Your specification (also known as the 'spec' or syllabus) can help with exam revision. In the specification document you can find out what you are expected to have learnt and the skills you should have developed while working through the subject content. This will help you understand what is being assessed in your exams and controlled assessment.

There are a number of options for GCSE History, so each school will have a different combination of topics, but as an example, if you are studying Medicine Through Time, you may want to split up your mind maps into these categories:This is exactly why, when you are revising for your History GCSE exams, you don’t cram. Cramming never works in situations where a student needs to not only remember knowledge but understand it in a way that they can utilise their knowledge in a meaningful extended exam answer.

If you are wanting the short answer to the question of “What is the Pomodoro technique?”, here it is: Colour coding can be incredibly useful if done right. However, it is important to remember that you can’t rely on it as your only revision technique. It should be an addition to your flashcards, notes or mind maps. 4. Get an Easy to Digest GCSE History Revision Guide The Pomodoro technique is a method of either working, revising or studying where you assign yourself a specific “Work Duration” and then a subsequent “Rest Duration”. For example, if you set your work duration as 45 minutes and then your rest duration as 15 minutes, you would work for 45 minutes and then you would rest for 15 minutes, this would repeat itself in a cycle for however long you are revising for. For new specifications where there are no past papers, we provide specimen papers and mark schemes. The truth is, History is such a vast subject, there is no time too early to start your revision. This does not mean that you need to be testing yourself on all of the information all the way through your two-year course, but making your revision resources as you go through each topic is a really good idea. This will ensure that you are always on top of your resources, which will help you avoid that last-minute panic before your exams start!However, you must make sure that you are extremely organised, especially when mixing techniques. It is hugely beneficial to have a variation, but you need to be sure that you don’t end up with a set of flashcards, a timeline, and a mind map on the exact same pieces of information, as this would be a huge waste of your time! 8. YouTube is Free and Will Assist You Massively with Your GCSE History Revision Therefore, cramming isn’t the solution – take frequent, yet short breaks during your revision sessions. There are many formats you can do this in, however, many students like to follow the advice drawn out in the Pomodoro technique, which you can read more about here. This free online revision course includes Mary Queen of Scots, the Revolt of the Northern Earls, the Spanish Armada, Sir Walter Raleigh, colonisation and much more. Edexcel iGCSE Even when watching quality, trusted content on YouTube, it is important to remember that there is not a single pathway to success when revising GCSE History. You do have to vary your techniques, so don’t get caught in the trap of just watching YouTube videos as your only work for GCSE History exams.