100 Days Left.. Your 2026 GCSE Exams Strategy!

It’s Friday and if you’re in Year 11 or you are the parent of a Year 11 child, you will (hopefully) know this officially means we are 100 Days away from GCSE Exams kicking off on 4 May!

Here are WINNING strategies to get amazing marks in your GCSE exams – whether you want just to pass or to get a 6, 7, 8 or 9 across your subjects, here is a 5-Step Plan on what you should do to make sure you’re not part of “last minute, I’m gonna fail” gang in May!

2026 GCSE Exam Strategy:

1️⃣ REVISION TIMETABLE: Create a realistic after-school timetable scheduling in balanced study time for ALL your subjects (not just English). Then FOLLOW IT!

2️⃣ PUT YOUR NOVELS & PLAYS AWAY: At this point you should be done reading your set GCSE Literature texts at least once. Time is of the essence and if you’re in Year 11, you probably don’t have enough of it. Don’t waste it re-reading plays and novels. Instead put together your flashcards and quotes for each set text and use them only…

OR just join my GCSE Literature Classes in Half Term – I’ve put together all your quotes, themes and context points for the main set texts in a 3-page cheat sheet! Join in and use that cheat sheet instead: https://www.firstratetutors.com/february-literature

3️⃣ LEARN FROM MODEL ANSWERS: This is the most EFFICIENT way to boost your marks in English. It’s the secret of all top grade students. Find a past paper, plus the model answer. Read the answers, then practice the paper yourself. This boosts your speed reading & writing, increases your vocabulary and saves you time “figuring it out”.

That’s why every Sunday in my Language GCSE Masterclasses – I go over model answers! Join in and access lots of model answers plus a live lesson where you can ask me as many questions as you want: https://www.firstratetutors.com/masterclass

4️⃣ GET SOME SUPPORT: At this point in your year, your teachers are probably inundated. They too are stressed, trying to make sure their whole class is ready for the upcoming GCSEs. Your needs may fall through the cracks. Get some support or tuition outside of school to know where you’re going wrong.

Again, if you’re in my Sunday class, ask me questions – let me know what you struggle in and I’ll give you feedback!

5️⃣ LOCK IN DURING THE WEEK: Scale back your social life to weekends only and spend 2-3 hours a day after school practicing past papers or getting tuition and support!

I hope this helps! 😃