Take a moment

Before you do anything else, just take a moment to reflect on how far you have come since starting secondary school in Year 7. Reflect on the memories you have made, your successes in your GCSE exams two years ago and the fact that you have completed your A-Level courses. Two years of hard work, revision, coursework, assessments, and examinations.

Whether you are planning to attend university, begin an apprenticeship, enter employment, take a gap year, or pursue another pathway, today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Accomplishment

Completing A Levels is a significant accomplishment. The academic demands of post-16 education require resilience, independence, commitment, and determination. Over the past two years, you have developed skills that will serve you well throughout your future studies and career.

Regardless of your results, you should be proud of reaching this milestone. The ability to persevere through challenges, manage deadlines, and prepare for demanding examinations demonstrates qualities that universities and employers value highly.��Today is not simply about grades; it is about celebrating the completion of an important stage of your educational journey.

Do Not Worry

I know how absurd that might sound to many of you reading this now, but the simple fact is that you have completed all of your exams, they have all been marked and moderated, your exam results certificates will have been produced and placed into envelopes ready for you to collect. The simple fact is that no amount of worrying or stressing can change what is in those envelopes.

What we can do though, is begin to prepare for the two scenarios that will face every one of 300,000 students who like you, sat their A-Level exams this year – you either got the grades you needed (or did better) or you didn’t get the grades that you wanted.

Next Steps: If you gained the grades you needed:

1. University

If you have applied through UCAS, check your application status as soon as possible.

Universities often update decisions early on results day, and you may find that your place has already been confirmed. If your place is confirmed, carefully read any communications from the University, and complete any required enrolment or registration processes.

Log in to your UCAS Hub account.

Your application status will normally show one of the following:

Unconditional Firm (UF)

This means your first-choice university has accepted you and your place is confirmed.

Unconditional Insurance (UI)

If you did not meet the conditions of your firm choice but your insurance choice has accepted you and your place is confirmed there instead.

Unsuccessful

Neither choice has accepted you. You may need to use Clearing.

Application Being Considered

Sometimes universities take additional time to make decisions. Don’t panic if your status does not update immediately.

Make sure that you regularly check your emails and junk mail folders for emails from universities around student finance, student accommodation and in person or online enrolment on your chosen course.

Then it’s time to sit back, breathe, reflect on your successes this year and look forward to the challenges ahead and the next mountain to conquer.

2. Apprenticeship or employment

If you are progressing directly into employment or an apprenticeship, contact your employer or training provider to confirm your start date and any enrolment requirements. Many employers will request copies of your qualifications, so keep your results statement in a safe place.

Make sure that you obtain written confirmation of your apprenticeship.

This should include:

• An employment contract, and / or
• Apprenticeship agreement
• Details of your training provider
• Information about your working hours and salary.

Ensure you complete all pre-employment checks, ensure you have a national insurance number and bank account and know how much and when you will be paid so that you can begin to budget effectively.

All of these steps will enable you to hit the ground running as you enter the world of work.

Next Steps: If you didn’t gain the grades you needed:

Opening your A Level results can be an emotional experience, particularly if your grades are lower than you expected. If you haven’t achieved the results needed for your university course or apprenticeship, it’s important to remember that you still have options and support is available.

The first thing to do is stay calm and avoid making any rushed decisions.��Take some time to understand your results and discuss them with your teachers, careers advisers, parents or carers. They can help you explore the different pathways available to you.

1. University

If you applied to university through UCAS, check your application status as soon as possible.

In some cases, universities may still accept students who have narrowly missed their offer. Your place may already be confirmed, or your application may still be under consideration. You can log in to your UCAS account and find further guidance at:

UCAS:

If your university place has not been confirmed, you may be able to find a course through Clearing. Thousands of university places are available each year, and many students successfully secure a place through this process.

2. Apprenticeship or Employment

If you were planning to start an apprenticeship, contact the employer or training provider as soon as possible.

Some employers may still honour offers if you narrowly missed the required grades, while others may be able to suggest alternative apprenticeship levels or opportunities within their organisation.

