SATs revision plan: a simple weekly structure that works

A SATs revision plan does not need to be complicated. The best plans are short enough to remember and realistic enough to actually follow.

Start with three sessions a week

Most families find that three 20-minute sessions per week is sustainable. If you can do more, add a fourth. Do not start with five and burn out by week two.

Pick fixed days and times so revision becomes automatic rather than negotiated.

One subject per session

Each session should focus on a single subject area:

• Monday — maths (e.g. fractions, ratio, or arithmetic)
• Wednesday — reading comprehension
• Friday — SPaG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar)

Rotate the specific topic within each subject week by week. A narrow focus beats broad coverage every time.

Build in a weekly review

At the end of each week, spend five minutes together asking:

• What felt easier this week than last?
• Is there one topic that still feels stuck?
• Do we need to swap anything in the plan?

Use the stuck topic as next week's priority. This keeps the plan responsive without constant replanning.

What a four-week cycle looks like

Week four is deliberately lighter. Mixed review builds stamina and shows progress.

The week before SATs

Stop introducing new topics. Switch to light recap only — quick arithmetic facts, spelling patterns, or reading a familiar text. Protect sleep and keep evenings low-pressure. If your child wants to do one final short practice, let them; if they want to stop early, that is also fine.

Rest days matter

Rest is part of the plan, not a gap in it. Children consolidate learning during downtime. If your child is tired or upset, skip the session. One missed day does not undo weeks of steady work.

When the plan stops working

If sessions start feeling forced every time, something needs to change:

• shorten from 20 minutes to 10,
• switch to a different topic,
• try a past paper instead of exercises.

The plan serves the child. Adjust it before it becomes a source of stress.