Revision advice is usually written by well-meaning adults who a) do not know what it’s like to have a neurodivergent brain, and b) do not remember what it feels like to actually have to sit down and revise! Revision tips are often one-size-fits-all, with vague deadlines, sensory nightmare environments (noisy libraries, anybody?), and “just power through” energy.
If you’re autistic, that can feel… naively optimistic at best, and downright unhelpful at worst.
So here’s a more realistic approach, tailored to work for neurodivergent brains by someone who actually HAS one. These tips offer a structured, predictable, sensory-aware way to tackle revision that's designed to reduce overwhelm. You may not need to revise more. You might just need a system that works with your brain.
I’m Catrin Woodruff, ADHD coach and writer for Sunbeam Education, and these are the strategies I come back to again and again with neurodivergent students, especially during GCSE season. Some of these tips are ones I found helpful during my own studies, and others have been developed through my work with neurodivergent students.
As always, everyone’s brains and needs are different, so some of these tips may not be for you. That’s ok! Try everything out, find what suits you, and build YOUR perfect GCSE revision routine.
1. Break revision into manageable chunks (and make it specific)
When revision feels like one massive mountain, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, shut down, or try to avoid doing it altogether. What often helps is breaking the task down into smaller steps until it feels doable. We work best when we take things one step at a time.
Instead of:
“Revise Biology”
Try:
“Read 2 pages on enzymes”
“Make 6 flashcards on key definitions”
“Do 5 questions on required practicals”
“Check answers and highlight what I missed”
A good rule: if you can’t picture yourself starting in the next 30 seconds, the task is too big. Online organisational tools such as Goblin Tools (fantastic and totally free in a web browser!) can help you break down large tasks into manageable to-do lists.
2. Use a consistent routine so your brain doesn’t have to negotiate
Many autistic students do best with consistent, steady routines. An easy-to-remember, repeatable routine can reduce anxiety, relieve decision fatigue, and make revision something you expect rather than something you have to force. Creating your own revision routine empowers you to manage your workload in a way that supports your needs.
Try a simple routine like:
- Same start time each weekday (even if you only work for a short time)
- Same order (e.g., snack → set up desk → timer on → start)
- Same end routine (tick it off, pack away, reward)
You don’t need to revise your entire subject in one go. Attack it in small chunks - it doesn’t have to be intense. Consistency leads to progress.
3. Practice exam-timing techniques
Time can be hard to track, especially under stress. GCSE exams are often an exercise in time management, requiring students to set aside enough time for each question and stay on top of it under exam conditions. If you struggle with perfectionism, you might need to practice moving on to the next question before you feel ready, to make sure you answer as many questions as possible within the time limit.
I often suggest building time awareness into revision sessions before exam day to help you flow through your papers with as much confidence as possible!
Use timers for “time-feeling” practice:
- Write for 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes (whatever fits your subject)
- Practise moving on when time’s up, even if it feels unfinished
- Use a phrase like: “Done is better than perfect.”
- This is particularly helpful if you tend to get stuck in the details, or perfectionism kicks in and slows you down.
You can also use timers to practise planning long-form exam answers (such as English Literature essay questions):
- Find a practice question - one that requires a long-form written answer
- Set a timer for 8 - 10 minutes
- Plan a full overview for your answer within your time limit (work out your beginning, middle and end, bullet point your key points in order, select key quotes/facts)
- Repeat with different questions until the technique feels familiar
This builds confidence and reduces panic in timed exams.
4. Personalise your study environment (sensory comfort is revision support)
If your environment is sensory-demanding, revision can require much more energy.
Your study space doesn’t need to look like a Pinterest desk. It needs to help your nervous system stay regulated, and it can be totally unique to you.
Some neurodivergent-friendly tips for supportive study environments:
- Noise-cancelling headphones or steady background sound (experiment with classical music, brown noise, the sound of a fireplace crackling or lo-fi revision playlists to see if certain sounds help you focus more easily)
- A “visual boundary” to minimise distractions or sensory overload (facing a wall, using a screen divider)
- Warm lighting or a lamp instead of harsh overhead lights
- Fidget tools/textured items for regulation
- A clear desk setup so you’re not battling clutter
This isn’t being “picky”. This is honouring your needs.
5. Use visual aids to improve memorisation
Visual structure can take pressure off your brain, especially when you’re holding lots of information at once.
Try:
- Colour-coded notes (one colour per theme/topic)
- Mind maps to connect ideas
- Flow charts for processes (science, maths methods, narrative structure)
- Tables to compare (characters, causes/consequences, quotes, case studies)
The point isn’t to make notes look pretty (although you absolutely can if you want to!). It’s to make the information easier to find and remember.
6. Use multisensory revision techniques to make information easier to process and remember
If you struggle with memorisation, it can help to engage more than one sense at a time. Engaging multiple senses at once makes information more memorable - it’s about giving your brain more than one route into the information. Experiment to see which of the multi-sensory revision tips below gives your brain a boost!
Try combining these multi-sensory learning methods:
- Read a page, then listen back to the same content using text-to-speech programmes or an audiobook version.
- Say key facts out loud (to yourself, a revision buddy, a parent, or even a pet!) or record yourself explaining them and listen back later
- Turn processes into something you can see and do, like drawing comic strips to illustrate photosynthesis, or setting key English Literature quotes to the melodies of your favourite songs
- Use simple tactile supports if they help, like moving counters for maths questions or arranging flash cards into sequences
- Sketch concepts or use symbols alongside words, especially for abstract ideas
The aim is to reduce strain on working memory and make revision more accessible. If taking in information is causing strain or fatigue, try a different learning method rather than just pushing through.
A gentle reminder before you go
Revision isn’t a moral test. If you’re autistic and GCSEs are looming, you’re probably already doing a lot: keeping on top of schoolwork, dealing with the stress of exams, managing sensory load, and trying to stay afloat in a system that isn’t always flexible.
These tips are designed to help you achieve your revision goals in a way that supports you, and is sustainable over the whole exam period - which, as we know, seems practically never-ending! So allow yourself to start small. Make time visible. Keep it predictable. Support your senses. If one revision format feels tiring or overwhelming, switch to a different format rather than pushing through. Using visual structure and multisensory techniques can make information easier to process and remember without forcing your brain to do it the hard way.
How Sunbeam can help
If you’d like help building a revision approach that fits the way you learn, Sunbeam Education tutors offer structured, autism-informed GCSE support that’s practical, encouraging, and tailored to you. If you’d like to find out more about how autism coaching or tutoring could help with GCSE revision, you can book a free, no-pressure consultation with one of our expert autism tutors - they’ll listen, answer questions, and suggest practical next steps.
