Revision guides by year
A calm, no-pressure guide to the revision books worth knowing about, from SATs to A level. We've included local 11+ notes, the exam board checks that save you buying the wrong book, and the free resources to try first.
Before you buy: five quick tips
- Check the exam board (GCSE and A level). AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Eduqas each set their own papers, so a guide for the wrong board can cover the wrong content. Ask your child's school which board each subject uses, then check the cover of any guide matches.
- Check the tier. GCSE maths and science are sat at Foundation or Higher tier. Ask the teacher which one your child is entered for.
- Ask school first. It's worth checking whether your child's school already provides or recommends a particular guide before you buy one.
- Start with the free resources. BBC Bitesize and Oak National Academy are free and follow the national curriculum. A book works best alongside them, not instead of them.
- Little and often. Short, regular sessions with practice questions usually beat long cramming sessions. If your child is stuck on the same topic for weeks, a tutor may help.
Primary: KS1 and KS2 SATs (Years 2–6)
Year 1 and Year 2
In Year 1, children take the statutory phonics screening check. Since 2023/24 the end of Key Stage 1 tests in Year 2 have been optional, so your child's school may or may not use them. There's no need to buy test practice for Year 2. Gentle reading, number and spelling practice books are plenty.
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Year 4: multiplication tables check
Year 4 pupils take a short, statutory online times tables check (up to 12 × 12). Quick daily practice is more useful than a big book.
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Year 6: KS2 SATs
Year 6 SATs are taken in May: English reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and maths (an arithmetic paper and two reasoning papers). Writing is assessed by teachers in class.
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Want some extra help? Primary and SATs tutors near you →
11+ and entrance tests (Years 4–6)
Every school sets its own rules, so check the school's own admissions page first. Here's what we've found for local families.
The Blue Coat School, Wavertree (Liverpool)
The Blue Coat School is a selective state academy that sets its own entrance test. For September 2027 entry, families applied in Year 5 (March–April 2026). The test was taken online on a computer in two phases. Phase 1 covered reading, spelling, maths, mental arithmetic and developed ability, and Phase 2 covered verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability. The school's test provider is CEM. Dates and details for later years are on the Blue Coat admissions page.
Wirral grammar schools
Calday Grange Grammar, West Kirby Grammar School for Girls, Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Wirral Grammar School for Girls share one 11+ assessment. For 2027 entry it was set by Quest Assessments and covered verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths. Children register in Year 5 and sit the test in September of Year 6. Upton Hall School FCJ and St Anselm's College run their own tests. Wirral Council says the test is designed so preparation isn't necessary, and it publishes free familiarisation materials. See Wirral Council's grammar school page.
Independent schools
Independent schools set their own entrance tests, so ask each school what's in its test and when it takes place.
Because test providers differ (CEM, Quest and others), check which one your target school uses before you buy test-specific papers. General verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths and English practice is useful whichever test it is.
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KS3 (Years 7–9)
There are no national exams in Key Stage 3. Schools set their own assessments, so a KS3 guide is mainly useful for filling gaps and building confidence before GCSE options. Reading widely helps in every subject.
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GCSE (Years 10–11)
The exam board matters most here. Your child might do AQA maths, Edexcel science and OCR history, all in the same school. Check each subject with the school, then make sure the board's name is on the guide.
Maths
Maths is sat at Foundation tier (grades 1–5) or Higher tier (grades 4–9). Buy the guide for your child's tier.
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English Language and English Literature
These are two separate GCSEs. For Literature, set texts vary by board and by school, so ask which play, novel and poetry anthology your child is studying. A study guide for that exact text is often the most useful buy.
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Science
Most students take either Combined Science (worth two GCSEs) or separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics ("triple science"), at Foundation or Higher tier. Check which route, board and tier your child is on.
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Other subjects
History, geography, languages and the rest are also board-specific. Search with the subject and board name together.
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GCSE tutors in South Liverpool → · Maths tutors → · English tutors →
A level (Years 12–13)
At A level the specification matters even more. Check the board and the subject's specification with your child's teacher. Many students revise mainly from their class notes, the board's past papers and the specification itself, with a guide as back-up.
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Facts about tests and schools checked 19 October 2026 from GOV.UK, The Blue Coat School and Wirral Council. Admissions rules and dates change every year, so always check the school's or council's own page. Links go to Amazon search results, not specific products. We don't list prices or ratings because they change.
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