How to get grade 9s in GCSE Science

Grade 9 is the highest you can achieve for GCSE Science. But how do you reach that top grade? Here's a strategy.

There are 4 steps in this process:

Learn, Revise, Practise, Review.

But in order to benefit from this plan you have to give yourself enough time. Cramming at the last minute might get you a pass or a grade that is not too bad, but to get those top level grades, you need to work consistently - not constantly, consistently.

Step 1 - Learn the content 🧬

It is very important that you use your specification, or a checklist written from the specification, to make sure you have learned everything you need to. Read more about using the specification in this blog.

Ensure you understand every lesson. If you miss or don't grasp a lesson, catch up. Ask your teacher if you don't understand something, or use resources like YouTube and revision guides. Understanding aids memory, making revision easier.

Keep track of your learning

Keep track of the lessons you've covered to avoid repetition and missing topics. If you have a printed specification, mark it off as you go. For a pre-made AQA GCSE science checklist with revision statements and YouTube links, click here. Click 'make a copy', rename it, and you're set. A Gmail account is required (not shared with us), or download a PDF below.

Step 2 - Revise effectively 📖

When it comes to revision for a test, many students open up a revision guide, start reading and assume that they are revising. Some go a step further and copy text. The thing is, both of these may feel like you are revising but that feeling is usually misleading. If you read something and feel you understand it, that is good, but it doesn't mean you will necessarily remember it. They key is to make revision active. That means to recall information without looking at your notes or the revision guide. There are different ways to do this. Recalling information is a good way to find out what you can remember and what you have missed.

Try to find the way that works best for you. You must use recall for revision. But the methods you use are up to you. Common ways are:

Flashcards

This is when you have key questions on one side of a card and then answer on the other. You can use these with friends, family member or just by yourself.

Making mind maps

You can make a mind map of key knowledge, but remember the important thing is to be able to remember. So when revising, try to draw out as much of it as possible. Your original mind map can be neat, but when you recall it, it doesn't have to be neat. Use a mini white board or some rough paper which you can recycle afterwards.

Quiz questions

This can be a bit like flash cards but you make or use a list of questions to answer to see how much you can remember.

Step 3 - Practise 📝

This is the next step once you have revised a topic. Students often find applying their knowledge difficult and the exams will have a lot of application questions. The best way to get good at these is to practise. Use topic tests and past papers. Practising is very important - it gives you an idea of key terminology to use, what questions are asking you to do and also how to be concise.

Step 4 - Review 📈

The key to achieving higher grades is using mark schemes. They provide correct answers, alternative phrasing, and common mistakes. By noting your errors, such as missing key words or misreading questions, you can gradually improve your exam technique. Small improvements accumulate over time, leading to significant progress. Don't underestimate the power of incremental gains. 💪🏼

If you carefully follow these four steps, you will get better and using a little and often approach is going to be the best way.

You can subscribe to our structure learning programme which gives you a plan, video lesson, practice exam questions for every lesson and newly aded for 2025, whole topic revision videos with topic tests and topic revision guides - concise and to-the-spec.

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Not sure?

Revision Tracker

Nevermind, here is a free, ready made system for doing the above. The spreadsheet has titles, links, check boxes and a notes section to help take the work out of building a revision tracking system. Grab a copy that has all of the below for AQA GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics! You own central place to plan and do your revision*.

Click below to get your copy

A google spreadsheet - click 'copy' when prompted and rename as you wish.

PDF - Save and/or print

* Please note, the checklist gives you a revision structure for the whole course. Access is free to video lessons for paper 1. A subscription to the website will give you access to all the videos to all of paper 1 and paper 2, plus notes templates, exam questions and answers. Click here to see details.

Also, visit us from a ton of free stuff and quick links to past papers.