Revising for your A Levels? A structured revision timetable will make all the different to your performance. A well-planned schedule reduces stress, improves retention, and boosts exam results.

But many students don’t know where to start when creating an A Level revision timetable. How can you fit in all the content you need to learn whilst still leaving time for past paper practice – and without burning yourself out?

Our guide draws on the latest research in education psychology to provide a proven, step-by-step approach to creating an effective revision timetable.

Why You Need an A Level Revision Timetable

  • Helps manage workload efficiently
  • Ensures all subjects and topics are covered
  • Reduces last-minute cramming and stress
  • Encourages a healthy work-life balance

Supercharge Your A Level Revision

At Dukes Plus, we are fascinated by learning and are always looking for ways to help students achieve the very best results. Our team of straight-A tutors and staff members use the science of learning to help students supercharge their revision. Here are three techniques based in research by educational psychologists you should bear in mind while revising:

Make it Tricky for Yourself

The most effective study techniques require the brain to put in effort to remember information (see the research of Robert Bjork on ‘desirable difficulty’, 1994). This means you should engage actively with material and use cued recall tasks rather than simply re-reading your notes and highlighting information. Doing this will cut your revision time in half.

Mix it Up

Instead of planning to revise subjects in big blocks, plan to revise topics in shorter bursts of around one hour. Rohrer’s research (2012) shows that ‘interleaved’ revision significantly improves recall and memorisation, so make sure to switch between topics/types of problems rather than revising all of one topic in a block then moving onto the next. We recommend you try to touch on every topic/subject every week and revisit harder topics more often.

Use Multiple Types of Information

The most widely accepted model of human memory (Baddeley, 1974) separates language-based memory from visual-based memory. Combining these two types of memory – or ‘dual coding’ – in your approach to learning a topic can transform your understanding and retention (Mayer and Anderson, 1992). Alongside writing out long-form notes, try drawing out a topic as a mind-map or recording yourself discussing the subject in auditory form.

How to Plan Your A Level Revision Timetable

Assess Your Subjects and Topics

The first step is to list all your subjects and break them down into topics. Use the syllabus or specification from your exam board to help you.

Then, consider each of these topics and how easy or difficult you find it. Perhaps there are some that are instantly familiar, others that you know you struggle with, and some that you barely remember studying in class!
You might want to colour code these topics with a traffic light system:

  • Green: requires moderate revision
  • Amber: requires significant revision
  • Red: requires extensive revision

This is vital because when we come to the next step, you will need to know which topics will need the most time in your A Level revision timetable.

Work Out Your Available Study Time

Now you need to work out how many study sessions you have before your exams:

  1. Count the number of days / weeks before your exams. We recommend beginning A Level revision 3-4 months before your A Levels.
  2. Work out how many hours you will study per day / week. This will vary depending on how easy you find it to retain and recall information, and it will also depend on whether you are at school, in the holidays, or on study leave. For periods where you are out of school, 4-6 hours per day is a good guide. Any less and you are unlikely to cover all the content, any more and you risk burnout, which is highly counter-productive. It can be useful to take a day off revising every week to recharge.
  3. Calculate how many sessions per day you will study for. As mentioned above, shorter sessions of one hour or less tend to be more effective.

You should now be able to work out how many revision sessions you have before your exams. For instance:

6 weeks at school x 6 days per week x 2 hours per day = 72 sessions.

8 weeks on holiday / study leave x 5 hours per day x 6 days per week = 240 sessions.

72 + 240 = a total of 312 sessions.

If you’re taking 3 A Levels, each with ten topics, that works out at just over 10 hours per topic. This can be flexed up or down depending on how tricky you find the topic.

Remember, though, that this time also needs to include past paper practice – which should take up at least ¼ of your revision time.

Choose a Timetable Format That Works for You

If you want to design a digital timetable, various tools are available – from the simplest, like Microsoft Excel, to calendar apps like Google Calendar, or more sophisticated software, like Notion.

An A Level revision timetable can be a more traditional affair, though. Hand-drawn timetables or conventional planners usually work just as well. The most important thing is that your timetable is clear, well structured, and easy to follow – spending lots of time perfecting your design in an app is time that probably could be better spent revising.

Structuring Your Timetable

When it comes to allocating particular slots in your A Level revision timetable, there are a few things to consider.

Start with some self-reflection

  • Figure out what length of session works best for you. Most students work best in shorter bursts of up to an hour.
  • Do you work better focusing on one subject for longer or mixing it up? It’s usually more effective to practise ‘interleaved’ revision, which involves switching between different topics throughout the day. The majority of students also find it best to have a mixture of harder and easier subjects in a day.

Incorporate Regular Breaks

This is absolutely crucial. Your timetable should explicitly include the breaks you’re going to take between sessions. We recommend you follow a structured study-rest schedule (e.g. 50-minute sessions with 10-minute breaks). Over time your brain will learn to work effectively in this pattern, and you won’t burn out.

Adapting and Improving Your Timetable

Your A Level revision timetable is not something you design in the first week of March and stick to for the next 3 months. You need to regularly review and adjust the timetable based on the progress you have made in your revision, allocating more time to topics that are slower-going than expected, and shaving off sessions from those where you’re making great headway.

For this reason, we recommend setting your timetable one week at a time: for instance, on Sunday afternoon for the week ahead.

Tracking your progress through regular self-testing (e.g. with flashcards) and later with past papers is absolutely crucial here. Remember, stay flexible and don’t stress over minor setbacks.

Have a Clear Plan for Each Session

To ensure you work productively, every session in your timetable should include at least:

  • The subject you are studying
  • The topic you are going to cover

Preferably, it will also include a specific task you will do to revise this topic. For instance, ‘Create flashcards on photosynthesis and test myself’ or ‘Answer differentiation questions from 2018-21 past papers, check answers against mark scheme’.

