With one week until your GCSE Maths exam, it can be difficult to decide what deserves your attention. Should you work through past papers, learn the topics you have avoided, or go back over everything?
Start with the questions you are losing marks on.
If you can solve equations but regularly make mistakes with negative numbers, another hour of equation videos probably will not help much. If you understand percentages but cannot work backwards from a sale price, practise reverse percentages specifically.
The aim
Make more of the questions within your reach reliably answerable. You will identify weaknesses, practise the methods, revisit them without help and test yourself under exam conditions.
You cannot guarantee a particular grade in seven days. You can make the week much more useful by giving every session a clear purpose.
Your one-week GCSE Maths revision plan at a glance
Use this timetable for the seven days before your next maths paper. Most days need around 90–120 minutes, with breaks. The full-paper day takes longer because marking and corrections need their own time.
| Day | Main focus | What to do | What you should finish with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Find your priorities | Attempt a timed mixed set and analyse mistakes | Five specific skills to improve |
| Day 2 | Number, ratio and percentages | Practise weak methods, then try mixed questions | Correct solutions you can reproduce |
| Day 3 | Algebra and graphs | Work on your selected algebra skills and graph interpretation | A short test completed without notes |
| Day 4 | Geometry, probability and statistics | Cover gaps across these areas and revisit earlier mistakes | A balanced set of corrected questions |
| Day 5 | Exam practice | Sit a relevant full past paper, then mark it | Three priorities for your final sessions |
| Day 6 | Repair and retest | Fix those priorities and attempt fresh questions | Evidence that your corrections have stuck |
| Day 7 | Light review and preparation | Revisit familiar methods, check equipment and stop at a sensible time | A manageable plan for the exam |
Remember
Change the topic order if your diagnostic results suggest it. If ratio is already secure but probability is a major weakness, give probability more time. The timetable is a structure, not a requirement to spend equal time on everything.
Before you start: check what exam you are taking
Write these details at the top of your plan:
- Your exam board and qualification.
- Your tier: Foundation or Higher.
- The date of your next paper.
- Whether that paper allows a calculator.
- Its duration and total marks.
- The formula sheet supplied for your exam year.
Check the paper front cover or your exam board's information rather than assuming every GCSE Maths exam has the same format.
For example, AQA GCSE Maths 8300 and Pearson Edexcel GCSE Maths 1MA1 each have three 90-minute papers worth 80 marks each. Paper 1 is non-calculator, while Papers 2 and 3 allow calculators.
For GCSE Maths in England, formula sheets are provided in 2026 and 2027, with provision continuing from 2028 for the lifetime of the current specifications (see AQA's update on Ofqual's decision). Download your board's sheet for your exam year and practise using it.
Key point
Having a formula available does not replace knowing when and how to use it.
You only need a few resources ready: relevant questions, their mark schemes, your formula sheet, paper for working and your usual calculator where permitted. Starley has AQA, Edexcel and OCR GCSE Maths past papers with mark schemes.
Day 1: Find out where your marks are going
Suggested time: 90 minutes
Start with a 35–45-minute mixed set from a paper that matches your board and tier. Choose a range of questions, including some you expect to manage and some that will stretch you.
Work without videos, notes or hints. Use a calculator only if the paper allows one.
Then mark your answers and look beyond the total.
Sort each mistake by its cause
| What happened? | What to do next |
|---|---|
| You did not know the method | Learn one worked example, then attempt similar questions |
| You knew the method but made an arithmetic or algebra error | Find the exact incorrect step and practise it |
| You misunderstood what the question wanted | Identify the instruction or information you missed |
| You could answer it, but took too long | Practise a short timed set once the method is secure |
| You got it right by guessing or with uncertain working | Treat it as a topic that still needs checking |
Watch out
Avoid writing "careless mistake" against everything. It does not tell you what to change. "Forgot to square the conversion factor when converting area" is useful. "Be more careful" is not a revision task.
Choose five specific skills
Your list might look like this:
- Sharing an amount in a ratio.
- Finding an original price after a percentage increase.
- Solving equations with brackets.
- Identifying the hypotenuse in Pythagoras questions.
- Calculating a mean from a frequency table.