You should also consider whether a review of marking is appropriate. If you were only a few marks away from a higher grade, speak to your school or college immediately about the possibility of requesting a review. Be aware that grades can go down as well as up following a review.

3. Alternative Routes

There are also many alternative routes available. These include applying for different university courses, exploring apprenticeship vacancies, taking a gap year, gaining work experience, or enrolling on a college course to strengthen your qualifications.

Find an Apprenticeship:

Amazing Apprenticeships:

Most importantly, remember that one set of results does not define your future. Many successful people have taken unexpected routes into higher education, employment, and careers. Focus on the opportunities available now, seek advice, and take positive action. There are often more pathways forward than you may initially realise.

Looking for advice on GCSE results day? Click here.

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Do not worry

The first thing to say is try not to panic or worry about your GCSE Results Day. This might sound odd, but the reality is that you have completed all of your exams, they have all been marked and moderated. Your results have been sent to your schools, your certificates have been downloaded and placed into envelopes ready for you to collect – and no amount of worry or stress will change what is printed on those exam certificates.

Your Plans

You will all have made plans for which courses you would like to take at college or sixth form or which apprenticeship you would like to enrol in, as well as making back-up plans for what you might do if you didn’t quite manage to get the grades you were hoping for.

On the Day

On the 20^th August, you will find yourself dealing with the same two realities as every other 650,000 students who sat their GCSE exams this summer – you either got the grades you needed or you didn’t get the grades you wanted.

It’s important that on your GCSE results day you don’t leave school until you have spoken to either the Exams Officer, Principal, Vice Principal, Head of Year, Head of Sixth Form or any of the staff who will be there.

This is for two main reasons. Firstly, these are the people who you will be celebrating with or turning to for help and support with your next steps, and secondly, because schools need to record the destinations of all of their students after their GCSEs.

The rest of this article is divided into two sections – next steps if you gained the grades you needed and next steps if you didn’t gain the grades you needed.

Next Steps:�� If you gained the grades you needed:

The first thing to say is well done! ll of your hard work, the hours of revision, completing past papers and preparation have paid off and the wide smile spreading across your face is very well deserved indeed.

1. Contacts

The next step is to make sure that you contact the Sixth Form / College / Apprenticeship providers you applied for as part of your Post-16 Options process.��Inform them that you achieved the grades required and would like to enroll and confirm your place on your chosen course.��Almost every Post-16 provider will have an enrolment day where you will be required to bring your GCSE certificates and any identification documents required by your provider to ensure the process is as swift and easy as possible.

2. Look to September

Now to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running in September. Ensure that you know what resources or textbooks are required for your courses or apprenticeships, and make sure you know what the expectations are for these. Read as much as you can around your chosen subjects and make sure that you attend the induction day for your Post-16 course provider.

Remember, the jump from GCSEss to your next step, whether that is A Levels, T-Levels, BTEC’s or an apprenticeship is a significant one. The expectations on you will be different now, and you will need to be more self-sufficient and show you can work independently. This is also a good time to reflect on Year 11 and your preparations for your exams – now that you have completed them. Is there anything you wish you could have done differently? If so, now is the time to put those lessons into practice.

Next Steps: If you didn’t gain the grades you needed:

The first thing to say is breathe, just take a minute and breathe. Although the disappointment of not doing as well as you might have expected will feel overwhelming, breathe and more importantly, don’t panic.

Take a moment to reflect on all of the successes you have in front of you now on your exam certificates. You have completed all of your exams, you have achieved grades in your GCSE – even if they might not be what you were expecting. The best decision, however hard it might feel at the time, is to stay in school and talk to someone.

1. Contacts

On GCSE results day, up and down the country there will be lots of people in your school that you can speak to – the Headteacher or Principal, the Head of Sixth Form, Head of Year 11, Exams Officers, Heads of subject, careers advisors and teachers. All of these people will be able to help you with the next steps.

Then contact your Post-16 provider. If you have missed the grades required for a particular course or sixth form, contact them directly before assuming your place has been lost. Many providers will review individual circumstances and may still be able to offer you a place or suggest an alternative pathway.

