With GCSE and A-level examinations only a few weeks away, here are some tips to ensure you make the most of the time remaining.

1. Make a plan. Write down everything you need to do and think about which tasks should be done first. Are those Biology questions due in next week truly a priority? Or is your English coursework, which counts towards your final grade, more important? Similarly, with revision, don’t spend hours on your favourite subject. Instead, try and focus on the areas you don’t understand in each topic, because that is where a little work will have the most effect. When you’ve completed a task, cross it off the list. Scribble it out if it makes you feel better; if you can visualise how much work you’ve done, it will encourage you to finish the rest.

2. Have a suitable work space. It needs to be tidy and distraction-free. Switch off your mobile phone, hide your laptop and step away from the television. If you’re really brave, deactivate any accounts on social networking sites for the duration of your exams. It’s difficult, but you’re kidding yourself if you believe you can work efficiently while constantly messaging your friends.

3. Start your work immediately. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to start. Just sitting down and getting your books out can be the biggest barrier to overcome. Generally, once you begin, it’s not as bad as you thought it would be.

4. Bribe yourself. Desperate times call for desperate measures; sometimes you can end up spending hours procrastinating and not doing the work that you really need to do. In this case, motivating yourself with a reward may help. For example, you could promise yourself two chocolate biscuits as soon as you commence studying. However, don’t eat too many! Another way of bargaining with yourself is with breaks. Tell yourself that you will only answer one more question, and then you’ll stop and have some time out. This can be dragged out until you’ve done all the questions. It’s weird, but it works.

5. Vary the ways you work. Obviously, with homework this doesn’t apply, but it can help to relieve the tedium of revision. Some common ways are drawing mind maps, making colourful notes or writing questions on what you’ve learnt. You could record your voice saying vocabulary for languages. Or, if you’re feeling kind, share your knowledge with someone else. Teaching is actually a great way to learn.

And finally, good luck! Studying isn't always going to be fun, but with these tips you can make sure you use your time effectively, so that you achieve the grades you deserve.