Prioritise skills that you partly understand, mistakes you make repeatedly, and basic methods that appear inside longer questions.
Do not spend the entire week trying to master one difficult topic while leaving several fixable weaknesses untouched.
Finish today with
five clear priorities and a question set for tomorrow.
Day 2: Strengthen number, ratio and percentages
Suggested time: 90–120 minutes
Begin with a brief attempt at two questions you got wrong yesterday. Do this before looking at the corrections.
Then choose two or three number skills from your priority list. Possible areas include fractions, negative numbers, ratio, percentages, standard form and estimation.
Use this routine for each skill:
- Study one worked example.
- Cover it and explain the steps to yourself.
- Attempt three to five questions independently.
- Mark them and fix the first incorrect step.
- Try a fresh question without looking back.
If the fresh question still goes wrong, return to the method before increasing the difficulty.
Worked example
Sharing in a ratio. A school raises £315. The money is shared between the library and the sports department in the ratio 4 : 5. How much does the sports department receive?
There are 4 + 5 = 9 parts. One part is worth:
315 ÷ 9 = £35
The sports department receives five parts:
5 × 35 = £175
Check: the other share is 4 × 35 = £140, and £140 + £175 = £315.
Common mistake: dividing £315 by 5. The whole amount represents all nine parts, not just the sports department's share.
Worked example
Reverse percentages. A bicycle costs £276 after a 15% increase. What was its original price?
After the increase, the price is 115% of the original:
1.15 × original price = 276
original price = 276 ÷ 1.15 = £240
Check: 240 × 1.15 = 276.
Common mistake: subtracting 15% of £276. The increase was calculated from the original price, so you need to reverse the multiplier.
Adapt today to your next paper
| Next paper | What to practise |
|---|---|
| Non-calculator | Written arithmetic, fractions and exact answers without reaching for your calculator |
| Calculator | Write the calculation before entering it; use brackets, fractions, powers and roots on the calculator you will take into the exam |
Finish today with
a short mixed set where you have to choose the method yourself.
Day 3: Improve algebra and graph skills
Suggested time: 90–120 minutes
Spend the first ten minutes revisiting yesterday's ratio and percentage questions.
Then focus on your algebra priorities. These might include substitution, expanding brackets, factorising, equations, sequences, straight-line graphs or rearranging formulae.
Choose questions suitable for your tier. If you are aiming for a high Higher-tier grade, you might also need work on algebraic fractions, functions or more demanding simultaneous equations.
Worked example
Solving an equation with brackets. Solve 5(2x − 3) = 3x + 20.
Expand: 10x − 15 = 3x + 20
Subtract 3x from both sides: 7x − 15 = 20
Add 15: 7x = 35
Divide by 7: x = 5
Check: substituting into the original equation, 5(2 × 5 − 3) = 35 and 3 × 5 + 20 = 35. Both sides are equal.
Common mistake: writing 5(2x − 3) = 10x − 3. The 5 multiplies both terms inside the bracket.
Practise recognising the task
After a topic worksheet, mix different algebra questions together. For example:
| Instruction | Expression | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|---|
| Expand | 3(2x + 5) | Multiply out the bracket |
| Factorise | 6x + 15 | Take out the common factor |
| Solve | 3(2x + 5) = 27 | Find the value of x |
| Substitute x = −2 | 3(2x + 5) | Work out the value |
These expressions look similar, but the instructions require different actions. Mixed practice checks whether you can choose a method without a worksheet title telling you what to do.
For graphs, practise interpreting as well as drawing: reading coordinates, finding gradients, identifying intercepts and explaining what a graph shows in context.
Finish today with
a 15–20-minute algebra and graphs test without notes.
Day 4: Cover geometry, probability and statistics
Suggested time: 90–120 minutes
These areas need a place in your revision plan. Do not leave them out because number and algebra have filled the week.
Start with a short mixed set to find which questions need attention.
| Area | Possible skills to check |
|---|---|
| Geometry and measures | Angle facts, area, volume, unit conversions, Pythagoras and trigonometry where applicable |
| Probability | Probability scales, sample spaces, relative frequency and tree diagrams where applicable |
| Statistics | Averages, frequency tables and interpreting charts and graphs |
Choose your weakest skills from the results rather than trying to complete every topic today.
