Skip to main content

Brainhub guide

Revising over the Easter holidays: little and often

The Easter holidays are the last long break before the GCSEs start on 10 May 2027. Here is why little and often works, and what a good holiday revision day looks like.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 31 Oct 2026 5 min read

Key takeaways

1. Why the holidays matter

The first GCSE exam is on Monday 10 May 2027, and A-levels start the same week. The Easter holidays are the last long stretch of free time before then. Holiday dates vary by council and school, so check yours.[1]

Two weeks off school can drift by quickly. A light, steady plan makes the most of them without spoiling the break.

2. What the research says

In a study by the psychologist Nate Kornell, students learned vocabulary with flashcards. Studying in one big, spaced-out stack was more effective than cramming in small stacks for 90% of them.[2]

But after the first session, 72% believed cramming had worked better. Cramming feels smooth because the answer is still fresh. Coming back after a break feels harder, and that effort is what helps memory last.[2]

Flashcard study (Kornell, 2009)
Share of students
Learned more by spacing
90%
Thought cramming had worked better
72%

3. A holiday revision day

Keep each day simple. These four parts fit into a morning and early afternoon, leaving plenty of holiday.

Little and often. It all adds up.

Hardest subject first

Start with it in the morning, while your child is fresh.

Look back

Test yourself on last week’s topics before starting new ones.

One timed question

Do part of a past paper, then check it against the mark scheme.

Evening off

Time with family and friends, and a proper night’s sleep.

4. How you can help

Help your child put each topic in the plan three times: today, in a few days, and next week. A wall calendar works well.

If they say “I already know this”, that’s a good sign the spacing is working. Praise the habit, not just the results, and keep days off as days off.

Want a revision plan that fits?: Our qualified teachers can plan the holidays around your child’s exam boards and weaker topics, online or in person. Book a free call.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. In the 2009 flashcard study, for what share of students was spacing more effective than cramming?

  2. 2. What share believed cramming had worked better after the first session?

  3. 3. How many times should your child meet each topic?

Your next steps

  • Check your school’s Easter holiday dates.
  • Plan one revision day together using the four parts.
  • Mark two days a week as fully off.

Subject guides to go with this

Want one-to-one help? See how our online lessons work.

Sources

  1. Kornell, N. (2009). Optimising learning using flashcards: spacing is more effective than cramming. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23(9), 1297–1317. doi:10.1002/acp.1537
  2. Joint Council for Qualifications. Key dates, June 2027 examination series (first common-timetable exam 10 May 2027; GCSEs end 18 June). jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Key_Dates_June2027_FINAL.pdf

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.