Doing this will prevent you from wasting 5-10 minutes every sessions deciding what to do. It will also make sure your revision is structured and purposive.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Revision Planning

  • Overloading the timetable with too many hours
  • Ignoring breaks and rest periods
  • Sticking rigidly to the plan without flexibility
  • Focusing only on favourite subjects
  • Forgetting to incorporate past paper practice

Example: A Day-Long A-Level Revision Plan (Chemistry, Biology and Maths)

Morning Sessions

9:00 – 9:50 AM: Chemistry (Organic Chemistry – Reaction Mechanisms)

  • Draw reaction mechanisms (flowcharts and annotated diagrams).
  • Use colour coding and flashcards to highlight key reagents and conditions.

9:50 – 10:00 AM: Break (stretch, drink water).

10:00 – 10:50 AM: Biology (Photosynthesis and Respiration)

  • Review your textbook while making flashcards on key subtopics.
  • Repeat key concepts out loud as if explaining to a friend.

10:50 – 11:00 AM: Break (fresh air, grab a snack).

11:00 – 11:50 AM: Maths (Differentiation and Integration)

  • Timed past paper questions on differentiation and integration.
  • Review your answers in the mark scheme, noting any areas that need further work.

12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch + 20-Minute Walk

  • Eat a nutritious meal to refuel.
  • Take a walk outside and refresh your mind.

Afternoon Sessions

1:00 – 1:50 PM: Chemistry (Exam-Style Questions)

  • Complete exam-style questions on organic chemistry.
  • Summarise key points into a single A4 sheet (compressed notes).

1:50 – 2:00 PM: Break (cup of tea, relax).

2:00 – 2:50 PM: Biology (Spaced Repetition and Quick Recall)

  • Use flashcards and self-quizzing for photosynthesis and respiration.
  • Write out key concepts from memory, then check accuracy.

2:50 – 3:00 PM: Break (light stretching).

3:00 – 3:50 PM: Maths (Mixed-Topic Problem Solving)

  • Work through a set of mixed difficulty past paper questions.
  • Review any challenging topics in your notes / textbook

4 PM Onwards: Decompress and Relax!

  • Revision done – now it’s time to relax and recharge!
  • Having  a fun activity planned for the end of the day can be a great motivator and help you stick to your timetable.

Download Our A Level Revision Timetable Template

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How Can Dukes Plus Help?

Our A Level tutors are subject experts with years of experience helping students revise for their A Levels. That’s one of the reasons why 100% of our A Level students meet or exceed their predicted grades.

They can help you plan your revision, support you with challenging topics/subjects, mark practice exams and provide feedback, and advise on exam technique.

Book a free tutoring consultation with to get matched with the ideal A Level tutor for you.

Book a Free Tutoring Consultation

To be matched with the ideal A Level tutor to support your revision, book a free consultation with our friendly team today.

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FAQs

The ideal amount of revision varies from student to student. It will depend on how easily you retain and recall information. Whether you are currently in school full-time, in the holidays, or on study leave will also make a difference.

As a rough guide:

  • Early in revision (3+ months before exams): 2-3 hours per day.
  • Midway through (1–3 months before exams): 4-5 hours per day.
  • Final weeks (last month before exams): 5-7 hours per day, with regular breaks.

Remember, though, that quality matters more than quantity – active recall, past papers, and spaced repetition are key to effective revision.

It’s best to revise at least three topics per day to keep your brain engaged and reinforce learning through interleaving. Avoid spending the entire day on one subject unless absolutely necessary. A good approach is:

  • 2-3 focused topics/subjects in a short revision session (e.g., weekends, busy school days).
  • 3-5 topics/subjects in longer revision sessions (e.g., holidays or study leave). Varying topics and study methods will help with retention and prevent burnout.

For challenging subjects, use a combination of effective study techniques:

Active recall: Test yourself rather than passively reading notes.

Spaced repetition: Revisit tough topics more frequently. The Leitner Box Technique can be very useful.

Visual aids: Mind maps, diagrams, and flashcards can simplify complex concepts.

Teach it: Explain the topic to a friend or record yourself teaching it aloud.

Past papers: Review past papers, mark schemes, and examiners’ reports. Identify common question patterns and improve exam technique.

If a subject remains particularly tough, consider seeking extra help from a tutor or teacher.

Ideally, you should begin structured revision at least 3-4 months before your exams. However, effective revision is about consistency rather than cramming. A rough timeline:

  • 3-4 months before: Start a structured revision plan. Prepare revision notes and flashcards. Make sure to test yourself with active recall and practice questions – don’t just passively read over your noes.
  • 1-2 months before: Increase past paper practice and focus on weak areas.
  • Final weeks: Intensive review, refining exam technique, and practising under timed conditionsq

Falling behind is common, so don’t panic! To catch up:

  • Prioritise weak topics. It can be tempting to focus on things you find easy because this makes you feel good! Interleaving tough topics with easier ones is the best method to make progress.
  • Rework your timetable. Your A Level revision timetable should be flexible. Add in extra sessions for the most high-priority topics and cut down on others.
  • Past paper review can help you focus your revision by identifying the types of questions examiners tend to ask. But don’t try to ‘predict’ what will be on your particular exam and avoid revising other topics – this can go very wrong!

Avoid burnout – don’t try to overcompensate by cutting out breaks or sleep.

It depends on your personal preference:

Online planners are great for flexibility and easy rescheduling. They can even send you reminders to keep you on track. Many students can also design a digital planner just as quickly as a physical one.

Paper planners are better for those who focus better when writing things down. There’s no risk of screen distractions and you can get  a deeply satisfying sense of accomplishment when you physically cross off a task – you can’t replicate this with software!