Worked example
Converting area units. Convert 0.36 m² into cm².
Since 1 m = 100 cm, a square measuring 1 metre by 1 metre measures 100 centimetres by 100 centimetres. Therefore:
1 m² = 100 × 100 = 10,000 cm²
So 0.36 × 10,000 = 3,600 cm²
Common mistake: multiplying by 100. That converts lengths; area requires the conversion factor to be squared.
Worked example
Probability without replacement. A bag contains five green counters and three yellow counters. Two counters are taken without replacement. Find the probability that both are yellow.
For the first counter, P(yellow) = 3/8. After taking a yellow counter, two yellow counters remain out of seven counters, so P(second yellow, given the first was yellow) = 2/7.
Multiply along this outcome:
3/8 × 2/7 = 6/56 = 3/28
Common mistake: using 3/8 for both selections. "Without replacement" changes what remains in the bag.
Worked example
A mean from a frequency table.
| Number of pets | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 0 | 3 |
| 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 2 |
The total number of pets is 0 × 3 + 1 × 5 + 2 × 2 = 9.
The number of people is 3 + 5 + 2 = 10.
So the mean is 9 ÷ 10 = 0.9 pets
Common mistake: dividing by three because there are three rows. Divide by the total frequency.
End today by retrying one question from Day 2 and one from Day 3.
Finish today with
corrected questions from each area you needed to improve.
Day 5: Sit a full GCSE Maths past paper
Suggested time: the paper's official duration, plus 45–60 minutes for marking and review
Choose an official past paper matching your board, tier and next paper's calculator rules.
If you have already completed every available paper, use the least familiar one or ask your teacher for a suitable practice paper. Record that it is a repeat attempt so you do not mistake familiarity for improvement.
Set up proper conditions:
- Put your phone away.
- Use the official time limit.
- Keep notes and solutions closed.
- Use the relevant formula sheet.
- Have the equipment you would use in the exam.
Practise moving on when necessary
If you are stuck, try a useful first step: label a diagram, write an equation, convert the units or identify a relevant formula.
If you still have no route forward after a reasonable attempt, mark the question and return later. Spending too long on one problem can leave answerable questions unfinished.
Quick tip
On an 80-mark, 90-minute paper, the overall average is just over one minute per mark. Use that as a broad pacing guide, not a stopwatch rule for every question.
Mark the working you actually wrote
Do not award yourself a mark because you meant to use a method. Follow the mark scheme and assess what is on the page.
Important
Correct intermediate working can earn credit in many questions, but writing a formula alone does not automatically earn a mark. The requirements depend on the question.
Choose three priorities from the paper:
- one method you did not understand;
- one repeated execution error;
- one exam habit to improve.
If the paper took most of your available time, move detailed corrections to Day 6. Keep the marking accurate even if you need to split the session. For a fuller marking routine, see how to use Edexcel GCSE Maths past papers.
Finish today with
a marked paper and three specific next steps.
Day 6: Fix mistakes and check that they stay fixed
Suggested time: 90–120 minutes
Today's work should come directly from yesterday's paper.
For each priority:
- Locate the first step where your answer went wrong.
- Use a worked solution or lesson to understand that step.
- Close the solution and redo the original question.
- Attempt two or three fresh questions using the same skill.
- Return to one of them later without help.
Copying a correct solution is only the start. You need to be able to produce the method independently.
Keep a short mistake record
| Skill | What went wrong | What I will do next time |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse percentages | Subtracted a percentage from the final price | Identify the multiplier and divide |
| Pythagoras | Used a shorter side as the hypotenuse | Mark the side opposite the right angle first |
| Probability | Kept the totals unchanged | Update the counts after a selection without replacement |
| Calculator accuracy | Rounded an intermediate result | Keep the full value until the final answer |
Finish with a 20–30-minute mixed test containing your repaired skills alongside other topics. A mixed test reveals whether you recognise when to use them.
Quick tip
If something still goes wrong, make it a specific question for your teacher: "Why does the denominator change here?" is easier to resolve than "I don't understand probability."
Finish today with
fresh questions answered correctly without referring to solutions.
