How to Revise for Science Mocks (Bio, Chem and Physics)
How to revise for science mocks: print your exam board's specification, tick off what you've covered, turn every definition, equation and required practical into flashcards, then practice past-paper questions topic by topic. Give it about two weeks, do biology, chemistry and physics in rotation, and quiz yourself instead of rereading.
If your science problem is that you learn a topic, move on, and forget it by the time the paper comes around, FlashDeck turns your notes into cards and resurfaces only what you're about to forget: Build my study plan.
What science mocks test
GCSE science (UK) is basically three subjects in a trench coat. Whether you do combined science or triple, your mock papers will hit three types of question:
- Recall (AO1): Define it, name it, state it. Pure memory.
- Apply (AO2): Use what you know in a new context. Calculations, unfamiliar examples, interpreting a graph.
- Analyze and evaluate (AO3): Look at data or a method and judge it. "Suggest an improvement," "evaluate the conclusion."
Recall is the easiest to revise and the easiest to lose marks on. A missed definition is a free mark you left on the table. That's why flashcards matter so much for science: they make the recall marks automatic, so your brain has space for the harder questions.
Start from the specification
This is the step almost nobody does, and it's the one that makes the biggest difference.
Your exam board (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) publishes a specification: the official list of everything that can come up. Search "[your board] combined science specification" or "[your board] GCSE biology specification" and grab the PDF.
Then:
- Ask your teacher which topics are on your mock (schools often cut the content for mocks).
- Go through the spec and mark each point: green (I could explain it now), amber (sort of), red (what is this).
- Revise red and amber first. Green gets a quick flashcard check.
Higher vs foundation
Check which tier you're sitting. Higher tier has extra content (marked "HT only" on AQA specs). Don't waste time on it if you're on foundation, and don't skip it if you're on higher.
Cards for definitions, equations and practicals
Science is full of short facts that are perfect card material. Here's what to put on cards, with examples.
Definitions
- Front: "What is diffusion?" / Back: "The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration."
- Front: "What is an isotope?" / Back: "Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons."
Learn the wording your mark scheme uses. Examiners are picky about key words like "net movement."
Equations
Physics equations are a big chunk of marks. Front: "Equation linking power, energy and time." Back: "P = E / t." Also add a card for the units. Full list in GCSE physics equations to learn.
Chemistry has its own calculation cards: relative formula mass, concentration, and (for higher) moles.
Required practicals
AQA calls them required practicals, and questions about them turn up often. For each one, make cards for:
- The aim ("What does the osmosis practical investigate?")
- Variables (independent, dependent, control)
- Key method steps in order
- Common errors and improvements
Four cards per practical, and you're covered for most of the method questions.
Making cards for three sciences without losing your mind
Here's the honest problem: one deck per science, dozens of topics each, and you're supposed to remember which cards you missed last Thursday. Doing that on paper is where most people fall off.
FlashDeck does the making and the remembering. Paste your science notes, or upload a PDF of your revision guide pages (up to 20 pages), and it writes one question-and-answer card per fact, definition or formula, using only what you pasted. Each day it shows only the cards you're about to forget, and it tracks learned, due and missed cards per deck. Build my study plan
Past-paper questions by topic
Full past papers are great in the final week. Before that, do questions by topic. Search "[topic] exam questions [your board]" and you'll find topic-sorted collections on free revision sites.
The routine:
- Do 5 to 10 questions on one topic, timed.
- Mark them with the mark scheme. Be strict.
- Any fact you didn't know goes on a new card.
- Any question you got wrong gets redone two days later.
People on Reddit asking "how to revise science GCSE" get the same answer again and again: past papers plus mark schemes. They're right, but only once you've got the facts in your head first. Otherwise you're just discovering what you don't know over and over.
A 2-week science mock plan
Around 45 to 60 minutes a day. Rotate so no science gets ignored.
| Day | Main session | Daily cards |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Spec checklist for all three, make cards for red topics | Start reviewing |
| 3 | Biology red topics + topic questions | 10 min |
| 4 | Chemistry red topics + topic questions | 10 min |
| 5 | Physics red topics + equations | 10 min |
| 6 | Required practicals (all three) | 10 min |
| 7 | Rest or light cards only | 10 min |
| 8 | Biology amber topics + questions | 10 min |
| 9 | Chemistry amber topics + calculations | 10 min |
| 10 | Physics amber topics + calculations | 10 min |
| 11 | One timed paper (your weakest science) | 10 min |
| 12 | Mark it, fix gaps, make new cards | 10 min |
| 13 | Mixed 6-mark questions from all three | 10 min |
| 14 | Cards only, early night | 10 min |
Got just one day for chemistry? We made an emergency plan to revise chemistry GCSE in one day.
How to revise for maths mocks and English mocks alongside science
- Maths mocks: mostly practice questions, with a small card deck for formulas you must know.
- English mocks: quotes and context on cards for Literature, timed writing practice for Language.
The broader plan across all subjects is in our guide to the best way to revise for GCSE mocks.
Triple vs combined science
- Combined science (sometimes called "trilogy" on AQA) gives you two GCSEs. It covers less content per science, with shorter papers.
- Triple science (separate biology, chemistry and physics) gives you three GCSEs with more content: extra topics and extra practicals in each.
What changes for revision:
- Triple students have more content, so start earlier and lean harder on cards.
- Combined students often get mixed papers where a single question pulls from different topics. Mixed practice matters more.
- Both need the same method: spec first, cards for facts, questions for application.
Start your science mock cards in the next minute
Knowing how to revise for science mocks is one thing; remembering what you revised in week one is the hard part. Paste your biology, chemistry or physics notes into FlashDeck, get a deck in seconds, and spend about ten minutes a day on only the cards you're about to forget.
FAQ
What's the best way to revise for GCSE combined science?
Start with the specification so you know exactly what's examined, then make flashcards for definitions, equations and required practicals. Practice past-paper questions by topic, and do mixed questions in your final week because combined papers jump between topics. Rotate biology, chemistry and physics so none gets forgotten.
How long should I revise for science mocks?
About two weeks of daily work is enough for most students, at 45 to 60 minutes a day. If you've done very little since Year 10, give yourself three or four. Short daily sessions beat long weekend marathons for remembering facts.
How do I remember science definitions for GCSE?
Put each definition on a flashcard with the question on the front and the exact mark-scheme wording on the back. Say it from memory before flipping, then review missed cards the next day. Key words matter, so check your wording against the mark scheme.
Do I need to know required practicals for my mocks?
Usually yes, if the topic is on your mock. Exam questions often ask about the method, variables, risks or improvements for a practical. Four quick cards per practical (aim, variables, method, errors) cover most of what comes up.
How do people on Reddit revise for GCSE science?
The most common advice is past papers and mark schemes, plus flashcards or blurting for facts. That works well, especially when you learn the facts first and then use past papers to practice applying them. Mark your answers honestly and turn every gap into a new card.