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May half-term in exam season: how to rest and revise

Half-term falls in the middle of the GCSE season. A plan that mixes rest, sleep and short revision sessions before the last two weeks of exams.

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

Key takeaways

1. Why this week

Most schools in England take their May half-term in the week of the late May bank holiday, Monday 31 May 2027. Check your own school’s dates. For Year 11 and Year 13, it is a short break in the middle of exams, and how it is used matters.

GCSE exams run from 10 May to 18 June 2027. After half-term there are still about two weeks of papers to go, including AQA English Language Paper 2 on Tuesday 8 June and maths Paper 3 on Monday 14 June.[3]

2. Rest is part of the plan

Tired brains remember less. Specialists at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust say 13 to 18-year-olds need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. They suggest keeping wake-up times within two hours of a school day, even at weekends, and using the last hour before bed for calm activities rather than last-minute schoolwork.[1]

Moving helps too. The UK Chief Medical Officers advise children and young people aged 5 to 18 to average at least 60 minutes of activity a day across the week. A walk, a kickabout or a bike ride all count.[2]

Screens and caffeine: The same NHS advice says devices should not be used just before bed, and that teenagers should have no more than one caffeinated drink a day, none in the afternoon or evening. Energy drinks, tea, coffee and cola all count.

3. A half-term plan that works

A good half-term is not a week of all-day revision, and it is not a week off either. Aim for a mix.

Rest is part of the plan.

Take a full day off

The bank holiday Monday is a natural rest day. No revision, no guilt.

Revise in the mornings

Two or three short sessions, then stop. Testing yourself works better than re-reading.

Move every day

Get outside. Aim for an hour of activity on average.

Keep the wake-up time

Within two hours of a school day, so the first exam back doesn’t come as a shock.

4. What to revise

Start with the papers that come first after half-term, then the topics your child finds hardest. One past paper in the real time limit is worth more than a day of highlighting. Our lesson on testing yourself instead of re-reading explains why.

5. How you can help

Plan the week together on Sunday: rest day, revision mornings, something to look forward to each afternoon. Keep meals regular and evenings calm, and praise the effort, not the hours.

A steady hand for the last two weeks: Our qualified teachers help GCSE and A-level students plan their final papers and target the topics that carry the most marks. 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. How much sleep do 13 to 18-year-olds need?

  2. 2. How much activity do the UK Chief Medical Officers advise for 5 to 18-year-olds?

  3. 3. When do GCSE exams end in 2027?

Your next steps

  • Check your school’s half-term dates.
  • Plan one full rest day and short morning revision sessions.
  • Keep the wake-up time steady all week.

Sources

  1. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, paediatric sleep service. Sleep (older children): 13 to 18-year-olds need 8 to 10 hours. newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/services/sleep-service/paediatric-sleep/sleep-older-children
  2. GOV.UK (UK Chief Medical Officers). Physical activity for children and young people, 5 to 18 years: text of the infographic (updated 16 July 2026). gov.uk/government/publications/physical-activity-guidelines-children-and-young-people-5-to-18-years/physical-activity-for-children-and-young-people-5-to-18-years-text-of-the-infographic
  3. AQA. Exam timetable May/June 2027: GCSE (provisional v1.0, January 2026). aqa.org.uk/files/32986d0b-0ce6-462a-9682-5ba7a41619f9

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