The first 30 minutes: decide what is worth studying
Open the last two or three past papers, or the syllabus, and list the topics that come up most and carry the most marks. Circle the five to eight you will cover today, starting with the ones you half know already: they turn into marks fastest.
The day, hour by hour
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Morning, block 1 to 3 | One topic per 40-minute block: read the summary, then close it and write what you remember, then check. Five minutes' break between blocks. |
| Midday | A real break and a meal. Ten minutes outside helps you focus again. |
| Afternoon, block 4 to 5 | Two more topics the same way. |
| Late afternoon | One past paper or a set of past questions, under time. Mark it. |
| Early evening | Redo only the questions you got wrong. Write the corrections on one page. |
| Night | Read that one page once, set out what you need for the exam, and sleep. |
Test yourself fast
With one day, re-reading is a luxury you cannot afford. After every block, spend the last ten minutes answering questions with the notes closed:
- Write the three main points from memory, then check what you missed.
- Turn headings into questions ("What causes...?", "How do you calculate...?") and answer them aloud.
- Make a few flashcards for formulas and definitions you must have word for word.
What to skip, and what not to
- Skip topics that are rare in past papers and new to you.
- Skip rewriting or colouring your notes; it feels useful and costs hours.
- Do not skip the past paper: it shows how questions are worded and where marks are given.
- Do not skip sleep. Staying up all night lowers what you can recall the next day more than one more topic adds.
Your one-day exam plan
- First 30 minutes: list the five to eight topics worth most marks.
- Morning: one topic per 40-minute block, notes closed for the last ten minutes.
- Midday: a real break.
- Afternoon: two more topics, then one timed past paper.
- Evening: redo the questions you got wrong; one page of corrections.
- Night: read that page once, prepare your things, sleep.
Save this plan: print the page or save it as a PDF from your browser's menu, or keep the plain-text version.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pass an exam by studying one day before?
You can secure the most common, highest-mark topics if you choose them from past papers and test yourself on them. Covering the whole course in a day is not realistic.
Should I stay up all night before an exam?
No. Sleep is when what you studied settles into memory. An all-nighter usually costs more than the extra hours give.
What should I study first when I have little time?
The topics that appear most often in past papers and that you already half know. They turn into marks fastest.