Trinity Church of England School
Secondary
Exams and Revision
Preparing with confidence
Exam information, practical guidance and revision strategies to help pupils prepare effectively.
Assessments and examinations are an important part of Secondary school, but successful preparation is not about last minute cramming.
At Trinity, pupils are encouraged to build good habits over time, revisit important knowledge regularly, practise applying what they know and ask for help when they need it.
Prepare steadily, not suddenly: regular revision, effective routines and asking for support early can help pupils approach assessments with greater confidence.
PPEs and assessments
PPEs, or pre public examinations, help pupils practise the routines and expectations of formal examinations.
They give pupils opportunities to experience exam conditions, practise managing their time, identify what they know securely and recognise where further revision may be needed.
PPEs also help teachers understand where pupils may need further teaching, practice or support.
Preparing effectively
Good revision begins with a realistic plan.
Pupils should start early enough to revisit topics several times rather than trying to cover everything immediately before an assessment.
Build a revision routine
A revision timetable can help pupils decide what to study and when.
A useful plan should be realistic, identify particular subjects or topics and include time for breaks, exercise, meals and rest.
Shorter regular sessions can be more manageable than trying to complete several hours of revision at once.
Retrieval practice and flashcards
Effective revision involves trying to bring knowledge back from memory rather than simply reading notes repeatedly.
Pupils can answer questions, complete quizzes, explain a topic aloud, cover their notes and write down what they remember, or ask somebody to test them.
Flashcards can also support retrieval. Questions can be written on one side and answers on the other. Cards pupils find difficult should be revisited more frequently, while secure knowledge can be reviewed less often.
Spaced practice and interleaving
Spaced practice means spreading revision over time and returning regularly to previous learning.
Interleaving means revisiting different topics or types of questions rather than spending a very long period working on only one area.
A well planned revision timetable can help pupils use both approaches.
Visuals, examples and deeper thinking
Different approaches can help pupils organise and understand knowledge.
Diagrams, timelines, symbols, mind maps and labelled drawings can be used alongside written information to help pupils make connections.
Worked examples, model answers and past paper questions can help pupils see how knowledge is applied.
Pupils can also strengthen understanding by asking questions such as: Why does this happen? How does this connect with something I already know? How would I explain this to somebody else?
Focused revision sessions
Some pupils find it useful to divide revision into short periods of focused work followed by brief breaks.
One approach is the Pomodoro method: 25 minutes of focused revision followed by a 5 minute break, repeated several times before taking a longer break.
The important principle is to use revision time purposefully while allowing regular opportunities to rest and reset.
Families can help
Parents and carers do not need to become subject experts to support effective revision.
Families can help pupils establish realistic routines, identify somewhere suitable to study where possible, encourage regular breaks and ask pupils to explain what they have been learning.
Encouraging pupils to start early and seek help when they are unsure can be particularly valuable.
Wellbeing during exams
Examination periods can feel demanding. Preparing carefully should sit alongside looking after physical and emotional wellbeing.
Pupils should aim to get enough sleep, eat properly, stay active, take appropriate breaks and avoid trying to revise throughout the night.
If a pupil is worried or feels overwhelmed, they should speak to a trusted adult rather than trying to manage the concern alone.
Support in school
Teachers will guide pupils on what to revise, which resources to use and how to prepare for assessments in their subjects.
Pupils should speak to their subject teacher if they are unsure about content or revision. They can also speak to their Family Group Leader, Head of Year or another trusted adult if they need wider support.
Looking beyond Year 11
Examinations are an important milestone, but they are also part of a wider journey.
Alongside preparing for GCSEs, pupils are supported to consider their Post 16 choices and the pathways available beyond Trinity.
Contact us
For questions about examinations, assessments or revision, please contact the school office and your enquiry will be directed to the appropriate member of staff.
Secondary Phase: Trinity Secondary, Taunton Road, Lee, London, SE12 8PD
Telephone: 020 8852 3191
Email: admin@trinity.lewisham.sch.uk
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Trinity
Primary
Leahurst Road,
London,
SE13 5HZ
Secondary
Taunton Road, Lee,
London,
SE12 8PD