Free study tool · 2026 syllabus-aligned · Teachers · Parents · Students
Free lesson planner for IGCSE, GCSE, A-Level & IB DP
Latest 2026 exam specifications for Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, AQA, IB DP, and other major boards — topic presets match our Topic & Past Paper Planner syllabus data.
Plan a single lesson with opening, agenda, objectives, sequenced activities, and a structured closing. Choose Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, AQA, or IB Diploma presets — then jump straight to the Tutopiya Learning Portal for notes, practice questions, and quizzes (no content upload required).
Free downloads: printable PDF and Excel-ready CSV — no paid tier; same quick sign-up as our other study tools.
Why use a digital lesson planner for international exams?
High-stakes qualifications — Cambridge IGCSE, UK GCSE, International A-Level, and the IB Diploma Programme — reward clear sequencing, formative checks, and syllabus alignment. This free lesson plan template keeps those elements in one place while pointing you to Tutopiya’s online learning resources for every subject we support.
Whether you are a classroom teacher, homeschool parent, or private tutor, you can standardise your lesson objectives and learning activities and still adapt wording for your cohort — then download or print for observation folders or student packs.
Exam boards & qualifications in this planner
- 2026 specifications — topic dropdowns use current syllabus headings for supported boards (where published).
- Cambridge International — IGCSE & International AS/A-Level subject presets with portal hubs.
- Pearson Edexcel — International GCSE & International A-Level tracks.
- AQA — UK GCSE & GCE A-Level alignment options alongside other UK GCSE boards.
- IB Diploma Programme — popular HL/SL subjects and core components.
Build your lesson plan
Lesson details & learning portal
Pick your qualification and subject — we link to the right Tutopiya Learning Portal hub for notes, practice questions, and quizzes. Add your opening, agenda, objectives, activities, and closing below.
One-click start
Choose a lesson template
Picks a complete structure (metadata, timings, differentiation, AfL, resources) — then edit anything.
Default: Typical 60-minute lesson
Section 1
Lesson information
Add the basic details used on your printable plan.
Section 2
Lesson sequence & saved drafts
Duplicate lessons, continue a sequence, and save drafts on this device.
Duplicate or continue a sequence in this browser. Save named drafts to switch between plans — stored only on this device.
Section 3
Subject & syllabus focus
Choose your subject, then select a 2026 syllabus topic and lesson focus.
Section 4
Differentiation, assessment & resources
Plan support, core and extension tasks — plus AfL checks and resources.
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Support (differentiation)
Extra scaffolding for students who need it (e.g. worked examples, sentence starters, vocabulary pre-teach, smaller steps, guided practice).
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Core (differentiation)
The expected pathway for most students: the main tasks, questions and success criteria.
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Extension (differentiation)
Stretch tasks for confident students (e.g. harder exam-style questions, deeper reasoning, links to the next topic, enrichment).
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AfL (Assessment for Learning)
Quick checks during the lesson to see who understands and what to reteach (e.g. hinge questions, mini-whiteboards, cold call, quick quiz).
Exit ticket
1–3 short questions at the end so you can gauge understanding before students leave.
Section 5
Resources & checklists
Jump to your portal hub and tick what you’ll use.
Tutopiya Learning Portal & resources
- Your subject hub: Open in learning portal →
- Past Paper Finder — locate papers by board, subject, and year.
- IGCSE resources hub · A-Level resources hub · IB resources hub
Preparation (to do)
Content on the portal
Tick what you will use from the subject hub this lesson.
Section 6
Teaching plan
Opening → agenda → objectives → activities → closing.
Learning activities (in sequence)
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Plenary
A short end-of-lesson wrap-up to check understanding and summarise key learning (often includes an exit ticket or quick questions).
Closing
Section 7
Free downloads
Export to Excel/CSV or save as PDF using browser print.
Free downloads
Export & print your lesson plan
100% free exports after a one-time sign-up (same as our other study tools). Your plan stays saved in this browser.
Sign up once to unlock both free downloads — then export anytime.
Exports include lesson metadata (title, class, duration, homework), differentiation, timing, AfL, resources, your 2026 syllabus topic choices, objectives, and activities. CSV uses UTF-8; PDF uses your browser print dialog.
Section 8
Beginner-friendly glossary
Quick definitions for common lesson-planning terms.
AfL (Assessment for Learning)
Short checks during the lesson to see what students understand so you can adjust teaching immediately.
Exit ticket
1–3 questions at the end to check understanding before students leave.
Plenary
A short end-of-lesson wrap-up to summarise learning and check understanding (often includes an exit ticket).
Differentiation (Support / Core / Extension)
Different levels of scaffolding and challenge so every student can access the lesson and be stretched appropriately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tutopiya Free Lesson Planner?
It is a browser-based lesson planning tool for teachers, parents, and students preparing for IGCSE, GCSE, A-Level, and IB DP exams. You choose your curriculum and subject, get quick-pick topic ideas and links to the Tutopiya Learning Portal for notes, practice questions, and quizzes, then fill in your opening, agenda, objectives, activities, and closing — and export to Excel or PDF.
Which exam boards does the lesson planner cover?
Presets are built around Cambridge International IGCSE and International AS & A-Level, Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and International A-Level, UK GCSE boards including AQA and Edexcel, and IB Diploma Programme subjects and core components. Topic dropdowns follow our latest 2026 specification headings where available. You can also type a custom subject line if your course is not listed.
Is the lesson planner aligned to the 2026 syllabus?
Yes. Syllabus topic suggestions are maintained against the latest 2026 exam specifications for the boards we support (including Cambridge, Edexcel, AQA, and IB DP). Centres may use different teaching routes; always verify against your official board document.
Do I need to upload worksheets or email materials?
No. Tutopiya’s learning portal now hosts structured notes, questions, and quizzes. The planner links you to the right subject hub so you can pull content from there instead of uploading files or emailing documents.
Can I use this as a printable lesson plan template?
Yes. Use “Printable lesson plan (PDF)” to open a print-friendly page and save as PDF from your browser, or download the CSV for Excel or Google Sheets.
Is the lesson planner free?
Yes. The tool is free to use in your browser. Exporting to CSV or PDF uses the same quick sign-up gate as other Tutopiya study tools so we can keep improving resources for students.
How is this different from the Tutopiya study planner or topic planner?
The exam study planner focuses on revision sessions and goals over time. The topic and past paper planner schedules topics and papers on a calendar. This lesson planner is for one lesson at a time — objectives, sequence of activities, and closing — with portal links for that subject.
More Tutopiya study tools & resources
- Free exam study planner — revision timetable & goals
- Topic & past paper planner — calendar for topics & papers
- Exam timetable builder — countdown & exports
- Past paper finder
- Past paper score tracker
- Revision checklists — 2026 syllabi
- IGCSE resources hub
- A-Level resources hub
- IB resources hub
- Tutopiya Learning Portal
- All study tools