O Level Physics Revision Plan: 4 Weeks to Exam Day

Week 1: Find your weak topics

• Do one short topical practice set for every chapter, about 20 to 30 minutes each.
• Mark them strictly and rank the chapters from weakest to strongest.
• Start an error log: for every mark you drop, write the question, what you wrote, the correct answer, and why you got it wrong (didn't know it, careless, misread the question, ran out of time).

By the end of the week you should have a short list of 3 to 5 chapters to focus on, instead of "revise everything".

Week 2: Fix the weak chapters

• Work through your weakest chapters first, one or two a day.
• For each one, relearn the key formulas, definitions and common traps. Our free chapter cheatsheets, listed below, cover all of these.
• Redo the questions from your error log for that chapter. If you get them right now, move on.

Week 3: Full timed papers

• Do at least two full papers under real exam timing, in one sitting, with no notes.
• Mark them against the marking scheme as strictly as an examiner would. A correct number without a unit is wrong.
• Add every dropped mark to your error log. By now, look for patterns: are you losing marks to the same mistake again and again?

Week 4: Consolidate, don't cram

• Revise your definitions list and formula list every day. Short, frequent sessions beat long ones.
• Go through your whole error log once more.
• Do short sets of mixed MCQ to stay sharp, rather than starting new full papers.
• Sleep properly. A tired brain makes exactly the careless errors you've spent three weeks removing.

The night before

• Pack your calculator (check the battery), pens, pencils, eraser, ruler and protractor.
• Skim your definitions and formula list once. Then stop.
• No new topics. If you haven't learned it by now, one night won't change it, but losing sleep will cost you marks everywhere else.

On exam day

• Read every question fully before answering. Underline command words and units.
• Skip a hard question and come back to it rather than losing time.
• Leave 5 minutes at the end to check units, significant figures and unanswered parts.

For more on the small habits that protect marks, read our 10 O Level Physics exam tips.

For parents

You don't need to know Physics to help. Help your child stick to the plan, protect their sleep in the final week, and ask them to explain one topic to you each day. If they can explain it simply, they understand it.

Frequently asked questions