Mocks & predicted grades
What is on my GCSE mocks, subject by subject?
Most Year 11 mocks use real past papers or papers built the same way, so each mock covers what that paper covers in the real exam. Ask your teachers which papers you are sitting, then use the table below to turn each one into a topic list. In maths any topic can appear on any paper; in most other subjects Paper 1 and Paper 2 cover different parts of the course.
Last updated 23 September 2026 · Written and fact-checked by the GCSEwiz team
Which papers will my mocks be?
Schools run mocks differently. Some set every paper in every subject, as the summer will. Others set only Paper 1 in the winter and Paper 2 in a second round in the spring, because Paper 2 topics are often taught later. The quickest win of the whole mock season is asking each teacher two questions: which paper is it, and which tier?
Once you know the paper, you know the topics. The table below gives the split on AQA, the most-entered board in most subjects. The linked guides show every board side by side, and the boards do split some subjects in different places.
What does each paper cover?
AQA's papers, subject by subject:
- Art and Design has no written mock: the externally set task starts in January, so a mock is usually a timed practical piece.
- Tier matters in maths and the sciences. A Foundation paper and a Higher paper on the same topics ask very different questions, so revise at the tier you are sitting.
| Subject | Paper 1 | Paper 2 (and 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Maths | Any topic; no calculator on AQA and Edexcel | Any topic, calculator allowed (Paper 3 too) |
| English Language | Fiction reading, then descriptive or narrative writing | Two non-fiction texts, then viewpoint writing |
| English Literature | Shakespeare play and 19th-century novel | Modern text, anthology poetry and unseen poetry |
| Biology | Cell biology, organisation, infection and response, bioenergetics | Homeostasis, inheritance and evolution, ecology |
| Chemistry | Atomic structure to energy changes (topics 1 to 5) | Rates to using resources (topics 6 to 10) |
| Physics | Energy, electricity, particle model, atomic structure | Forces, waves, magnetism, space |
| Combined Science | Six papers: Biology, Chemistry and Physics 1 | Biology, Chemistry and Physics 2, split as in the single sciences (no space physics) |
| Geography | Physical: hazards, living world, landscapes | Human: urban issues, economic world, resources (Paper 3: issue evaluation and fieldwork) |
| History | Understanding the modern world: period study and wider world depth study | Shaping the nation: thematic study and British depth study |
| Religious Studies | Two religions: beliefs and practices | Four themes: ethical and philosophical questions |
| Business | Operations and human resources, with business in the real world | Marketing and finance, with business in the real world |
How do I plan the weeks before my mocks?
Six weeks is enough if the time goes on the right things. Spread it across subjects rather than finishing one before starting the next, because short, spaced sessions stick better than long blocks.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Six to five weeks out | List the papers and topics for every subject. Mark each topic green, amber or red. |
| Four to three weeks out | Work through the red topics with practice questions, not rereading. Check answers straight away. |
| Two weeks out | Do one timed past paper per subject. Mark it with the real mark scheme. |
| Last week | Go back to what the timed papers exposed. Learn quotes, equations and definitions in short daily bursts. |
| The night before | Pack your equipment, check the start time and sleep. No new topics. |
What should I do with my mock results?
Treat the marked paper as a map, not a verdict. For every lost mark, write down which kind it was: a topic you did not know, a question you misread, or time running out. Each kind has a different fix, and the pattern tells you what to spend January on. A mock grade is one sitting, months before the real exams, so it tells you where you are now rather than where you will finish.
Keep reading
- How do I revise for my mocks?
- Do GCSE mocks actually matter?
- Are mocks harder than the real GCSEs?
- I failed my mocks - can I still get good grades?
- GCSE mocks: what do parents need to know?
- GCSE Maths on GCSEwiz
- GCSE English Language on GCSEwiz
- GCSE English Literature on GCSEwiz
- GCSE Combined Science on GCSEwiz