting.
✅ Free to use
Possible Cons:
❌ Limited subjects. While PMT offers a wide range of revision materials for several GCSE subjects, it may not cover all subjects or topics that you need to study for your exams.
❌ Limited interactive features: While PMT offers a range of revision materials, it may not have as many interactive features or multimedia resources as some other revision resources.
5. GCSEPod
What Do They Offer?
GCSEPod is a comprehensive GCSE revision and learning resource designed specifically for GCSE students in the UK. They offer 3-5 minute bursts of GCSE learning, known as “pods”, that are designed to be used as part of a revision or learning plan. These pods are created in-house by subject experts and are quality assured and mapped to all major GCSE and IGCSE exam boards.
Pros:
✅ Targeted content. GCSEPod provides a wide range of revision materials that are specifically tailored to the GCSE curriculum. This means that you can be sure that the content you are accessing is relevant and up-to-date.
✅ Personalised recommendations. GCSEPod tracks your progress and provides personalised recommendations for content that may be of interest to you based on your strengths and weaknesses. This can help you focus your revision efforts more effectively.
Possible Cons:
❌ No individual subscriptions. If your school is not subscribed to GCSEPod, you can’t do it on your own.
❌ May not cover all subjects. While GCSEPod offers a wide range of content, it may not cover all subjects or topics that you need to study for your exams.
6. Knowunity
What Do They Offer?
Knowunity offers a variety of features for 11-18-year-old students, including homework help, exam preparation, and access to a library of free school content in various subjects.
Pros:
✅ Wide range of subjects. Knowunity offers revision materials for a wide range of subjects.
✅ Community support. Knowunity has a community of students and teachers who can provide support and advice on revision and study techniques. You can also join study groups and connect with other students to share revision materials and collaborate on study projects.
✅ Free to use
Possible Cons:
❌ User-generated content. Some of the content on Knowunity is user-generated, which means that the quality and accuracy of the materials may vary. It’s important to carefully evaluate the materials you are using to ensure that they are reliable and accurate.
❌ Limited interactive features. While Knowunity offers a range of revision materials, it may not have as many interactive features or multimedia resources as some other revision resources.
7. Anki
What Do They Offer?
Anki is a digital flashcard app that allows you to create, study, and revise flashcards on your computer or mobile device.
Pros:
✅ Customisable. Anki allows you to create your own flashcards and customise them to suit your learning style and needs. You can also import pre-made flashcard decks from other sources.
✅ Convenient and portable. Anki is available as an app, which means you can access your flashcards from your phone or tablet and study anytime, anywhere. This can be particularly useful if you are short on time or need to fit in revision around other commitments.
✅ Adaptive learning. Anki uses an algorithm that adjusts the frequency of flashcards based on how well you remember them. This can help you focus on the material that you are struggling with and save time on material that you have already mastered.
✅ Free to use. Anki is a free resource, which makes it accessible to all students.
Possible Cons:
❌ May require a learning curve. Some students may find it takes a bit of time to get used to using Anki and creating effective flashcards.
❌ Limited interactive features. Anki is primarily a flashcard app, so it may not have as many interactive features or multimedia resources as some other revision resources.
8. CorbettMaths
What Do They Offer?
Corbettmaths is a revision and study resource that provides a range of materials and tools to help GCSE students prepare for their exams, with a focus on Maths.
Pros:
✅ Subject-specific content. Corbett Maths provides a wide range of revision materials specifically tailored to the GCSE Maths curriculum. This can be especially helpful if you are looking for targeted support in this subject.
✅ Practice and revision resources. Corbettmaths offers a range of practice questions, quizzes, and exam-style questions, which can help you apply what you have learned and test your knowledge in a more realistic setting.
✅ Free to use. Corbettmaths is a free resource, which makes it accessible to all students.
Possible Cons:
❌ Limited subjects. While Corbettmaths offers a wide range of revision materials for Maths, it may not cover all subjects or topics that you need to study for your exams.
❌ Limited interactive features. While Corbettmaths offers a range of revision materials, it may not have as many interactive features or multimedia resources as some other revision resources.
Read a more detailed review of Corbettmaths here.
9. Youtube
What Do They Offer?
Youtube is a video-sharing platform that offers a wide range of educational content, including revision videos and tutorials.
Pros:
✅ Wide range of subjects. Youtube offers revision videos for a wide range of subjects, including English, Maths, Science, and more. This can make it a useful resource for students looking for comprehensive revision support.
✅ Engaging multimedia resources. Youtube offers a variety of multimedia resources, including videos, animations, and interactive activities, which can help make revision more engaging and enjoyable.
✅ Flexibility. Youtube allows you to choose the revision videos you want to watch and when you want to watch them, which can be convenient if you have a busy schedule or prefer to study at your own pace.
✅ Free to use
Possible Cons:
❌ User-generated content. Some of the content on Youtube is user-generated, which means that the quality and accuracy of the materials may vary. It’s important to carefully evaluate the materials you are using to ensure that they are reliable and accurate.
❌ Limited interactivity. While Youtube offers a range of multimedia resources, it may not have as many interactive features or opportunities for practice as some other revision resources.
❌ Distractions. Youtube can be a source of distraction, with a wide range of content available that may not always be directly related to your revision. It’s important to be mindful of this and to stay focused on your revision goals.
❌ Lack of structure. Youtube does not have a structured revision program or curriculum, which means that you may need to put in extra effort to ensure that you are covering all the necessary material and topics.
10. Edumentors
What Do They Offer?