2. Alternative Pathways

You could explore alternative pathways if you didn’t get the grades you needed for your first-choice option. Even if your original plan changes, there may be similar courses available that still support your long-term goals. For example: A student who planned to study A Level Biology may be offered Applied Science. A student who misses a grade requirement may be able to retake a GCSE alongside their post-16 studies. Some colleges may even recommend alternative combinations of courses.

3. Re-marks & Resits

You could also consider either the November or Summer resists for English and Maths if you missed out on a Grade 4. Again, contact your provider. Many sixth forms and colleges provide opportunities to retake GCSEs while studying other qualifications. A resit can often lead to significant improvements because you already understand the exam format and content.

You might also consider a review of marking. If a result seems significantly different from what you expected, speak to your school about post-results services. Schools can request checks or reviews through the examination boards where appropriate. Most queries can be investigated through established post-results processes.

Exam Results and Appeals:

The Next Chapter

Results day can feel like one of the most important days of your life, but it is only the beginning of the next chapter. Whether you achieved the grades you wanted, exceeded your expectations, or received results that were different from what you had hoped for, there are always opportunities available.

Take time to celebrate your achievements, seek advice when needed, and remember that success is rarely a straight line. Many people change direction, overcome setbacks, and find opportunities they never expected.

Whatever your results, you have already shown determination, resilience, and commitment by completing your GCSEs.��Those qualities will continue to help you succeed in whatever path you choose next.

Remember, your exam results do not and will not ever define you or who you will become – they are simply a launch pad to the next exciting stage in your life.��Good luck, enjoy your summer, and be proud of everything you have achieved and enjoy your GCSE Results Day.

Looking for advice on A Level results day? Click here.

The post GCSE Exam Results Day – Practical Advice appeared first on 91��Ƭ.

Fast forward to the first evening, he came home and said he absolutely loved it and teacher was great and had learnt so much. Highly recommend!

The post Highly Recommended! appeared first on 91��Ƭ.

It’s a big investment but it’s quality teaching and executed well.

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Unfortunately, during the Summer many students forget that Year 13 studies often rely on an expert knowledge of the Year 12 concepts.

This then becomes a shock when September hits with a change in the pace of learning and focus. Remember that you only have effectively 2 terms of study to get all of the Year 13 concepts mastered.�� So, time to ‘pick it back up’ in September is very rarely there.

Rehearsal & Remembering

Research carried out by Psychologists Shiffrin and Atkinson in 1968 suggested that the brain learns best by rehearsal.�� There are two distinct types according to them.

1. Maintenance rehearsal – which we know as rote learning where information is repeated over and over.
2. Elaborative rehearsal – where we connect new information to pre-existing long term memories, which they suggest is far more effective for long term learning.

How can the Year 12 student use this?

How do you reinforce the concepts taught in Year 12 to prepare yourself for the pace and relentlessness of Year 13 studies?

Year 12 Concept Mind-Map

• Take a sheet of blank A3 paper and make a mind map of the concepts from memory in one colour (say black). Then try to answer questions using all of the information from your mind map.
• Utilising mark schemes and examiners’ reports, add information that you do not know in a different colour.
• Repeat this process until all of the information you need is on the mind map.

This acts as:

1. A revision resource that new information in Yr 13 can be added to.
2. A colour coded revision map, i.e. the information already known in black, does not need to be revised as you already have this in your long-term memory.
3. Maintenance rehearsal – by looking at the maps to keep your mind focussed for the coming year and ensuring that the knowledge gained in Year 12 is not forgotten.

Revision

Revision is a long-term project and should not be left until the last few months before your exams start.

Chunk Revision

The best way to revise is to ‘Chunk’ your revision into blocks of around 30 minutes.�� Then having a short break and revising a totally different subject or area.

‘But it’s summer’, I hear you say, ‘I need a break’. Remember, this is maintenance revision of an hour a day, every day which will make a huge amount of difference. And if you really think about it, an hour a day is probably wasted in your day. Take the time to analyse your day and see where you can fit it in!!!!

