In Year 13, tutoring works best when it follows the school calendar: improving the evidence behind predicted grades in autumn, fixing mock weaknesses in winter, and drilling timed past papers in spring. Year 13 carries UCAS applications, coursework deadlines, mocks and final A Level exams in one year. This guide explains how predicted grades work, the key dates, and how to plan tutoring across the final year.

Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company. Dates change each year; check UCAS and your school.

Key takeaways

• Predicted grades are set by schools from evidence, usually early in Year 13.
• UCAS has an October deadline for Oxbridge and medicine, and a January deadline for most courses.
• Mocks show what to fix before the summer exams.
• Tutoring should change focus through the year.

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How are predicted grades set?

Teachers predict the grade they expect a student to achieve, using the evidence they have.

Evidence	Why it matters
Year 12 end-of-year exams	Often the main evidence
Tests in Year 12 and early Year 13	Shows consistency
NEA progress	Affects the final grade
Classwork and engagement	Shows trajectory

Predicted grades go on the UCAS application. Ask your child’s school when predictions are set and what evidence counts.

Key Year 13 dates

When	What happens
September–October	Predicted grades set; Oxbridge and medicine deadline in October
November–January	Mocks (timing varies); January UCAS deadline for most courses
February–April	Offers arrive; NEA deadlines
May–June	Final A Level exams
August	Results

How to plan Year 13 tutoring: step by step

1. Before predictions: focus on the subjects closest to a higher grade.
2. During application season: protect time for the personal statement and interviews.
3. Before mocks: fix the topics that cost most marks; see our mock exam plan.
4. After mocks: analyse results by paper and topic.
5. Spring: full timed past papers, marked against the mark scheme.
6. Final weeks: targeted fixes and calm routines.

Which subjects should get tutoring?

Prioritise the subject closest to the offer grade and most important for the chosen course.

Course	Often key subjects
Medicine	Chemistry, Biology
Engineering	Maths, Physics
Economics	Maths, Economics
Computer Science	Maths, Computer Science

Our A Level chemistry tutors and A Level mathematics tutors often work with students aiming at these courses.

What about the NEA?

NEA deadlines often fall in Year 13, so plan around them. Tutors can teach skills and explain criteria, but the work must be the student’s own. See our subject guides, such as choosing an A Level History tutor.

What if the offer is higher than the prediction?

Use the mocks and spring term to close the gap. Many students exceed their predictions with focused work. Treat the offer as a specific target for each paper.

Signs your child needs Year 13 support

• predicted grades below the offers they want;
• disappointing mock results in one subject;
• falling behind with NEA deadlines;
• stress about the workload.

What does a good Year 13 lesson look like?

It depends on the time of year. In autumn, lessons usually fix a weak topic and finish with an exam question. After mocks, they start from the mock paper itself, working through the questions that lost marks. In spring, many lessons are built around a timed section of a past paper, marked together, with the tutor explaining exactly how each lost mark could have been earned.

How parents can help in Year 13

• keep a shared calendar of UCAS, NEA and mock dates;
• encourage early drafts of the personal statement;
• protect sleep and downtime during mock and exam seasons;
• ask the school early if predicted grades look lower than expected.

How much tutoring is enough?

One hour a week per subject is typical, with more between mocks and the final exams. Don’t add so much that the personal statement, NEA or rest suffer.

Does online tutoring work for this?

Yes. Online lessons fit around study periods, sport and university interviews, and tutors can share past papers and mark schemes on screen. Short extra sessions before mocks or deadlines are easy to arrange online.

How Tutopiya tutoring works

Tutopiya offers one-to-one online A Level tutoring for UK and international boards.

• A tutor matched to the board and subject.
• A free first trial lesson, with no card needed.
• 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 A Level tuition page.

Questions to ask the school

1. When are predicted grades set, and what evidence is used?
2. When are mocks, and how are they used?
3. What are the internal NEA deadlines?

Common mistakes

• Starting tutoring after mocks → start in Year 12 or early Year 13.
• Tutoring every subject → focus on the subject closest to the offer.
• Ignoring the NEA → plan it into the calendar.
• Cramming in spring → steady past-paper practice works better.

Talk to us

If your child is in Year 13, contact our team with their subjects and offers. For the step up in Year 12, see our guide to bridging from IGCSE to A Level.

Summary: plan Year 13 tutoring around the school calendar: improve the evidence before predictions, fix mock weaknesses, then drill timed past papers in spring.

Frequently asked questions

How are A Level predicted grades set? +

Schools set predicted grades based on teachers' judgement, using evidence such as Year 12 exams, tests, coursework and classwork. Each school has its own process and timing.

Can tutoring raise predicted grades? +

Tutoring can improve the evidence teachers use, such as test results and coursework quality, before predictions are set. Whether a prediction changes is always the school's decision.

When are UCAS deadlines? +

Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses have an October deadline. Most other courses have a January equal-consideration deadline. Check the exact dates on the UCAS website each year.

What should Year 13 tutoring focus on? +

In autumn, the evidence behind predicted grades and the NEA; after mocks, the topics that lost marks; and in spring, timed past papers for each paper.

Does Tutopiya offer Year 13 tutoring? +

Yes. Tutopiya offers one-to-one online A Level tutoring for AQA, OCR, Edexcel and Cambridge. The first trial lesson is free with no card required.

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