Edumentors is an online tutoring platform that connects students with experienced GCSE tutors who can provide personalised support and guidance as they prepare for their exams.
Pros:
✅ Personalised support. Edumentors provides one-on-one tutoring sessions with experienced tutors who can tailor their approach to your specific needs and learning style. This can be especially helpful if you are struggling with certain concepts or need extra support in certain subjects.
✅ Mental and academic support. Edumentors tutors can provide not only academic support but also mental and emotional support as you prepare for your exams. They can help you stay motivated, develop healthy study habits, and manage exam stress.
✅ Student-tutors. Edumentors tutors have recently taken their GCSEs and can share tips and tricks that they found helpful during their revision process. This can give you an edge and help you feel more confident going into your exams.
✅ Convenient and flexible. Edumentors offers online tutoring sessions, which means you can access support from anywhere and at a time that is convenient for you.
Possible Cons:
❌ Cost. Edumentors is a paid service, which means it may not be accessible to all students.
❌ Limited availability. While Edumentors may offer tutors for a wide range of subjects, it’s important to check that tutors are available for the specific subjects and topics you need to study. There may be a waitlist or limited availability for certain subjects.
Honourable Mentions – Websites for GCSE Revision
In addition to our top GCSE revision resources, there are several other platforms that deserve a spotlight for their unique offerings and positive impact on students’ revision strategies. These resources have been praised for their specific features and the unique ways they engage students in their studies. Here’s a quick look at some of them:
AI-Powered Learning Platform: Revisely Review
11. Save My Exams
What Do They Offer?
Save My Exams is a dedicated platform aimed at making revision more manageable and less daunting for GCSE and A-Level students. It provides access to a wealth of resources including detailed revision notes, mark schemes, and past papers for a range of subjects.
Pros:
✅ Past Paper Repository. One of the standout features of Save My Exams is its extensive collection of past papers and mark schemes, allowing students to practice with real exam questions and familiarise themselves with exam formats.
✅ Revision Notes. The platform offers concise, easy-to-understand revision notes that cover key syllabus points, making it easier for students to grasp complex concepts.
✅ Subject-Specific Resources. Save My Exams provides tailored resources for a wide variety of subjects, ensuring students can find dedicated support for whatever they are studying.
Why Students Like It
Students appreciate Save My Exams for its streamlined approach to revision. The ability to access a plethora of past papers and corresponding mark schemes in one place saves time and improves study efficiency. Additionally, the clear, focused revision notes help simplify tough topics, making this platform a favoured tool.
12. Quizlet
What Do They Offer
Quizlet is a versatile online tool that facilitates learning through the use of flashcards, games, and quizzes. It caters to a broad spectrum of subjects, making it an excellent resource for GCSE students across various disciplines. The platform allows users to create their own study sets or browse through millions of sets created by other users, covering everything from vocabulary to complex scientific concepts.
Pros:
✅ Interactive Learning Tools. Quizlet’s range of learning modes, including flashcards, match games, and practice tests, caters to different learning styles, helping students to engage with the material in a way that suits them best.
✅ Collaborative Learning. Students can share their study sets with peers, facilitating a collaborative learning environment. This feature is particularly useful for study groups or classmates looking to revise together.
✅ Customisation and Flexibility. With the ability to create personalised study sets, students can tailor their revision to focus on areas where they need the most practice, enhancing the effectiveness of their study sessions.
Why Students Like It
Quizlet is favoured by students for its flexibility and the interactive element it brings to revision. The ability to customise study materials and engage with them through games and tests makes revision less monotonous and more effective. Students also value the social aspect of Quizlet, as it allows them to connect with friends and classmates for a more interactive study experience. The platform’s mobile app means revision can happen anytime, anywhere, making it a convenient tool for busy students on the go.
GCSE Revision Done Effectively and without Anxiety
Revising effectively can be the key to success in your GCSE exams. It’s important to find a revision strategy that works for you and to set aside dedicated time for revision. Here are some tips on how to revise effectively:
📌 Make a Study Plan
One of the most important steps in effective revision is planning. 📅 Start by creating a schedule that takes into account all of your commitments, including classes, extracurricular activities, and leisure time. Block off dedicated revision time each week and try to stick to a consistent schedule. It can also be helpful to break your revision down into smaller, more manageable chunks. For example, you might focus on a specific topic or subject area each day or week.
📌 Try out Different Revision Techniques
Different people learn and remember information in different ways. Experiment with different revision techniques to find out what works best for you. Some options to try include:
- Making and reviewing flashcards
- Summarizing notes and key points
- Drawing diagrams or mind maps
- Teaching the material to someone else
- Using mnemonic devices to help remember information
📌 Use Practice Tests
Practising with past exam papers or sample questions can be a useful way to test your knowledge and identify areas where you need to focus your revision efforts. It can also help you get a feel for the format and style of the exams and help you build your exam technique.
📌 Study with Others
Studying with others can be a helpful way to revise, especially if you find it difficult to stay motivated on your own. You can work with a study group to share revision materials, discuss concepts, and test each other on key points. You could also consider working with a tutor or mentor who can provide guidance and support.
📌 Combine Free Resources with Paid Help if Needed
There are many free revision resources available online, including websites, apps, and study groups. These can be a great way to supplement your revision and deepen your understanding of the material.
However, if you are struggling to grasp certain concepts or are finding it difficult to stay motivated, you may want to consider seeking additional support. This could include working with a tutor or mentor, enrolling in a revision course, or using a paid revision resource that offers more comprehensive support and guidance.