Your Head Start for Year 13

In conclusion, although this process will initially seem daunting and time consuming, the long-term research driven benefits can only enhance and improve your studies and knowledge base for the coming year.�� It will also give you a head start for Year 13 preparation and you will already have a set of revision notes for your exams which are much closer than you think. Believe me, the time will fly.

You can always make use of other resources that are available on the internet, or even better, why not enrol on a 91��Ƭ revision school over the summer?

Good luck with your studies!!!!!!

The post Going into Year 13 – A Prepared Summer appeared first on 91��Ƭ.

The concern is understandable. With the GCSEs looming, the instinct is often to push for an intensive study regime over the summer. However, the experience of our expert tutors suggests a surprising truth: the students who thrive in Year 11 are rarely those who spend July and August cramming.

Overloading students during the summer break frequently backfires. Instead, the weeks between Year 10 and Year 11 are best used to strengthen confidence and sharpen fundamental thinking skills.

Consistent but manageable habits and active learning go much further than endless hours of re-reading notes or poring over revision guides. Here are several practical strategies to help your child hit the ground running in September without sacrificing their summer.

1. Swap Revision for 15-Minute Wins

Very few teenagers will successfully stick to a rigid, colour-coded six-week revision timetable in August, and frankly, they don’t need to. A far more effective approach is to focus on micro-habits that maintain academic momentum without causing resentment.

Encourage your child to aim for just 15 to 20 minutes of focused study a day, targeting one or two core subjects.

In practice, a “15-Minute Win” might look like this:

Maths

Rather than tackling a daunting multi-page worksheet, ask your child to solve just one challenging GCSE question, complete a “5-a-day” task on the Corbett maths website, or watch a concise Yes Genie video tutorial followed by two practice questions.

Science

Help them make use of interactive learning apps like Seneca for quick quizzes while waiting for a flight or after a good meal. Alternatively, challenge them to explain a scientific process out loud, such as diffusion or photosynthesis, as if they were teaching a younger sibling. If they can explain a concept simply, they are more likely understand it.

English

Listen to an audiobook version while walking the dog or watching a theatre production. You can also challenge them to master three ambitious vocabulary words each week and weave them into everyday family conversations.

2. Turn Daily Activities into Active Problem-Solving

Learning does not only happen at a desk. The brain is more likely to retain information through practical application and experience. This means ordinary summer activities can keep core academic skills sharp.

While travelling, encourage your child to calculate foreign exchange rates, help budget for family activities or independently read maps to estimate travel times and distances.

Even downtime can be used to get them thinking creatively. Here are some examples.

Documentaries

Nature and geography documentaries (such as those narrated by David Attenborough) provide excellent, real-world context for GCSE Geography and Biology modules.

Cooking and Baking

Following complex recipes allows for tasty and practical application of ratios, precise measurements, fractions, and time management – you could add an extra challenge with constraints such as cooking on a budget or preparing a meal within a specified period of time.

Board Games

Strategy-based board games (such as ) are highly effective for developing logical reasoning, memory, and sometimes even mental arithmetic.

By engaging in these activities, students are developing essential cognitive tools without it feeling like homework.

3. Use One Tough Topic To Build a Growth Mindset

Instead of trying to review the entire Year 10 syllabus, help your child select just one specific topic that caused them significant stress or confusion last year.

Whether it is algebraic fractions, electricity or essay structure, addressing a specific weak spot over the longer summer break helps to remove a major mental block. Students have the time to try different strategies. This could be watching that take a lighter approach, ask questions, going at their own pace or learning from an older cousin or aunt who might be able to reframe the subject in a way that finally allows it to click. Returning to school in September knowing they have mastered a previously dreaded topic provides an immense psychological boost.

4. Play the ‘Mark Scheme Game’

GCSE success is not just about knowledge; it relies heavily on understanding exam technique and handling test conditions. The summer break allows students to take a break from learning content and instead demystify how exams are graded.

