GCSE revision for Year 10 and Year 11

What your child can practise in GCSE

• Maths

  Number, algebra, ratio and proportion, geometry and measures, probability and statistics: standard form, surds, indices, quadratics, functions, circle theorems, vectors, trigonometry, sine and cosine rules, histograms and more.

• Science

  Biology, chemistry and physics, from cell biology, inheritance and ecology to bonding, rates, equilibrium and organic chemistry, and forces, waves, electricity, radioactivity and space, plus the periodic table.

• History

  Source skills, Weimar and Nazi Germany, the Cold War, the Western Front, medicine through time, Elizabethan England, Norman England, crime and punishment and US civil rights.

• Geography

  Tectonic and weather hazards, climate change, ecosystems, rivers, coasts, glaciation, urban issues, development, resources, and map and fieldwork skills.

• Computer Science

  The CPU, memory and storage, networks and security, software, algorithms, programming, binary and hexadecimal, Boolean logic and the impact of technology. Multiple-choice concept practice, not a coding environment.

• Religious Studies

  Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism, plus themes on relationships, peace and conflict, crime and punishment, human rights and the philosophy of religion, with different viewpoints shown.

• English Language

  Descriptive and narrative writing, persuasive and transactional writing, rhetoric, analysing fiction and non-fiction, comparison, structure and technical accuracy. GCSE learners can set English Language to AQA, Edexcel, OCR or WJEC/Eduqas and sit mock exams with that board’s timing, mark total, source-text structure, question order and response types, using original Revision Ladder practice material.

• Word types and techniques

  Word classes and language techniques with the terminology to analyse and explain their effect, from imagery and juxtaposition to rhetoric and writing about effect. Shared with English Literature.

• English Literature

  Writing about literature, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, An Inspector Calls, Lord of the Flies and poetry analysis. Learners save their board and supported set texts so Literature practice and mocks do not mix courses. AQA and Edexcel mock structures are currently available; other boards remain hidden until an authentic set-text mock can be supported.

• Business

  Enterprise, ownership and growth, marketing, finance, operations, people in business and the external influences on a business.

• Economics

  The economic problem and markets, elasticity, competition and market failure, the macroeconomy, money, banking and taxation, and trade and globalisation.

• Law foundations

  An enrichment introduction to law in England and Wales: sources of law, courts, legal roles, criminal and civil law, rights and sentencing. This is designed for learners who want a foundation before later study; it is not presented as a current DfE GCSE Law specification.

• Psychology

  Memory, perception, development, social influence, the brain and neuroscience, psychological problems and research methods.

• Sociology

  Culture, socialisation and identity, families, education, crime and deviance, social stratification and research methods.

• Statistics

  Collecting and sampling data, averages and spread, charts and graphs, probability, correlation and time series.

• Design and Technology

  Materials and their properties, processes, tools and manufacture, design and specifications, sustainability, mechanisms and electronic systems.

• Physical Education

  The skeletal and muscular systems, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, fitness and training, health and diet, sports psychology and sport in society.

• Ancient History

  Sources and evidence, Greece and the Persian Wars, Athens and Sparta, Alexander the Great, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Courses choose different periods, so check yours.

• Classical Civilisation

  Greek gods and myths, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Roman religion and Virgil's Aeneid, Greek theatre, Roman cities and entertainment, and women and family. Set texts differ by course, so check yours.

• Astronomy

  The night sky and the seasons, the Solar System, the Sun and Moon, stars and their life cycles, galaxies and the universe, and telescopes.

• Geology

  Minerals and rocks, igneous and metamorphic processes, sedimentary rocks, plate tectonics, fossils and geological time, and structures, resources and hazards.

• Electronics

  Current, voltage and resistance, components and symbols, voltage dividers and sensors, logic gates and digital systems, timing circuits and building and testing circuits.

• Engineering

  Materials and their properties, manufacturing processes, engineering drawing and design, mechanical systems, control systems, and safety and sustainability.

• Film Studies

  Cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing and sound, genre, narrative and representation, the film industry and audiences, and analysing film. Set films differ by course, so check yours.

• Media Studies

  Media language, representation, audiences, media industries, the news and other media forms, and digital and social media. Set products differ by course, so check yours.

• Citizenship

  Democracy and elections, Parliament and government, rights, responsibilities and the law, identity and community, taking action and the media, and the UK in the wider world. Issues studied in depth differ by course, so check yours.

• Music theory

  Rhythm and metre, pitch and notation, scales and keys, chords and harmony, musical elements and structure, and instruments, voices and styles. This is the theory and listening vocabulary; set works and performing are not covered.

• Food and Nutrition

  Nutrients, healthy eating and diets, food science, food safety and hygiene, food provenance and labelling, and planning and practical skills. This is the theory side; the cooking assessments are practical.

Practice that focuses on what your child finds hard

Most quizzes show a child what they already know. Revision Ladder is built around the opposite. When a question goes wrong, that topic does not disappear: it returns in future practice, quizzes and revision activities, so your child gets repeated chances to strengthen their understanding and eventually get it right.

• Targets what you find hard

  Questions adapt to the student. Topics they get wrong come back in later sessions until they are secure, so revision time goes where it is needed.

• Pick your subjects

  Students tick the GCSE subjects they are studying and only get questions for those, so a student who takes history, geography and film studies never sees the others.

• Explained answers

  Every question explains why the right answer is right, so a mistake becomes something to learn from, not just a lost mark.

How it works

1. You set up the account in about a minute. Parents hold the account.
2. Add your child with a nickname and their stage. No other personal details are needed.
3. A short starter activity finds their level, then practice adapts as they go.
4. You see what they have been working on and where they could use more support.

GCSE questions parents ask

Which exam boards does it cover?

Coverage depends on the subject. For widely offered qualifications, Revision Ladder focuses on knowledge that major awarding-body specifications share and uses board tags only where content has been mapped to a particular specification. Optional subjects can differ substantially in set texts, case studies and topic choices, and some subject areas on Revision Ladder are enrichment rather than current GCSE qualifications. Students should always check their own awarding body and specification.

Which GCSE subjects are available?

Maths, science (biology, chemistry and physics), English Language, English Literature, history, geography, computing, religious studies, business, economics, psychology, sociology, statistics, design and technology, physical education, ancient history, astronomy, classical civilisation, electronics, engineering, film studies, geology and media studies are available as revision subject areas. Law foundations is also available as enrichment for learners interested in legal study. Awarding-body availability and set content vary by subject, so students should check their own specification.

Does Revision Ladder include GCSE mock exams?

Yes for English. English Language mocks follow the exam board saved for that subject, including the board’s timing, mark total, source-text structure, question order and response types, using original Revision Ladder practice material rather than copied live papers. English Literature mocks are available where the supported set texts and board structure can be reproduced accurately. Other subjects currently use timed practice papers.

Is it a replacement for school or a tutor?

No. It supports what is taught in class by giving regular, targeted practice on the topics a student finds hardest.

How much does it cost and can we try it first?

Every family gets a free 14-day trial with no card needed and no automatic charge. After that GCSE is a simple monthly or yearly plan, and family plans cover several children.

Other stages

• KS3 revision for Years 7 to 9
• KS2 SATs practice for Years 3 to 6
• About Revision Ladder