Day 7: Review lightly and get ready
Suggested time: 45–75 minutes
The day before the exam should leave you ready to use what you know.
Start with a few familiar questions. Then revisit your mistake record and selected questions from the week.
A manageable final session could be:
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Straightforward questions to settle into the work |
| 20–25 minutes | Retry important corrections without notes |
| 10–15 minutes | Practise finding and using relevant formulae |
| 5–10 minutes | Check equipment and exam arrangements |
Check your calculator
For a calculator paper, check that you know how to enter fractions, powers, roots and negative numbers. Check degree mode when using trigonometry.
Pack the equipment your school requires, including your calculator where allowed, and confirm the exam time and location.
Avoid starting a full paper late in the evening if you cannot mark and learn from it. Finish at a sensible time.
Finish today with
your equipment ready and a clear idea of how to approach the paper.
How to adapt the plan to your target grade
Your target should influence the questions you choose, but your recent answers should decide what needs work.
If you are aiming for grade 4 or 5
Focus on making accessible questions dependable: arithmetic, fractions, percentages, ratio, straightforward algebra, graphs, measures, averages and basic probability.
For each skill, ask:
- Can I start without a hint?
- Can I complete the method accurately?
- Can I answer a slightly different version?
Do not ignore later questions entirely. Look for parts you can attempt, even when the whole problem feels difficult.
If you are aiming for grade 6 or 7
Keep core skills accurate while practising problems that combine methods.
After solving a question, explain why you chose that approach. This helps with questions where the required method is less obvious.
If you are aiming for grade 8 or 9
Use your diagnostic work to identify demanding areas that need attention, such as proof, functions, algebraic fractions, vectors or complex geometry, where included in your specification.
Practise unfamiliar problems and full reasoning. At the same time, check whether routine errors are costing marks on questions you already understand.
Only have an hour a day?
Keep a smaller version of the routine:
| Time | Task |
|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Retry questions from an earlier session |
| 20 minutes | Learn or repair one specific method |
| 20 minutes | Attempt questions independently |
| 10 minutes | Mark, correct and choose tomorrow's task |
On the past-paper day, use a timed section if you cannot fit in the full paper. Record it as section practice rather than comparing it with a full-paper score.
Key point
Protect the time for marking. Completing more questions is useful only when you also find out what your answers show.
What to do if you have already sat one maths paper
Use the remaining time to prepare for the next paper's format and revisit weaknesses you noticed.
If fractions slowed you down, practise fractions. If you could not turn a word problem into an equation, work on that skill.
Watch out
Avoid ruling out topics simply because they appeared earlier. AQA explicitly allows content from any part of its specification to be assessed on any of its three papers.
Predicted papers and topic lists can give you extra practice, but they cannot guarantee what will appear. Keep your revision broad enough to cover your main gaps; for the topics worth securing first, see GCSE Maths topics that come up every year.
GCSE Maths revision in one week: common questions
Can I improve at GCSE Maths in a week?
You can improve particular skills, reduce repeated errors and practise using your time better. How much that changes your result depends on your starting point and the exam.
Measure progress by what you can now answer independently, rather than expecting a promised grade increase.
Should I do a past paper every day?
Only if you also have enough time to mark, understand and revisit the mistakes. For many students, targeted practice between papers will make better use of the final week.
Are videos enough for revision?
Use a video to resolve a specific difficulty. Pause before the solution, attempt the question and then try another without help.
Understanding the explanation and producing your own answer are different stages.
How do I know whether a topic is secure?
Try fresh questions without notes, then return to the topic on another day. Include it in mixed practice so you must recognise the method yourself.
What if my practice-paper score is disappointing?
Use it to identify the next task. Separate unfamiliar methods, execution errors and unfinished questions.
A score tells you what happened on that attempt. The corrections tell you what to work on next. If you have longer than a week, see our GCSE Maths revision timetable.
Start with one useful session
Choose a short mixed set that matches your tier, attempt it without help and mark it carefully. Pick five specific skills from what you find.
Then work through the week with a clear routine:
The routine
Attempt a question, understand the mistake, practise the method and return to it later.
That gives every revision session a purpose—and gives you a practical way to use the time you have left.