How to get all 9s in your GCSEs: Our top tips to smash your exams!

Getting a grade 9 at GCSE  level in one subject is an incredible achievement but to do so in all subjects is something else! In 2023 this was achieved by 0.02 per cent of students in the UK (Gov.uk), roughly four students in every average-sized school. To get a grade 9 in all your subjects you must be the number one student in all your classes. 

How are GCSE exam grades awarded?

Once all GCSE exams have been marked, exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel, CIE and OCR award grades based upon the percentage of students they want to achieve each grade. No matter how easy or hard an exam, or how many marks students obtain, roughly 5 per cent will be awarded a grade 9 (Statista). So if you get a score of 90 per cent in an exam you do not automatically get a grade 9. However, if the exam was particularly difficult, a score of 55 per cent may be enough for that coveted grade 9. It all depends on how everyone taking the exam performs compared to one another.

Top tips for gaining top marks

We are all born with different skills and there are many factors involved in exam success, but by focusing on your thirst for knowledge and love of learning, trying your best and following the advice in the tips below, you will be on the road to your goal of straight 9s.

Set clear goals for each subject

No matter how early you start your exam revision you will not be able to cover all your subject content for all your exams. So, to achieve all 9s at GCSE, it's essential to set clear and specific goals for each subject. Identify your strengths and weaknesses to focus on areas that need improvement. For instance, you don’t need to make flashcards for words you already know, and if you know that you struggle with exam technique, use practice exam questions to improve your grades. Likewise, focus on those subjects and topics where you lack confidence, rather than those in which you feel confident.

Create a realistic study schedule

Develop a study schedule that allows you to dedicate enough time to each subject weekly. Think about when your exams are for different subjects. It is best to focus on your first exams initially and your final ones towards the end of your study period, though you shouldn’t leave some subjects until after others have been completed. It is all about getting the balance right between your revision goals and when your exams are. 

Make sure to schedule regular breaks to avoid burnout and stay motivated. Using the Pomodoro Technique can help with this. This involves revising for 25 minutes and then taking a five-minute break. Every two hours, you then take a longer 20-minute break. Depending on how you prefer to work, it can be a good idea to spend one two-hour section on one subject and then change to the next. The worst thing you can do is get bored, confused or tired by a subject. This throws all your hard work out of the window.

When creating your schedule allow time for meals with your family, plenty of sleep, exercise, fun with friends and watching TV. Don’t forget to leave rest time the night or morning before and the night after an exam. Follow this step-by-step guide to create your revision timetable. 

Use effective study techniques

Everyone’s brains work differently. Are you a visual learner? An auditory learner? Or a kinesthetic learner? Take this quiz at educationplanner.org to find out. Now you can figure out the study techniques that will work best for you.

• Visual learners: use lots of colours and diagrams in your revision notes and flashcards

• Auditory learners: record yourself reading out your notes and listen to them over, watch videos (many of the revision note pages on Save My Exams now include videos)

• Kinesthetic learners: make models, complete tasks in different places around the house, discuss your revision with others

Experiment with different study techniques, such as flashcards, mind mapping and practice exams, to find what works best for you. Active revision methods can help enhance your understanding and retention of topics.

Seek help and collaborate

You have created a great schedule, but the biggest challenge is sticking to it. If you are stuck with something it can be tempting to persevere and sit there until you figure it out. While this may be satisfying, it can sometimes take a long time. Contact your friends, tutors or teachers if you have been dwelling on a problem for a while. Collaborating with others can provide new insights and ways of thinking, enabling you to grasp more difficult concepts.

You can save even more time by writing a list of questions before asking someone for help. 

Improve your exam technique

You gain marks in your exam for answering exam questions correctly, so you must spend time solving past paper questions and checking your answers with the exam board mark scheme. Practise reading exam questions carefully and doing what is required to gain the marks. Don’t just write down everything you can think of related to a topic. The examiner is after specific information and insights to award you the marks..

More information on exam techniques can be found here. 

Stay motivated and positive

Enjoying your revision and staying motivated is pivotal to achieving all grades 9s at GCSE. If you are having a good time then revision will feel less like a chore. Maintain your motivation by reminding yourself why you want to achieve all 9s. Celebrate small victories and stay focused on your goals throughout the study process. Think about how you will enjoy your time once the exams are finished and enjoy these thoughts when your revision gets tough. Plan a nice meal with family or go out with friends. 

Use subject-specific strategies

Each subject is assessed differently, and different types of examination require particular approaches to revision. For example, in mathematics, learning keywords and equations is a smaller part of the revision process, while completing practice questions is essential to improve your confidence with a method before moving on to exam questions. To prepare for your English language exams, you will need to practise writing as much as possible, focusing on longer written questions, so you meet all the criteria. Subjects that involve lots of information such as physics, geography or history will require you to use flashcards and quick-response questions to check you know the key facts before you can answer exam questions.

You can use these subject-specific guides that give advice on how to achieve a grade 9:

• https://www.savemyexams.com/guides/revision/how-to-achieve-grade-9-gcse-english-language/

• https://www.savemyexams.com/gcse/english-literature/how-to-get-9-in-gcse-english-literature/

• https://www.savemyexams.com/gcse/english-language/how-to-get-9-in-gcse-english-language/

• https://www.savemyexams.com/gcse/biology/how-to-get-a-9-in-biology-gcse/

• https://www.savemyexams.com/gcse/chemistry/how-to-get-a-9-in-gcse-chemistry/

• https://www.savemyexams.com/gcse/maths/how-to-get-a-9-in-gcse-maths/

Set Yourself Up for GCSE Success

Enjoying your revision, maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough sleep will set you up nicely to complete lots of effective revision and practice, and to succeed in your exams. Create a suitable study schedule that takes into account the time required and your goals for each subject. Prioritise your weakest topics and subjects, and allow time for exam practice. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and teachers for help, and be sure to use the GCSE section of the Save My Exams website. 

Signing up for a subscription provides unlimited access to all the exam-specific revision notes for all your courses. You can also view the mark schemes for all the practice questions and watch all the revision videos.