How the Pomodoro Technique can help students focus better this mock season

It’s mock season again and for many GCSE students that means stress levels are starting to rise. Between balancing homework, revision and school commitments, it’s easy to feel buried. For younger students watching their older siblings panic, it can also set the wrong tone about what study means: long nights, endless notes and lots of stress.

But what if studying didn’t have to feel so heavy?

The problem: too much all at once

Most students sit down to revise without a plan. They tell themselves, I will do three hours of science tonight, and then feel defeated when their mind starts wandering after 20 minutes. The problem is not motivation; it’s that our brains simply are not built for that kind of sustained focus.

The solution: shorter focused bursts

The Pomodoro Technique changes that completely. The idea is simple:

• Work for 25 minutes

• Take a 5 minute break

• Repeat four times then take a longer 20 to 30 minute break

Each 25 minute block is called a Pomodoro (named after the tomato shaped kitchen timer its creator used).

This method works because it makes studying manageable. Instead of staring down a mountain of notes, you focus on one small hill at a time.

For GCSE students

Mocks can be intense. Students are revising multiple subjects, all demanding recall, writing and problem solving skills. The Pomodoro Technique can help by:

• Reducing procrastination: 25 minutes feels achievable so it is easier to start

• Improving focus: working in short bursts prevents zoning out

• Building stamina: students can increase their number of sessions as confidence grows

• Balancing rest: regular breaks keep energy and mood steady

Try combining this method with clear goals for each session. For example, “Complete Question 1 to 3 of Paper 1” or “Revise DNA structure and practise a 6 mark answer.”

For primary students

Younger learners benefit from the same idea, just scaled down. A ten minute timer and a few short brain breaks help keep things calm and positive. It turns homework into a challenge rather than a chore.

Parents can get involved too. Set a timer, work alongside your child and celebrate when the buzzer goes. It helps build healthy habits that will pay off in secondary school and beyond.

Why it works

Pomodoro is powerful because it respects how our brains work. It rewards focus, creates rhythm and replaces guilt with achievement. Even students who struggle to get started often find they can handle just one Pomodoro. Once they have begun, momentum does the rest.

At Bright Sparks Learning Hub, we use similar methods to help students find focus and confidence in their studies. Whether they are practising key skills in primary or revising for GCSEs, we always work in structured, purposeful bursts and it makes all the difference.

If your child is finding revision or homework tough, try introducing the Pomodoro Technique this week. You do not need fancy tools: just a timer and a plan.

Small steps, steady progress and regular breaks are the real secret to study success.