Tutoring Before Mock Exams: A 10-Week Plan
If your child has mock exams in January, tutoring that starts in late October or November gives enough time to diagnose weak topics, fix them, and practise timed papers before the mocks. Mocks matter: they often feed into predicted grades, sixth-form decisions and exam tiers, and they show what to fix before the real IGCSE, GCSE, A Level or IB exams. This guide sets out a 10-week tutoring plan and how to use the holidays well.
Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company. Mock dates vary by school; check yours.
Key takeaways
- Mocks often feed into predicted grades and tier or course decisions.
- Start with a diagnostic, then prioritise topics that lose the most marks.
- Shift to timed past papers in the final weeks.
- Use the holidays for lighter, steady practice, not cramming.
Why do mock exams matter?
Mocks are often used for predicted grades, tier decisions and course placement, and they’re the best rehearsal for the real exams.
| Student | What mocks often affect |
|---|---|
| Year 11 (IGCSE/GCSE) | Exam tier, sixth-form offers |
| Year 13 (A Level) | Predicted grades already sent; mocks guide final revision |
| IB DP2 | Predicted grades for some applications, final revision plan |
For UK university applicants, predicted grades are part of the UCAS application; many schools set them using mock results and coursework. Ask your school how mocks are used.
The 10-week tutoring plan
| Weeks | Focus | Tutoring |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Diagnose: past paper or recent test review | 1 session/week per subject |
| 3–6 | Fix the top 3–4 weak topics | 1–2 sessions/week |
| 7–8 | Mixed practice and exam technique | 1–2 sessions/week |
| 9 (holidays) | Light: timed sections, rest | 1 session/week |
| 10 | Full timed paper, review, calm final days | 1 session |
How to prioritise topics: step by step
- Sit or review a recent past paper with the official mark scheme.
- List lost marks by topic.
- Rank topics by marks lost and how often they appear in papers.
- Pick the top three or four to fix first.
- Practise exam technique for the question types that lose marks.
- Re-test with a similar paper in week 7 or 8.
What should tutoring sessions focus on?
Sessions should fix the highest-value problems, not re-teach the whole course.
- Content gaps in the top weak topics;
- exam technique, such as reading command words and showing working;
- timing, moving from untimed to timed questions;
- paper-specific skills, such as the IGCSE Alternative to Practical or IB data-based questions.
For subject-specific help, our Cambridge IGCSE maths tutors, A Level tutors and IB DP tutors work from past papers for your child’s board.
How to use the December holidays
Keep a light, steady routine and protect rest.
- one or two short tutoring sessions a week;
- one timed past-paper section every other day;
- a few full days off, especially around holidays;
- a full timed paper in the week before school returns.
How many hours of tutoring before mocks?
| Situation | Suggested hours per subject |
|---|---|
| On track, wants polish | 1 hour a week |
| Several weak topics | 1–2 hours a week |
| Started late (3–4 weeks before) | 2 hours a week, focused |
Our guide to how many hours of tutoring a week gives more detail.
What should a mock-preparation session look like?
A good session targets one weak topic and ends with exam-style practice.
- Five-minute review of the last session’s topic.
- Diagnose: attempt one exam question on today’s topic.
- Teach the step that went wrong.
- Practise two or three similar questions with decreasing help.
- Set one timed question to try before the next session.
In the final weeks, swap the teaching step for a timed section and a review of the marking.
Subject-specific priorities
| Subject | Typical mock priority |
|---|---|
| Maths | Multi-step problems, method marks, calculator and non-calculator papers |
| Sciences | Calculations, extended answers, practical-based questions |
| English | Timing, planning and command words |
| Humanities | Evaluation, source analysis and essay structure |
| IB subjects | Paper-specific skills, such as data-based questions |
What if the mocks go badly?
A disappointing mock is useful information. It shows exactly what to fix before the real exams. Our guides on what to do after a bad IGCSE mock and A Level tutoring after mocks set out next steps.
How Tutopiya tutoring works
Tutopiya offers one-to-one online tutoring for IGCSE, GCSE, A Level and IB students.
- A tutor matched to your child’s board and subject.
- Lessons through the holidays, scheduled in your time zone.
- A free first trial lesson, which can double as the diagnostic.
- From 4 hours a month per subject. Each tutor sets their own rate, which you see before booking.
- AI lesson analysis gives a summary, flashcards and quiz questions after each lesson.
See our online tuition page.
Common mistakes
- Revising everything equally → prioritise the topics losing most marks.
- Starting timed practice too late → begin by week 7.
- Cramming over the holidays → keep it light and steady.
- Ignoring mock feedback → use it to plan the next term.
Talk to us
If mocks are coming up, contact our team with your child’s subjects and mock dates, and we’ll suggest a plan.
Summary: start tutoring eight to ten weeks before January mocks, diagnose first, fix the topics losing most marks, move to timed papers, and keep the holidays light but steady.
Frequently asked questions
When should tutoring start before mock exams? +
Around eight to ten weeks before is ideal. That gives time to diagnose weak topics, fix them and practise timed papers. Even three or four weeks of focused sessions can help.
Do mock exams really matter? +
Yes. Mocks often inform predicted grades for university applications, sixth-form places and exam tier decisions. They also show which topics need work before the real exams.
What should a tutor focus on before mocks? +
The topics losing the most marks, exam technique for the paper formats, and timed practice. Not every topic can be revised, so prioritise.
Should my child keep tutoring over the December holidays? +
A lighter schedule often works well: one or two sessions a week plus independent past-paper practice, with real breaks for rest.
Can Tutopiya help before mocks? +
Yes. Tutopiya offers one-to-one online tutoring, including over the holidays, with a free first trial lesson that needs no card. Plans start from 4 hours a month per subject.
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