How to Revise for GCSE Maths: A Complete Guide

Here's the truth: the difference between a grade 5 and a grade 8 isn't about being naturally brilliant at maths. It's about having a revision strategy that actually works.We've marked thousands of exam papers, taught hundreds of students, and seen every type of revision approach imaginable. Some work. Most don't. Here's what does, based on everything we've learned about how students actually succeed in GCSE maths.

first things first: figure out where you actually are

Before you start revising anything, take a full practice paper under proper exam conditions. No pausing. No phone. No sneaky Google searches halfway through.When you mark it, don't just look at the total. Break it down by topic. Where did you lose marks? Algebra? Geometry? Ratio and proportion?This tells you exactly where to focus your effort. Most students skip this step and just revise everything equally, which means spending hours on stuff they've already nailed while ignoring the topics that are actually costing them grades.

know what you're aiming for

GCSE Maths has two tiers: Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 4-9). Make sure you know which one you're sitting and what your realistic target is.Here's something that surprises people: you don't need 100% to get a grade 9. Grade boundaries typically sit around 60-70% for a grade 7 and 80-85% for a grade 9. This means you can drop marks and still hit your target.What matters is consistency across topics and knowing how to pick up method marks even when you can't reach the final answer. More on that later.

build a timetable that actually makes sense

What doesn't work: cramming everything into the two weeks before your exam, or vaguely telling yourself you'll "do some maths revision" without any real plan.What does work: starting 8-10 weeks before your exam with three to four focused sessions per week, each lasting 45-60 minutes. Any longer and your brain checks out. Shorter, consistent sessions beat weekend cramming marathons every single time.Use your diagnostic results to decide what gets the most time. Strong on number but weak on geometry? Don't split your time 50-50. Give geometry three sessions per week and number one maintenance session. Work smarter, not harder.

stop reading, start doing

Reading through your notes or watching revision videos feels productive, but it's not. You're not actually doing the hard work of solving problems under pressure.Real revision means practicing actual exam questions. Lots of them. This is how you learn to think like an examiner and spot the patterns in how questions are worded. Every exam board has their favorite question types, their standard phrasing, their common traps.When you practice, don't just check if you got it right or wrong. Look at the mark scheme. Understand why marks are awarded where they are. Often you'll get method marks even if your final answer is wrong, but only if you show clear working. Learn what examiners actually want to see on the page.

the formula sheet isn't your friend (well, not like that)

Yes, you get a formula sheet in the exam. No, this doesn't mean you can skip memorizing key formulas.Under exam pressure, fumbling through the formula sheet wastes time and breaks your concentration. The formulas you use constantly—quadratic formula, area and volume formulas, trigonometric ratios—need to be automatic. You should be able to write them in your sleep.The formula sheet is a safety net, not your primary tool. Practice writing out formulas from memory, then check them against the sheet. Within a few days, they'll stick.

not all topics are created equal

Some topics appear on every single paper and are worth loads of marks. Others show up once in a blue moon.High-value topics that deserve most of your attention: algebra (expanding, factorizing, solving equations), fractions and percentages, graph work, and trigonometry on Higher tier. These are your bread and butter.Lower-frequency topics like tree diagrams or cumulative frequency curves still appear, but usually as one question per paper. Know the basics, but don't let them consume all your revision time if you're still shaky on core algebra.For topics you genuinely find difficult, focus on securing the first few marks. Even if you can't complete the whole problem, you can often grab two or three method marks by showing you understand the basic approach. Those marks add up.

practice under real exam conditions

At least once a week, sit a full paper (or half-paper) under strict exam conditions. Timer on. No calculator on paper 1. Working in silence. No notes.This does two things. First, it builds your exam stamina. Ninety minutes of focused maths is mentally exhausting if you're not used to it. Second, it teaches you time management. You need to know instinctively how long to spend on a 2-mark question versus an 8-mark question.Common mistake: spending fifteen minutes battling a stubborn 2-mark question at the start, then rushing through the big-mark questions at the end. Learn to move on. Circle it, come back if there's time. Don't let one question derail your entire paper.

your mistakes are actually really valuable

Every mistake shows you exactly what you need to work on. This is gold. Keep a mistakes log. When you get a question wrong, don't just glance at the answer and move on. Write down what you did wrong, why it was wrong, and what you should have done instead. Review this weekly. You'll start spotting patterns. Maybe you always forget negative solutions. Maybe you mix up sine and cosine. Maybe you drop the negative sign when expanding brackets. Once you know your error patterns, you can actively watch for them in the exam.

get comfortable with your calculator

This sounds obvious, but calculator errors lose people marks all the time. Make sure you actually know how to use yours efficiently for percentages, standard form, fractions, and stats functions.Practice entering complex calculations correctly, using brackets properly, and knowing when to round. A silly calculator mistake on a 5-mark question is heartbreaking and completely avoidable.

don't fear the non-calculator paper

Paper 1 is non-calculator, and this scares a lot of people. Here's the thing: non-calculator questions are deliberately designed to have nicer numbers. No examiner expects you to multiply 347 by 682 by hand.Build your mental arithmetic confidence. Practice times tables up to 12×12 until they're instant. Get comfortable with fractions, decimals, and powers of 10. These basic skills make non-calculator questions feel manageable instead of terrifying.

one week to go: consolidate, don't cram

When you're one week out, your strategy changes. This isn't the time to learn completely new content or tackle topics you've never seen before.Focus on: doing past papers, reviewing your mistakes log, practicing formulas from memory, and going through your topic checklists. Make sure you know the exam structure, how many marks each paper is worth, and what topics appear where.Sort out your equipment. Pack your bag with pens, pencils, ruler, protractor, compass, rubber, and calculator with fresh batteries. Do this the night before. It eliminates unnecessary panic.

the night before: sleep > cramming

Don't stay up late trying to cram. Do a light review of formulas and common question types, then stop.Get proper sleep. Your brain consolidates learning while you sleep, and you'll perform way better well-rested than exhausted from a midnight panic session.

in the exam: read, show, check

Read every question carefully. Circle command words like "show," "prove," "explain," or "give a reason." These tell you exactly what the examiner wants.Show all your working. Even if you make a mistake in your calculation, clear working can still earn method marks. Don't waste time making it super neat, but make sure your thinking is visible.If you finish early, use the time. Reread questions to check you've answered what was actually asked. Check your arithmetic. Look for silly mistakes like missing units or dropped negative signs.

the bottom line

GCSE Maths revision isn't about being naturally brilliant or working yourself into the ground. It's about being strategic. Practice real exam questions. Learn from your mistakes. Build proper exam technique. Be consistent.Remember: maths is a skill that improves with practice. Every question you work through, every mistake you learn from, every formula you nail down is moving you closer to your target grade.You've got this.

Want structured practice that actually prepares you for exam day? Our 15-mark GCSE worksheets use real Pearson exam questions, with levels from grade 3 to grade 9. Each worksheet is designed to sharpen your problem-solving, timing, and technique. Check them out.