You can suggest that your child play the “mark scheme game.” Download a past paper mark scheme and share it with them, without giving them the corresponding question paper. Ask your child to look at the answers and marking criteria. Their challenge is to guess what the original question could have been. This exercise helps them to spot recurring trends, identify the specific keywords examiners look for, and realize why certain answers fail to score marks. The more familiar the marking system feels, the less anxiety they will experience when mock exams arrive.

5. Focus on organization

The transition to Year 11 can sometimes be overwhelming due to a lack of organization rather than a lack of ability. The final weeks of summer offer an ideal window to reset physical and digital organization systems.

Help your child to properly organize their school folders, set up a dedicated workspace and prepare a notebook reserved solely for key formulas or tricky concepts. It is also a great time to gradually adjust sleep routines ahead of the autumn term and reduce late-night phone dependency (this is always a challenge!). A student who enters the autumn term feeling that they have everything in place feels calmer and more in control.

6. Try A Supportive and Enriching Summer Programme

A short, engaging summer course can bring many of these strategies together in one helpful package. Summer schools organised by 91��Ƭ provide students with the opportunity to reinforce vital concepts, improve exam technique and develop crucial independent study habits.

Students have frequently reported that they start to enjoy learning more under the guidance of friendly and experienced tutors. Many students find that attending a summer school helps them gain motivation, make new friends and return to school feeling focused and ready for the challenges of Year 11.

Families looking to balance a well-earned summer break with a productive head start to the academic year often find a structured summer school programme valuable – it sets the tone for a successful year ahead.

A Final Thought for Parents

Students do not need to spend their summer holiday buried under a mountain of revision guides to achieve GCSE success. True preparation lies in prioritizing consistency over intensity, and curiosity over cramming.

If they return to school in September feeling well-rested, organized, and mentally sharp, they are already in a very strong position. Most importantly, time to fully enjoy their summer break and create wonderful memories is just as vital to their long-term well-being.

The post Preparing for Year 11: A Parent’s Guide to a Proactive Summer appeared first on 91��Ƭ.

If you’re struggling with graphs,����is the tool for you. It’s an online graphing calculator that lets you visualise mathematical functions. You can quickly graph equations with minimal effort.

For example, you can enter equations of straight lines and then adjust the gradient or y-intercept to see how they change. Desmos also allows you to plot��more complex quadratic, reciprocal and trigonometric functions.

The best part? Desmos is interactive and allows you to experiment. You can enter any possible equation you can think of and instantly see what it would look like when turned into a graph.

2.��PhET Simulations: Tackle Those Complex Physics and Chemistry Topics��

��provides virtual simulations that let you experiment with real-world science concepts online.

If you’re studying circuits, for example, the��allows you to build electrical circuits using virtual components like batteries, resistors, and bulbs. You can then see how changing these components impact the flow of electricity, helping you to understand key concepts such as voltage, current, and resistance.

Similarly, you can check the��pH of common acids and bases in your household using the����or see how modifying the mass of objects alters the forces between them in the��.

3.��ExploreLearning Gizmos: Learn By Doing��

��houses over 400 interactive simulations for both Maths and Science. These simulations cover everything from algebra and geometry in Maths to forces and motion in Physics.

Explore Learning is particularly valuable when it comes to linking science topics to the real world. There are gizmos that allow you to carry out chemical reactions and even explore entire ecosystems.

The most unique feature this website offers is the ‘STEM Cases’. These allow you to take on a scientific role (think forensic scientist, conservation worker or physicist) and solve a problem such as managing a disease outbreak in a particular city or even helping to identify a criminal. STEM Cases are perfect for putting your learning in context.

4.��Atomic Labs: Making Core Practicals Look Easy

If you’re someone who dislikes questions about practical experiments,����is a gold mine. This website simplifies��experiments and guides you through experiments. What’s more, its cartoon-style interface makes it feel as though you’re taking a much-needed break from studying. You can explore the effect of light intensity on plants, the reactions of metals with acids and experiment with refraction, among other things.

5.��Math Open Reference: Solidify your grasp on loci and constructions

If you find spatial reasoning difficult or geometry isn’t your thing, loci can be a daunting topic. You may want to bookmark the constructions section of the Math Open Reference website. It allows you to work through key constructions, such as the perpendicular bisector of an angle or drawing the perpendicular from a point to a line. Unlike videos, which require you to pause after each step so that you can follow along the process with your ruler and compass, this website offers a stepwise animation that allows you to learn at your own pace.

