How much revision should students do for A Levels?  

“Students (and parents) shouldn’t underestimate how much revision is required for an A Level exam. Now we’re at the beginning of March, students should be well into revision for exams taking place in May and June. As a guide, a student studying three A Levels should now be completing around 20 hours of revision per week. I encourage students to revise in chunks and build in breaks. They should also front-load revision in case something unexpected happens in the run-up to the exams.” 

What should students be doing to revise for A Levels? 

“Revision needs to be active. Reading through notes is not revising. They need to be doing something with their notes, such as creating flashcards, mind maps, writing sample essays, and identifying gaps in their knowledge. Past papers are essential. They should be practising writing essay plans and essays in exam conditions and then marking them using the marking schemes. Finally, one of the most powerful strategies is teaching someone else. Get your child to teach you something or suggest they set up a study group to revise with friends. The best way to revise something is to teach somebody else.” 

How can parents help with A Level revision?  

“Parents don’t need to be subject experts. Just showing interest is important. Ask what they’re learning and revising. Quiz them on their notes. Parents should also encourage students to keep attending lessons. The most important thing is to go to lessons where they have an expert teacher who can help them.”  

How else can parents support students’ A Level exam preparation? 

“Simple practical steps can make a big difference. Find out exactly when exams are scheduled, and whether they are morning or afternoon exams, and write them on a family calendar. The day before, make sure everything is ready: travel plans confirmed, equipment packed, and alarms set, to avoid any unnecessary stress.” 

Are there any exam rules parents need to be aware of? 

“Exam regulations are strict. Students can’t have electronic devices on them during an exam. Phones must be switched off and left in bags at the front of the exam hall. If a phone goes off, students can be disqualified. Water bottles must have labels removed. Pencil cases must be clear. Pens must be black ink. Watches are not allowed, including analogue watches. Students with exam access arrangements, such as extra time, will already be aware of these provisions.” 

Any final message for parents? 

“A Levels are the hardest exams students will ever do in their entire education. There is so much pressure on students due to the predicted grades for university. The key message for parents is to stay calm, stay interested and help your child build steady, active revision habits. It is going to be hard, but with the right preparation, they can do it!” 

A Level exams will be held between Monday, 11th May and Tuesday, 23rd June 2026. Students should be available for this whole six-week period. Generally, morning exams begin at 9:15 am and afternoon exams at 1:30 pm. Students need to arrive at the exam room at least 15 minutes before the start of the exam. 

A Level Results Day is Thursday, 13th August 2026.