how to stay focussed during revision
If you’re an A-Level or GCSE Biology student, chances are you’ve tried to revise at least once while also watching Netflix, texting your mate about enzymes, and wondering what mitochondria actually do. (They're the powerhouse of the cell — we’ve all heard it 100 times, and no, it doesn’t help with your focus.)
Whether you’re neurotypical or have ADHD, staying focused during revision can feel like herding cats with a laser pointer. So here’s a science-backed guide from a Biology tutor (hi, that's me!) to help you concentrate, retain information, and maybe even enjoy it. Yes, really.
🔁 1. Try the Pomodoro Technique
Set a timer for 25 minutes of focused work, then take a 5-minute break. After a few rounds, take a longer break (15–30 mins). It works with your brain’s natural attention span and rewards it for not checking TikTok every 12 seconds for a dopamine hit. My advice? Put your phone in another room and get an old-school kitchen timer so you’re not tempted….
📚 Scientific support: Research shows that brief, structured breaks increase productivity and focus — especially in people with ADHD who struggle with time-blindness and task initiation (Cirillo, 2006; ADHD Foundation, 2020).
🧍♀️ 2. Plan movement into your day
Movement - in any form - boosts your memory, focus and mood. Try standing while revising or walking while you explain active transport to your cat…. Ok, maybe not but taking a break and keeping active will help your revision, not hinder it.
🏃♂️ Research says: Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and boosts dopamine and norepinephrine — neurotransmitters that improve attention (especially helpful for ADHD brains!).
🧬 Try: 5 jumping jacks between flashcards. Bonus: it looks like aerobic respiration in action.
🧼 3. Clear Desk, Clear Mind (Mostly)
A cluttered workspace = a cluttered mind. And if you’re revising next to an open pack of Doritos, three half-done mind maps, and a dead highlighter, it’s game over. If you don’t have a particularly nice revision space, why not try taking yourself to a local library or even a quiet cafe? Sometimes a change of scene can really help you focus and get into ‘study mode’. Whenever I have a task I’ve been putting off, I take myself off to my local Starbucks. It’s a bit soulless but has good wifi, coffee and always has just the right amount of background noise for me to finally get on with it without the distractions at home.
🧠 Psychology studies link physical clutter to increased cognitive overload — especially in students with ADHD who are more prone to distraction (Pratt & Deyo, 2021).
💡 Top tip: Remove all non-essential items and use a “distraction pad” (I use a stack of post-it notes) to jot down off-topic thoughts you can come back to later.
⏳ 4. Work With Your Chronotype (aka Don’t Fight Your Inner Owl)
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Your ‘Chronotype’ is your natural inclination towards specific sleep-wake patterns: your circadian rythym. Simply put, it’s your tendency towards ‘morningness’ or ‘eveningness’ (yes, these are the scientific words!). Many teenagers are naturally more active in the evening hours and have a ‘late chronotype’, so don’t try to force revision at 7am if your brain doesn’t boot up until 10. Sleep quality is important too, so make sure you’re in a good routine at bedtime, whenever that is - no screens, maybe a hot bath an hour before bed and the same bedtime each night really help.
🧪 Research from the University of Bristol shows that students who revise in line with their natural rhythm perform better in memory tasks. So work with your biology, not against it!
🌞 Tip: Schedule hard topics (like immunology or inheritance) for your “peak alertness” hours — and leave easier tasks for your off-peak times.
🎧 5. Use Music… Wisely
Is it just too quiet? Lo-fi beats, classical music, or even nature sounds can help you stay in the zone. Just avoid anything with lyrics — unless you’re revising with the “Mitochondria Song” (no judgement). My favourite playlist on Spotify is ‘LOFI COVERS of popular songs’ because the music is familiar, with no lyrics and fairly chilled so I can focus better without getting distracted.
🎵 Evidence: Music can reduce stress and help ADHD students regulate focus — but only when it's non-distracting (Söderlund, 2010).
🧪 Try: “Brown noise” (not as bad as it sounds!) or “lo-fi study beats for ADHD” playlists. They’re like white noise but less harsh.
🍏 6. Snack Smart
Right, this is going to sound like revision for respiration… but the brain uses glucose as its main energy source, so you need to fuel up accordingly! High sugar foods give you a quick boost….but also a blood sugar crash which can make you feel low afterwards. So avoid the sweets and chocolate and think slow-release foods like bananas, nuts, or toast. Starch is broken down into glucose slowly, providing you with consistent energy throughout the day. I personally love a banana and peanut butter on toast or little ‘snacky plate’ with some cheese, crackers, fruit and nuts to give me a boost in the afternoons when my energy drops. (And hydrate! Your brain is ~75% water, not ~75% Monster Energy.)
🧠 Fact: Dehydration reduces concentration and memory. Keep some water (add some squash or juice if you’re not a fan) in a bottle nearby & sip regularly.
🤹 7. Switch It Up (Don’t Just Reread the Textbook)
Active revision keeps your brain engaged. Re-reading your notes, copying from the textbook, even watching YouTube videos….these can be passive and not effective. Likewise, doing the same thing repeatedly can just get boring. So switch up what you’re doing. Try:
Flashcards (Quizlet or handwritten)
Blurting
Teaching your dog about osmosis
Past paper questions
Drawing out processes like mitosis
🧪 Cognitive science says: Active recall and spaced repetition boost long-term retention way more than passive reading (Dunlosky et al., 2013). You can read some of my other blogs for more on this!
8. Make a specific plan - and stick to it
Making a revision timetable and plan for the week can really help take the overwhelm out of revision and help you feel more in control and prepared. Every Sunday I write out the events I have each day (e.g. appointments, classes, meetings etc) and then schedule other tasks around it. From this, I then write a to-do list for each day. When I want to really focus, I use a time-blocking system where I plan what I’ll be doing each hour. This could be a paper version, or use your phone calendar and set alerts.
🗓️ Download one of the free templates for weekly planners on Canva or my personal favourite - the free printables from the passion planner. Look at everything you need to revise and break it into smaller chunks. Really small chunks if you can. Write down what you’re revising, how you’re revising it and when. E.g. not just ‘Biology’ but ‘Cell division exam questions for 30 minutes’.
💡 Top tip: I’ve created some free revision timetables for GCSE and A-Level Biology you can use to help you get started. Click the links to download.
🔗 Final Word: Focus Isn’t Just random Willpower — It’s Strategy
Here’s a secret: nobody feels motivated and focussed all the time. Successful people aren’t always motivated! But what they are is consistent and disciplined. If I waited for motivation to go to the gym and work out, I just wouldn’t work out! 😅 Scheduling my workout into my calendar - at a time of day that suits me (no 6am spin class please and I’m asleep by 8pm) helps. Whether you’re revising meiosis or monoclonal antibodies, staying focused is less about forcing your brain into silence and more about working with it. Building in movement, rewards, and novelty is key.
What are your top tips for focussing during revision? Let me know in the comments below!
📣 Let’s chat!
Need some help with your revision? That’s where a GCSE & A-Level Biology tutor (👋 hi, hello!) comes in. I offer online Biology revision masterclasses for A-Level and GCSE Biology students. Whether you're aiming for a Grade 7 or smashing your way to an A*, I can help you revise smarter (and laugh a bit along the way). Students tell me they love the sessions as they include clear explanations, short tasks and exam technique to help them revise effectively in 75 minute chunks. Click the link in pink to check them out and email caroline@biosheps.co.uk if you have any questions.