6.��NRICH: Tougher Maths Problems to Challenge Your Thinking

If you’re looking to take your Maths skills to the next level, take the leap with��. NRICH is all about solving tricky and thought-provoking problems that go beyond your regular revision questions. It will improve your ability to tackle those think-outside-the-box questions in your GCSE exam.

NRICH helps to prepare you for questions that test you on multiple concepts at once. It’s not just about getting the right answer—it’s about developing the skills to think critically. This will not only help prepare you for your exams – it might get you thinking about maths in a whole new light.

7.��Science Museum: Learn Science from Real-World Examples

�ճ������is a great resource for understanding the history of common scientific��objects. The ‘Objects and Stories’ section helps you see where key scientific inventions came from and learn about the people behind them.

When you need a break from your books or need a little motivation to tackle your next physics topic, this website offers a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the important contributions scientists have made to our daily lives. It may also offer you some inspiration and a chance to think more creatively about the concepts you are studying.

Remember!

Science and maths don’t have to be dry and dull. These free tools and sites can�� inject some vitality into your revision, bring academic ideas to life and help you look at STEM subjects through a different lens. All you need is some patience, curiosity and a willingness to experiment – these are key traits for any budding scientist, mathematician or engineer!

The post 7 Science and Maths Tools To Level Up Your GCSE Revision appeared first on 91��Ƭ.

During a time of such intense exam pressure, many students try cramming, studying for 12 hours a day. For others, feelings of stress and panic can become overwhelming and affect their ability to concentrate during revision sessions. As neither situation is healthy, sustainable nor productive, we have some advice on how to improve concentration and make study sessions more effective. Remember, your focus shouldn’t be on HOW LONG you study but on HOW WELL you study!

Here are our top 5 tips on revising after the Easter Holidays

1. Re-assess progress before going back to school. For students using a revision timetable, this should be relatively straightforward as you can use your timetable to check that you are on track and identify topics/subjects that need more time or where help is required. If you are unsure or haven’t used a timetable, list out the topics you have covered, together with some indication of confidence level for each topic, and compare this against the subject specification or text book. When you are back at school, go and discuss your progress and any concerns with your teacher – most are very happy to help their students in the run up to exams – try asking them for help in prioritising areas/revision. Read our article on why a revision timetable is critical to exam success and How to Create A Revision Timetable That Works.

2. Prioritise core topics and material. If you are running out of time to cover the whole syllabus, focus initially on the most important topics and core material rather than elaborative material. Core material consists of important principles, theorems, formulae, important diagrams and graphs, whereas elaborative material consists of examples, quotes, illustrations etc. While the latter is needed to score top marks, a high proportion of exam marks normally come from the core material so it’s worth prioritising important topics and core material first.

3. Focus on revision productivity. If you are struggling to concentrate try:

• splitting revision into smaller/manageable chunks with regular short breaks
• changing your revision environment – make it more conducive to revision eg plenty of space, peace and quiet with no distractions, well ventilated with good natural light.
• Ban phones/social media during the day, leaving it until the end of the revision to catch up with friends.
• including as much variety in the day as possible eg mixing up the nature of subjects studied, trying different revision and learning techniques, studying with friends or attending revision courses
• making your revision as active and goal oriented as possible eg flashcards, mnemonics, online tests and quizzes. Setting simple goals before each session can be motivational and helpful, giving focus and impetus to revision

4. Look after yourself, both mentally and physically. As it gets closer to exam day, stress and fatigue can grow. Get enough rest (at least 6-8 hours of sleep a night), eat regularly and healthily (don’t overload on junk food or caffeine while you’re studying), take proper breaks after revising to relax and exercise. If you are feeling stressed out, visualizing success and relaxation techniques can really help (e.g. imagine yourself writing a good essay).

