A level study plan: spec checklists and past papers
A levels have fewer subjects than GCSEs but far more depth, and university offers depend on exact grades. This prompt has your todo.is agent turn each specification into a red-amber-green checklist, schedule topic revision and timed past papers, and keep coursework deadlines in view.
The prompt
- Make me an A level study plan. My subjects and boards are [SUBJECTS AND BOARDS]. My predicted grades are [PREDICTED GRADES] and my offer needs [OFFER GRADES]. My exams start on [FIRST EXAM DATE] and my coursework or NEA is due on [COURSEWORK DEADLINES]. I can study [STUDY TIME] outside lessons. Turn each specification into a checklist I can mark red, amber or green, and plan revision so red topics come first. Schedule timed past papers with mark schemes and examiner reports (with links) from [START PAPERS]. Give me an Excel plan with a tab per subject and email me a progress summary every Sunday at 19:00.
What to change
- [SUBJECTS AND BOARDS]: E.g. "Biology (OCR A), Chemistry (AQA), Maths (Edexcel)".
- [PREDICTED GRADES]: E.g. "A, B, A".
- [OFFER GRADES]: E.g. "AAB with an A in Chemistry".
- [FIRST EXAM DATE]: From your exam timetable.
- [COURSEWORK DEADLINES]: E.g. "History NEA on 20 March". Write "none" if you have no coursework.
- [STUDY TIME]: E.g. "2 hours on weekdays, 4 hours on Saturday".
- [START PAPERS]: E.g. "February half term".
Example result
- A level plan: Biology (OCR A), Chemistry (AQA), Maths (Edexcel)
- Predicted A, B, A · Offer AAB with A in Chemistry · First exam 3 June
- Step 1: spec checklists
- Each subject tab lists every specification point. Mark each one:
- • Red: cannot explain it or answer exam questions
- • Amber: understand it, but lose marks under time
- • Green: confident in exam conditions
- Example, Chemistry (AQA):
- • 3.1.9 Rate equations: red
- • 3.1.11 Electrode potentials and cells: red
- • 3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry: amber
- • 3.2.4 Group 2 properties: green
- Step 2: weekly schedule (Jan to Feb half term)
- • Chemistry 5 sessions, Biology 4, Maths 4, each 50 minutes
- • Each session: 10 minutes recall from memory, 30 minutes exam questions on one red topic, 10 minutes marking with the mark scheme
- • Sunday: update colours, plan next week
- Step 3: timed papers (from February half term)
- • One full paper per subject every 10 days, in exam conditions
- • Mark it, then read the examiner report for that paper. Note any comments that match your mistakes.
- • Redo questions under 50% one week later
- Subject notes
- • Chemistry: organic mechanisms need drawing practice. Draw curly arrows from memory daily. Six-mark questions reward clear logical steps.
- • Biology: learn command words: "describe" vs "explain" vs "evaluate". Practise data analysis questions with unfamiliar contexts.
- • Maths: do mixed questions from Pure, Statistics and Mechanics so you learn to spot which method a question needs.
- May
- • Only red and amber topics, plus one paper every 3 days
- • Last 3 days before each exam: formula sheets, key definitions, sleep
How to do it with todo.is
- List your subjects, boards, predicted grades and offer, then copy the prompt.
- Send it to your agent in todo.is or on WhatsApp, and attach any specification PDFs you already have.
- You get an Excel plan with a red-amber-green checklist for each subject.
- Each Sunday, reply with the topics that changed colour. Your agent re-orders the next week.
Tips for a better result
- The specification is the contract. If a topic is on it, it can be examined; if not, you can skip it.
- Read examiner reports. They show what top answers include and the mistakes most students make.
- Interleave topics within a subject. Mixed practice prepares you for exam papers that jump around.
- Keep coursework (NEA) on its own track in the plan, so revision does not swallow it.
A level study plan: FAQ
- When should I start revising for A levels? Many students start structured revision in January of Year 13, after mocks, and move to timed papers in the spring.
- How many past papers should I do? Try to do every recent paper for your specification at least once, plus older ones for weak topics. Specimen papers help if your spec is new.
- Can my agent explain a topic I don't understand? Yes. Ask about any topic, attach your notes or a question, and it explains step by step with a worked example.
- Can it track coursework deadlines too? Yes. Add the dates and ask for reminders a week and two days before each one.
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