From IGCSE to IB: How We Built Exam Habits That Actually Worked

Getting Started: Organising Notes and Resources

When we first started studying for our IGCSE exams, we didn’t have a perfect system, and it took us a lot of trial and error to figure out what worked for us. The first step that helped us the most was getting our notes in order. Before starting any serious revision, we went through our class notes and handouts to see what was missing. Then, we filled in the gaps using textbooks or reliable websites like Cognito, BBC Bitesize, Save My Exams and Physics and Maths Tutor. This gave us a strong foundation to build our revision on.

Planning That Works: Making Realistic Study Schedules

When you start to feel the exams creeping closer, we think it’s best to make an achievable revision plan. After the January mocks, we sat down and made a simple, realistic study plan. Nothing extreme— just setting a few goals for each day that we thought we could achieve. For instance, Izze and I assigned a different subject to each day for revision. This helped to break down the revision into more manageable chunks. We used specific goals and targets for each day, for example, "Revise 2 Chemistry topics + 1 past paper question" is much more doable than “Study all of Chemistry”. After mocks, we both went through our papers and highlighted the topics we had struggled with, and we prioritised revising those areas first.

Fighting Distractions

After the January mocks, both of us felt like Physics was a bit of a weaker point so we did lots of past papers and gradually saw improvement. At first, it is tough—but over time, you can start to see real progress. However, both of us faced numerous challenges during revision and had to find ways to overcome them. For instance, our phones were major distractions. During study leave, we both used the Flora app to keep off our phones. It worked surprisingly well—you plant a tree when you start a study session, and if you leave the app at any point, your tree dies. We didn’t expect it at first, but the Flora app gave us enough motivation to stay focused. The app also tracks how much you study every day and week, which gave us a sense of accomplishment. We also followed each other on the app and could see each other’s progress, which helped to keep us motivated.

No Last-Minute Panic: Why Past Papers Are Key

Because we had been revising consistently, we didn’t need to do any last-minute cram sessions or pull all-nighters, which made study leave significantly less stressful for both of us. We felt confident in our study methods, which helped us feel prepared for whatever came up on the exams. Something that really paid off for both of us was doing past papers in timed conditions and then marking them ourselves. We felt that knowing what the mark scheme is looking for helped us to know exactly how to answer a given question. We found this especially helpful in the sciences. After doing lots of past papers, we felt familiar with the questions and answers, which made our exams much less stressful.

Breaks Matter: Avoiding Burnout the Smart Way

Another thing we made sure to do was take regular breaks to help us relax in between study sessions. Whether this meant we were spending time outside, playing a sport or reading a good book, scheduling breaks into our revision plans meant that we had more energy during our study sessions and did more meaningful revision, but we also avoided stress and burnout. We weren't mentally drained from excessive revision without breaks, which we both think made a huge difference in our performance.

IB and Beyond: Adapting Good Habits to Bigger Challenges

Now that we are in the IB Diploma Programme, we still use many of the same strategies—just adapted to fit a heavier workload and longer timelines. However, we learned from last year that not every study method will work for everyone, and the exams last year allowed us both to figure out what works for us. We still make monthly and weekly study plans, especially around assessment deadlines and test weeks. We have also continued using active recall through flashcards and quizzes, especially for content-heavy subjects like Biology and History. Timed practice is still a crucial aspect of the IB syllabus, especially for essay-based subjects. Whether it’s for English Literature or History, being able to structure a strong response quickly is crucial, and we are glad we developed that skill early on. IGCSE also taught us how to take notes in an organised and efficient way. We no longer try to copy everything; instead, we use our own words to summarise what we’re learning and use diagrams and color-coding to keep things clear and organised.

We also still use resources we found during IGCSE, like Flora. Flora helps us focus when we need to read through a long text or draft an IA. Seeing how many hours we spent studying throughout the week helps us feel accomplished and motivates us, especially when we feel overwhelmed with how much work we still have to do. Flora also helps us to maintain a balance between studying and taking breaks. Creating that balance has been so important for us, whether it’s during exams or during the school year. Both of us—Izze through running and Riya through dance—have found outlets that let us switch off from school and exams, using our bodies and minds in a completely different way. These breaks help us avoid burnout and return to studying with more focus and energy.

Final Advice: Find What Works for You

During IGCSE, we realised that revision doesn't have to be about studying for hours every day – it’s about building small, consistent habits that make a big difference over time. For both of us, the strategies we used during IGCSEs helped us feel confident and in control when exams finally arrived. More importantly, many of the same habits we built are continuing to help us in managing the workload of the IB Diploma. If we could give one piece of advice to anyone just starting their exam revision, it would be this: figure out what works for you, stick with it, and don’t forget to take care of yourself. Revision isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress, balance, and trusting that your hard work will pay off in so many ways.

Watch an interview with two of our 2024 IGCSE students, Izze and Sofia who received the prestigious Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards for earning the highest marks in Switzerland in Physics, English Literature, and Geography during last summer’s exams. Their success highlights both their personal commitment to excellence and the unwavering support and expertise of our teachers:

P.S. For more tips, check out the revision techniques podcast we recorded with Riya earlier this year—listen here.