5. Never give up! Let’s face it, exams are tougher than ever these days and it can be easy to start feeling despondent and thinking what’s the point! This is time to go and talk to a parent or teacher about how you are feeling and maybe try something different to give yourself a confidence boost. Revision Courses are an excellent option and a few providers, including 91��Ƭ, also offer revision courses in May and June. These are ideal for all types of students who feel they need a little extra support in the run up to their exams and can make a massive difference to student confidence, motivation, knowledge and expertise. Find out more by reading our article on “Is a Revision Course Right for You?”

Places on 91��Ƭ Revision Courses��at May Day Weekend and May Half Term are filling fast so call on 01727 744340 or email us now!

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The majority of our students take more than one course and can attend in-person as well as online courses, depending on their need.

We believe that both in-person and online are excellent choices. In this article, we are focussing on our in-person group courses, which are our most popular courses.

So, why are our in-person group courses so good?

We recently surveyed our tutors, who are experienced teachers and experts on what works for students. They reported that in-person/in-centre courses are/have:

Better engagement & focus:

• Students are more alert and less distracted.
• Harder for students to “hide”

Easier to assess understanding:

• Tutors can read body language, facial cues, and confusion instantly.
• Real‑time ability to walk around, check written work, and give feedback

More interactive learning:

• Group discussion flows naturally.
• Easier to run activities with mini‑whiteboards, printed resources, practical demonstrations.
• Students learn from each other more effectively.

Stronger relationships:

• Rapport building is easier and faster in person.
• Students are more confident asking for help.

Better for complex or written subjects:

• Subjects needing diagrams, equations, long answers, or real‑time marking benefit�� from in‑person delivery (e.g., sciences, maths, essay‑based subjects).

Our tutors noted that engagement, focus, and motivation are very high during in-person courses, and there is less attention drift that you get with other forms of delivery. The students respond extremely well to the variety of teaching activities, plus written work and exam practice. Students also benefit considerably from the social learning and peer interaction.

In a single sentence, in-person teaching enables deeper feedback, more interaction, and greater engagement—especially important for group courses and exam preparation.

Online Courses

However, online courses still have a valuable role, and are delivered by 91��Ƭ at the same high-quality level by our expert tutors.

Online Courses:

• are convenient for travel, remote students, or specific sessions
• can work well for exam‑technique‑focused sessions.
• can help cover big content areas
• are excellent for one-to-one sessions
• more comfortable environment for certain learners
• are ideal for content delivery, pre-exam refreshers, or students far from centres.

91��Ƭ offers the same expertise for our online courses, while catering for the needs of the student (and their family). ��This allows our students to adopt a ‘hybrid strategy’ (in-person and online courses) to meet their learning needs.

What do our tutors say about the benefits of in-person courses?

“In-centre courses offer great interaction, quick feedback, and hands-on explanations. Particularly when teaching Physics, some physical demonstrations are very helpful to enhance pupil’s understanding. It is also possible to check their focus and individual progress.”��

“Content personalisation is really effective in face-to-face forums. The ability to get to know the students to develop their confidence and build a working relationship of trust is much better, and when staying at a residential, it can build a memorable holistic experience of growth for the students. The content and experience becomes impactful then, because the whole experience of staying and building connections was also.”

“The interaction and real relationships you can build through the hour and days. This allows paired work/group work if needed. In a nice way they are more accountable on the day and therefore more engaged.”

“The onsite experience allows a dynamic interaction between the tutor and the students. They interact with each other and raise further areas of theory, exam questions, and practicals that require more detailed revision. Furthermore, many companies are moving to online only teaching, but those that give the ‘real teaching and learning experience’ will stand out, and this is because many students have stated, categorically, that they prefer the onsite courses.”

��“Personal attention, quick feedback, immediate assessment of student work and also, students become more comfortable and confident in asking their questions.”

��“In-person centre teaching is really effective because it allows for direct interaction, stronger engagement, and fewer distractions. Teachers can immediately respond to students’ questions, read body language, and adjust their explanations to ensure understanding. A physical classroom also creates a structured environment that helps students stay focused and motivated. In addition, face-to-face learning encourages collaboration and meaningful relationships between students and teachers, which enhances both academic progress and personal development.”

