The Christmas holidays are approaching, and many people are curious about how students from British private schools prepare for the GCSE/A-Level exams.
In fact, while holidays provide an opportunity to relax, they may also affect students' learning pace and performance .
In particular, mock exams are usually scheduled around holidays, and this important time node places higher demands on students' exam preparation abilities .
Holiday Schedule - 2 Weeks
According to the arrangements of British schools, most private schools in England, Wales and Scotland will enter a two-week Christmas holiday from December 23, 2024 to January 6, 2025 , while schools in Northern Ireland will start on January 3. For GCSE and A-Level students, the second round of mock exams will be held shortly after the Christmas holiday, which is directly related to the final grades and university applications.
Mock Exam Time
Generally speaking, GCSE students will take two mock exams: the first in the summer of grade 10, and the second around the Christmas break of grade 11. A-Level students will also take two rounds of mock exams. The first round is usually in the summer of grade 12, and the second round is scheduled around the Christmas break of grade 13, sometimes extended to February of the following year. The specific time varies from school to school, but in any case, the quality of preparation during the Christmas break will directly affect the performance of students in the mock exams. Therefore, it is crucial to make full use of the holiday preparation .
Christmas season - Check for missing items
During the Christmas holidays, many British students will spend a few days celebrating the holidays with their families, but the rest of the time is mostly devoted to study. Excellent students, such as those from local private schools and grammar schools in the UK, will use the holidays to catch up on their missed studies and lay the foundation for GCSE/A-Level exams.
Principal's advice
Barnaby Lenon, former headmaster of Harrow School, once suggested that students should study for seven hours a day during the Christmas holidays to ensure that they complete enough revision tasks. Although this suggestion was criticized by the education community as excessive, it does reflect the importance that British students attach to holiday learning. Many academically excellent students have widened the gap through holiday learning, while students with lower learning efficiency may fall behind.
How to make effective use of the Christmas holidays to prepare for exams?
For GCSE and A-Level students, the Christmas holidays are a valuable period of time to prepare for exams.
If you don’t plan well, you may miss the opportunity to revise. Here are the exam preparation suggestions from Harrow principals and education experts:
No1.
Clarify the review focus, use notes skillfully to confirm the exam syllabus and test paper structure of each subject, organize the notes and use them as a basis for review.
No2.
Make sure to review each subject at least three times
It is often difficult to consolidate knowledge through a single review. Reviewing three times can help you grasp the key content more firmly.
No3.
Allocate study time properly
Study for 5-7 hours a day, and take a 30-minute break after each 1.5 to 2 hours of study to stay efficient.
No4.
Focus on self-testing. It’s not just about reading notes, but also about strengthening memory and understanding through self-testing.
No5.
Make a schedule that suits you. Holiday study is not about the length of time, but the quality and continuity of review. Split the review tasks into small chunks and spend more time on weak points.
No6.
Stay away from distractions and focus on studying. Try to avoid distractions when studying and turn off mobile phones and other electronic devices to improve concentration.
No7.
Use a variety of learning methods to improve knowledge mastery and retrieval skills by combining flashcards, note-taking, exercises, and memorization.
No8.
Maintain adequate rest and entertainment. Holidays are not only a time for review, but also a time to adjust your state through rest and hobbies to ensure learning efficiency.
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