GCSE Maths revision: a plan that works

By The STEM-Tutor team · Updated October 2026

Good GCSE Maths revision is about practice, not rereading notes. Here is a plan for Foundation and Higher students.

Start with what earns the most marks

• Number skills: fractions, percentages, ratio and standard form appear across many questions.
• Algebra: solving equations, expanding and factorising, and rearranging formulas.
• Geometry: angles, area, volume, Pythagoras and trigonometry.
• Statistics and probability: averages, charts and probability trees.

See the full GCSE Maths topic list for your tier.

How to revise effectively

1. Do questions, not notes. Maths improves by doing.
2. Mark your work straight away and redo anything you got wrong.
3. Keep a list of weak topics and come back to them weekly.
4. Practise without a calculator, because one paper does not allow it.
5. Use past papers from your board under timed conditions in the final weeks.

A six-week plan

• Weeks 1 and 2: number and algebra, one topic a day plus mixed questions.
• Week 3: geometry and measures.
• Week 4: ratio, statistics and probability.
• Weeks 5 and 6: full past papers, then fix the topics that cost the most marks.

Exam technique

• Show your working. Method marks are available even if the final answer is wrong.
• Read the question twice and underline what it asks for.
• Check units and rounding instructions.
• Do not leave blanks. A sensible attempt can earn marks.

Higher tier: aiming for grades 7 to 9

Higher papers end with multi-step problems that combine topics, such as algebraic proof, circle theorems, vectors and functions. Practise these regularly rather than leaving them to the end. See our guide to circle theorems.

Worked examples of exam-style questions

These examples show the kind of multi-step questions that separate grades. Notice how each one breaks into short steps.

Example 1: a best-buy question

A 500 g box of cereal costs £2.40 and a 750 g box costs £3.45. Which is better value?

• Price per 100 g: £2.40 ÷ 5 = 48p and £3.45 ÷ 7.5 = 46p.
• The 750 g box is better value. Always show the comparison clearly.

Example 2: compound interest

£2000 is invested at 3% compound interest per year. Find the value after 4 years.

• 2000 × 1.03⁴ ≈ £2251.02.

Example 3: forming an equation

The angles in a triangle are x, 2x and 3x. Find the largest angle.

• x + 2x + 3x = 180, so x = 30.
• Largest angle = 3x = 90°.

Example 4: simultaneous equations

Solve 3x + 2y = 16 and x − 2y = 0.

• Add the equations: 4x = 16, so x = 4. Then y = 2.
• x = 4, y = 2.

Example 5: probability without replacement

A bag has 3 red and 2 blue counters. Two are taken without replacement. Find P(both red).

• 3/5 × 2/4 = 6/20 = 3/10.

Example 6: direct proportion

y is directly proportional to x², and y = 12 when x = 2. Find y when x = 5.

• y = kx², so 12 = 4k and k = 3.
• y = 3 × 25 = 75.

Making the most of past papers

Past papers are the best practice because they show exactly how questions are worded. After each paper, mark it with the mark scheme, then sort your mistakes into three groups: careless slips, topics you half know, and topics you do not know. Careless slips need checking habits. Half-known topics need a few more practice questions. Unknown topics need relearning from your notes or a video before more practice. This turns each paper into a personal revision plan.

The non-calculator paper

Many students lose marks on the non-calculator paper through arithmetic slips rather than a lack of understanding. Practise written methods for long multiplication and division, fractions, decimals and percentages regularly. Learn your times tables up to 12, square numbers up to 15² and cube numbers up to 5³. Estimate first, by rounding to one significant figure, so you can tell if an answer looks wrong.

Common mistakes

• Revising only favourite topics instead of weak ones.
• Not showing working, which loses method marks even when the final answer is wrong.
• Rounding too early in multi-step calculations.
• Not reading the question carefully, such as missing “give your answer to 2 decimal places”.

Practice questions

Try each one before opening the answer.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I revise GCSE Maths each week?

Little and often works best. Several 30 to 45 minute sessions spread through the week usually beat one long session.

Should I use revision videos?

They are useful for relearning a topic, but always follow them with practice questions. Watching alone does not build the skill.

Key takeaways

• Focus first on topics that carry the most marks.
• Practise past papers and sort your mistakes.
• Show working for method marks.
• Practise the non-calculator skills regularly.
• Little and often beats cramming.

Where to go next

Use these guides alongside your revision.

• GCSE Maths topics
• GCSE Maths trigonometry
• Circle theorems

Checking your answers

Good checking habits can gain several marks per paper. Substitute your answer back into the original equation. Ask whether the size of the answer makes sense: a person cannot be 15 metres tall, and a probability cannot be more than 1. Check units and rounding against what the question asked for. If you finish early, redo calculations a different way rather than just rereading them, because rereading tends to repeat the same error.

Grade boundaries and what they mean

Grade boundaries change each year depending on how hard the papers were. The percentage needed for each grade is often lower than students expect, especially on Higher, because the papers are designed to stretch the strongest students. This means every mark counts, and picking up method marks on hard questions can make the difference between grades. Do not leave questions blank; write down what you know, such as a formula or a first step.

Staying motivated

Set small, specific goals, such as “this week I will master simultaneous equations”, instead of vague ones like “revise algebra”. Track your past paper scores so you can see progress over time. Revise with a friend sometimes, explaining topics to each other. And remember that improvement in maths is usually gradual: steady practice adds up, even when it does not feel like it day to day.

The night before and the day of the exam

The night before, look over your formula list and a few worked examples, then stop and rest. Check you have pens, a pencil, a ruler, a protractor, a pair of compasses and a calculator with a fresh battery. On the day, read every question carefully and underline key words. If a question seems hard, move on and come back to it. Use all the time you have to check your work.

Most of all, trust the work you have done. Steady revision over weeks builds real skill.