��“In my experience students and parents want more emphasis on face to face rather than digitisation. The value of human interaction in education is important . Often employers don’t have what business needs, namely, good communicators, team workers and creative thinkers. These are practised and developed by students in in-centre courses. In my experience a main reason why parents select in- centre courses is that they are concerned about students sitting with their eyes glued to screens.”

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What to revise

Exams mean learning lot of facts but don’t overdo it! Download the specification for free from the exam board for the subjects you are revising for. This will simply state the topics you need to know and list what you need to know about them making your life a lot simpler. Before you start revising, use the traffic light system to “RAG” the spec. Write G (green) next to the topics you are fine with, “R” (red) next to the ones that you have the most trouble with and “A” (amber) next to ones in between. Revise the Red and Ambre topics first! If you can’t find your spec – ask your teacher and they’ll be happy to help.

Revision Mind Maps

A mainstay of science and geography teachers, this technique can be used to quickly sum up and link topics, facts or figures in any subject.

Here’s how it works: Start by drawing a bubble with a topic in it, in the middle of a page for a topic that you are trying to revise e.g. “oil” for GCSE chemistry. Draw a line from that bubble to another bubble and write the name of that linked topic in the new bubble. Fill the new bubble with the facts you need to remember, try to write in short bullet points not in full sentences to fit as much information as possible in a single page. Don’t worry about being messy.

Try colouring in the bubbles to group similar ideas. Nearer the exam time you can remake these mind maps with just the information you keep forgetting to store it in your short term memory, helping you to revise more effectively.

Mind Palaces

Made famous by Sherlock Holmes, in fact this “method of loci” was developed by the ancient Greeks and is popular for memory artists at the circus to remember any facts or figures.

To use it: Imagine a building you know very well with lots of familiar rooms and cupboards. Start by walking through the front door in your imagination and commit an item you want to remember to each room by forming an image between the item and any feature of that room. To remember the “fact”” simply walk through the room. When you get better at it – start using the cupboard too!

Make it fun. Turn it into a competition with your friends to see how many facts you can remember in a short time.

Mnemonics

Whether you’re revising for GCSEs or A Levels,��mnemonics provide a��catchy way to remember very boring facts… take your pick from*:

• Physics – My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets: Take the first letter of each word, to get the first letter of the planets, in order. Of course now Pluto is no longer a planet this one is slightly outdated – but hard to beat!
• Biology – Kids Playing Carelessly On Freeways Get Squashed: Otherwise known as the scientific classification of the species: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
• Geography – Never Eat Shredded Wheat – Simple, but effective, this first letter mnemonic helps students to remember the cardinal points of the compass, in order.
• Chemistry – please (K) send (Na) Charlie’s (Ca) monkeys (Mg) and zebras (Zn) in copper (Cu) cages lined (Pb) with gold (Au) – an easy way to remember the order of the most reactive metals of the reactivity series (metal symbols show in brackets.

For more mnemonics, take a look at this article:

Revision Card Games

Make a game of it with friends or family. Make revision cards together (sticky post it notes work well) summarizing the most important features of a topic on each card. Screw them up, put them in a hat and pull them out at random – make a question up based on the card you have pulled out and get the other person to guess what was on the card.

Troublesome cards can be used as “toilet post cards”. Stick them to the wall and glance at them until they become familiar.

Pp’s Ms and COWs

If you don’t know where to start, pull out a past paper (pp) (they are free to down load from all exam boards as are the mark schemes) and try it. Don’t worry about getting a low score at the start. The more you do the better you will get. Correct your own work (COW) using the examiners mark scheme (ms) in a colour that stands out. Try to make new mistakes each time by creating a mind map of your previous mistakes.

Other Revision Ideas

If you are looking for something else, try downloading the free examiners report attached to mark schemes on the exam board’s website. These have interesting comments stating what most students missed out on whilst answering key Questions.

Start early and use whatever technique works best for you. Don’t be afraid of being different. Have fun with it, the more you do the better your grades will be.

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