Year-by-year · Month-by-month

Your full timeline.

From Year 9 to your gap year — every action item with the month it happens. Set a goal to filter →

Age 13-14

Year 9

Lay strong foundations

September
Pick GCSE option subjects carefully — keep A-Level options open (consider Triple Science, a language, History/Geography)
October-March
Join 1-2 clubs or societies (debating, coding, sport, drama)
All year
Read widely — 1 book a half-term in a subject you enjoy
April-Julyelite / strong
Try UKMT Junior Maths Challenge if school enters
Summer
Visit a university open day if you can — even just to look around
Summerelite / strong
Start a free MOOC (FutureLearn / edX) in something you like

Age 14-15

Build the GCSE habit

September
Set up a study routine — flashcards (Anki) + spaced repetition
October
Take leadership in one extracurricular (committee, captain, lead)
November-January
End-of-Year-10 mocks — treat them as real exams
Februaryelite / strong
Enter UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge / RSC Chemistry Olympiad (where eligible)
Easter (April)
First proper revision sprint over Easter holidays
June-July
End-of-Year-10 exams
Summer (July-August)elite / strong / solid
1-2 weeks work experience or volunteering
Summerelite / strong
Read 2-3 books across your favourite subjects + start a reading log

Age 15-16

GCSE year + Sixth Form choices

September
Research Sixth Forms — open evenings start now
October-November
Apply to selective Sixth Forms (some deadlines are mid-October!)
November-January
Year 11 mock exams — these become your predicted grades
December-February
Sixth Form entrance tests + interviews
February
Decide your 3-4 A-Level subjects (keep flexibility)
March-April
Easter revision — past papers, weak topics first
May-June
Sit GCSE exams — give them everything
Summer (July-August)elite / strong
Start summer reading list in your intended A-Level subjects
August
GCSE results day (3rd Thursday of August)

Age 16-17

A-Levels begin — supercurriculars matter

September
Settle into A-Level routine — note where you're weak early
Octoberelite / strong
Choose your EPQ topic (linked to your intended degree)
October-Novemberelite / strong
Start 2 supercurriculars (MOOC + one olympiad/essay comp)
November-January
Year 12 mocks / autumn assessments
January-Februaryelite
Enter John Locke / Marshall Society / RSC Chemistry Olympiad
Marchelite / strong
Book UCAT for summer if applying Medicine
March-Aprilelite / strong
Attend Oxbridge & Russell Group open days
May-June
Year 12 summer exams — your AS-equivalent predictions come from these
June-Julyelite
Oxbridge open days (end of June & early September)
Summer (July-August)elite / strong
Sit UCAT (Medicine) / start MAT prep / work experience / summer school
August
First full draft of personal statement

Age 17-18

UCAS year — every month matters

September
Final personal statement edits + finalise 5 UCAS choices
Septemberelite / strong
Register for admissions tests (LNAT, MAT, ESAT, TMUA, UCAT)
15 Octoberelite / strong
Submit UCAS — Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Med
October-Novemberelite / strong
Sit admissions tests (MAT/TMUA/ESAT/LNAT)
November-January
Year 13 mocks — universities can ask for these
Decemberelite
Oxbridge interviews (mostly first 2 weeks of December)
29 January
Submit UCAS — all other courses (equal consideration deadline)
January-Marchelite / strong
Medicine MMIs + other course interviews
March-April
Easter revision — past papers, examiner reports
May-June
A-Level exams — show what you can do
June
Reply to offers — Firm + Insurance
Mid-August (Thursday)
A-Level results day — Clearing opens

Age 18-19

Use it with intention

September-December
Work and save (gap year fund)
October-January
Re-apply through UCAS if needed (with stronger personal statement)
January-Aprilelite / strong
Internship, research assistantship or formal volunteering
Spring-Summer
Travel — ideally with purpose (language, volunteering)
Summerelite / strong
Read ahead in your degree subject (2-3 textbook chapters)

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