A mock test is a practice exam. It takes place under exam conditions before the actual examination. They represent the exam format, timing and difficulty of the questions as closely as possible.
Doing a practice run of the exam shows the strengths and weaknesses in your preparation. They show gaps in knowledge, issues with exam technique, and help to build confidence. They are an important tool to be used alongside revision, which can be isolating and concentration, making it difficult to see the wider picture.
This article explores the importance of mock exams, including what they tell you, and how we can use them to improve before the real examinations. We will also look at how they highlight different challenges for specific subjects.
If you need support preparing for your GCSE or A Level exams, TeachTutti has qualified tutors who can tailor lessons to your specific needs, such as making revision notes for your GCSE exams. Follow the link to learn how lessons work with TeachTutti.
Mock exams - Preparing for the real thing
Mock exams are formal practice exams. They are set by schools to help students prepare for their assessments, such as GCSEs or A Levels. You will normally take the test in an exam hall or classroom, following the same rules as the actual exam.
A normal exam normally uses past exam papers or questions that follow the format and jargon of exam papers. This means the structure, difficulty, and marking standards are very similar to real-world examinations.
You will normally do mock exams at key points in the school year. Most schools run them in year 10 for GCSE and in year 12 for A Level, to see your early progress in each subject. There will then be another test in year 11 or year 13 as a final preparation, normally at Christmas or Easter at the latest.
A mock test aims to judge you against a wide range of knowledge. It looks to see if you can apply what you have learned under timed conditions, and it won't just be a case of recalling facts from recent lessons.
Why are mock exams important?
One of the reasons why mock exams are so effective is that is it allow the student to see how they perform under real exam conditions. Revision can feel effective at home, but your exam performance is a genuine metric to evaluate. Mock exams test knowledge, timing, and focus all at once.
Exam familiarity is a big benefit to this test. You will experience how it feels to sit a full paper, manage your time, and work through questions in the correct order. Having this understanding will reduce anxiety and increase familiarity, helping you to remain calm in real exams.
A student will see the gaps in their understanding. Sometimes, a student may struggle to apply their topic knowledge to an unfamiliar question. These weaknesses are brought to the surface with mock exams, showing students where to focus their attention.
Time management is also brought into focus. Students can lose marks when they know the content but spend too long on a particular question. Mock exams help you to pace yourself and develop strategies for allocating time, including a greater emphasis on the questions that hold a greater share of the marks.
Finally, mock exams provide useful feedback to your teachers and/or private tutors. This could include misreading questions, weak written explanations, or mistakes made under pressure. Having this information will help them to guide your lessons to address weaknesses and achieve a higher grade.
How to use mock results
Your mock results will show where you are losing marks. This isn't always due to a lack of knowledge. It could be because you've confused a command word in the question, or you had to rush certain questions due to poor time management.
When doing repeat mock results, you can see if the revision methods you're using are effective. If you have been revising heavily but this hasn't led to higher marks, it suggests your approach needs to change. An easy hole to fall into is passive revision, such as rereading notes, which can have limited impact as it is not engaging, and your mind is less active.
Consistency is highlighted in mock results. The marks will start to show patterns in your performance, such as doing well with multiple-choice questions, while struggling with longer, written answers.
Finally, mock exams help students to see any confidence issues. Sometimes, a student will be well prepared, but freeze under realistic exam conditions. Meanwhile, another student will start strongly, but lose focus as the exam paper progresses. These weaknesses are only visible in timed assessments.
Using mock exams to develop exam technique and revision strategies
Mock exams are a great way to improve how we approach exams. Avoid just looking at the grade when getting your mock results. Instead, try to delve into the marks breakdown, seeing where you lose marks and how you can refine your exam technique and revision strategy.
When working through your mock results, start by looking at the topic and question type. This shows if mistakes came from knowledge gaps, weak answer structure, or poor time management.
If you find that you're underperforming even when you understand the content, this suggests you need to change revision methods or that you have a lack of exam practice. Make your revision sessions more refined, and focus more on practising exam questions rather than just revising each topic again.
A structured plan can help students to revise effectively. Try to look at a specific skill, such as improving written explanations, planning answers effectively, or managing your time. For example, you could go through the same question structure for a particular subject and time yourself. There will be a balance, where you look for the highest marks possible within the time limit you set.
Difficulties by subject
Mock exams allow students to see specific mistakes they make, depending on the subject. Understanding these differences helps you to revise effectively, such as moving from memorising to exam-style practice or building a revision plan that targets topics and question types where marks were lost.
We have explored the core subjects below. If you need support with another subject, TeachTutti teach a wide range of subjects at all standards, including GCSE and A Level. Follow the link to browse the subjects taught by TeachTutti.
GCSE mock exams
- GCSE Maths - Mock exams often highlight gaps in multi-step problem-solving and interpreting unfamiliar questions. A student may have the basic knowledge and methods for the topic, but struggles to apply them to the question. TeachTutti has qualified Maths GCSE tutors who can help you tackle unfamiliar questions.
- GCSE English - Structure and timing are common weaknesses in GCSE English exams. Students are judged on their essay organisation as well as their ideas, which can result in lost marks when paragraphs are unclear, points are not developed, or time runs out before the conclusion. If you need additional support, TeachTutti has experienced English GCSE tutors to develop your exam technique, including planning effectively.
- GCSE Science - Students may struggle to apply knowledge to exam questions that use real-world scenarios, practical experiments, or unfamiliar data. A common issue is being unable to explain processes or interpret data, despite having the necessary knowledge. TeachTutti has top Science GCSE tutors to help students create a revision timetable that improves exam accuracy and the clarity of written scientific explanations.
A-Level mock exams
- A-Level Maths - Speed and accuracy are greater issues at the A-Level standard. Students need to make decisions quickly and demonstrate detailed knowledge in exam questions, which is challenging under timed conditions. TeachTutti has Maths A Level tutors who can help ensure effective revision of complex topics, including integration, proof, and problem-solving across multiple topics.
- A-Level Physics - The problems are more complex at A-Level Physics, and students can struggle applying theory to multi-step calculations and unfamiliar scenarios. Verified physics A Level tutors at TeachTutti will help you understand if these weaknesses derive from gaps in your knowledge or exam technique.
- A-Level Chemistry - Chemistry jargon is expected in exams, and the accurate use of terms such as "oxidation", "equilibrium", and "rate-determining step" can sometimes be lacking. DBS checked A Level Chemistry tutors will also help you avoid losing marks by developing your exam technique and helping you to cope with exam pressure on the exam day.
Final Thoughts - Importance of mock exams
Mock exams are a very effective tool to help students prepare for their final GCSE or A Level exams. They are far more than just a practice run: they show exam readiness, any gaps in knowledge, and any issues with exam technique that can be missed in everyday lessons. This includes psychological factors, such as the pressure of performing at your best in an exam environment. Most importantly, mock exams give students the opportunity to make improvements before the real exam day.
Used properly, mock exam results should make revision more effective and less overwhelming, such as using specific revision techniques to address any weaknesses. If you are looking for further support, TeachTutti provides flexible, subject-specific tuition bespoke to the specific needs of each student.
