Exam Revision Glossary

Advanced Level qualifications taken at age 17–18, typically over two years in sixth form or college. A-Levels are the main route to university in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with students usually studying three or four subjects. Results are graded A*–E.

A study technique where you actively retrieve information from memory rather than passively reviewing notes. Research by Karpicke and Blunt (2011) showed that active recall produces significantly stronger long-term retention than re-reading or concept mapping. In practice, this means closing your textbook and writing down everything you remember about a topic.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, one of the largest exam boards in England. AQA offers GCSEs, A-Levels, and vocational qualifications across a wide range of subjects. Their specifications and past papers are freely available on the AQA website.

The specific instruction words used in exam questions that tell you what the examiner expects in your answer. For example, "describe" means state what you see or know, "explain" means give reasons, and "evaluate" means weigh up evidence and reach a judgement. Understanding command words is essential for answering questions correctly and avoiding lost marks.

An exam board operated by Pearson, offering GCSEs, A-Levels, International GCSEs, and BTEC qualifications. Edexcel is widely used across England and in international schools. Their specifications sometimes differ in content and structure from AQA and OCR equivalents.

The set of skills and strategies used to perform well under exam conditions, beyond just knowing the content. This includes time management, reading questions carefully, structuring answers to match mark schemes, and knowing how many points to make for a given number of marks. Strong exam technique can be the difference between a grade 6 and a grade 8.

General Certificate of Secondary Education, the main qualifications taken by students aged 14–16 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. GCSEs are graded 9–1 (with 9 being the highest) and are compulsory in English, Maths, and Science. Students typically sit exams in 8–10 subjects at the end of Year 11.

The minimum number of marks needed to achieve each grade in an exam. Grade boundaries are set after papers are marked and vary from year to year depending on the difficulty of the paper and overall student performance. They are published by exam boards on results day.

International General Certificate of Secondary Education, an internationally recognised qualification offered primarily by Cambridge Assessment and Edexcel. iGCSEs are popular in independent schools and international schools worldwide. The content often overlaps with standard GCSEs but may differ in assessment structure.

A revision strategy where you mix different topics or subjects within a single study session rather than focusing on one topic at a time (known as blocking). Research shows that interleaving improves your ability to distinguish between concepts and apply the right approach in exams. For example, alternating between algebra, geometry, and statistics questions in a maths revision session.

The official document used by examiners to award marks for each question in an exam. Mark schemes show exactly what answers earn marks, including acceptable alternative responses. Studying mark schemes alongside past papers is one of the most effective revision strategies because it teaches you what examiners are actually looking for.

A practice exam sat under timed conditions, usually set by your school, that simulates the real exam experience. Mock exams help identify gaps in your knowledge, build exam stamina, and reduce anxiety for the real thing. Most schools run mocks in November–January of Year 11 and Year 13.

Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations, one of the major exam boards in England. OCR offers GCSEs, A-Levels, and Cambridge Nationals. They are particularly well known for their Computer Science and Science specifications.

Previously used exam papers published by exam boards after each exam series. Practising with past papers is consistently rated as one of the most effective revision techniques because it exposes you to real exam-style questions, helps you manage timing, and builds familiarity with question formats. Most exam boards publish past papers freely on their websites.

The grade your teacher estimates you will achieve in your final exams, based on your classwork, mock results, and overall performance. Predicted grades are used for UCAS university applications (A-Level) and can influence setting and intervention decisions at GCSE. They are an estimate, not a guarantee.

Additional government funding given to schools for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those eligible for free school meals or who have been in care. Schools use Pupil Premium funding to provide extra support such as revision resources, tutoring, and access to tools like UpGrades to help close the attainment gap.

The act of deliberately recalling information from memory as a study method, rather than simply re-reading notes. Roediger and Karpicke (2006) demonstrated that retrieval practice produces far stronger long-term retention than passive review. Techniques include flashcards, practice questions, brain dumps, and self-quizzing.

A learning technique where you review material at increasing intervals over time, rather than cramming everything in one session. Based on Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve research, spaced repetition exploits the way memory works: reviewing just as you are about to forget strengthens long-term retention. Typical intervals might be 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, then 2 weeks.

The official document from an exam board that lists everything you need to know for a particular subject and qualification. The specification defines the content, assessment objectives, and exam structure. Your revision should be guided by the specification to ensure you cover every required topic and nothing unnecessary.

The Welsh Joint Education Committee, the main exam board for Wales, also used in some English schools under the Eduqas brand. WJEC offers GCSEs, A-Levels, and vocational qualifications. Their specifications may differ from English exam boards, particularly in Welsh-medium options.