1. Getting Started
Welcome to BrainMapRevision! This platform is designed to help you master every subject through interactive revision tools, past paper practice, and personalized study boards.
What is BrainMapRevision?
BrainMapRevision is a free, open-source revision platform for students from Year 1 to Year 11. Whether you're preparing for SATs or GCSEs, we provide:
- Authentic past paper questions from major UK exam boards
- Comprehensive revision guides for key topics
- Interactive quizzes and flashcards
- Custom revision board creator
- Progress tracking and analytics
- Gamified learning with XP and rewards
System Requirements
BrainMapRevision works on:
- Modern web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
- No downloads or installations required
2. Creating an Account
Sign Up Process
- Click "Get Started Free" on the homepage
- Choose your role: Student or Teacher
- Enter your email address and create a password
- Verify your email (check your inbox)
- Complete your profile with year group and subjects
Student vs Teacher Accounts
Student Accounts:
- Access all study materials and resources
- Create personal revision boards
- Track your own progress
- Earn XP and Brain Coins
- Join classrooms created by teachers
Teacher Accounts:
- All student features, plus:
- Create and manage classrooms
- Assign homework and track student progress
- View class analytics
- Share resources with students
3. Browsing Subjects
Available Subjects
BrainMapRevision covers all core GCSE subjects:
- English (Literature & Language)
- Mathematics
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- History
- Geography
- Computer Science
- Languages (French, Spanish, German)
- Art & Design
Filtering by Year Group
Content is organized by key stages:
- Year 1-6: Primary school content
- Year 7-9: Key Stage 3
- Year 10-11: GCSE / Key Stage 4
Exam Board Specific Content
Filter resources by your exam board:
- AQA
- Edexcel
- OCR
- WJEC
- SQA (Scotland)
4. Creating Revision Boards
What are Revision Boards?
Revision boards are customizable study spaces where you can organize notes, flashcards, and practice questions by topic or subject.
Creating a Board
- Navigate to "Revision Boards" in the menu
- Click "Create New Board"
- Name your board (e.g., "Macbeth Revision")
- Select subject and topics
- Add content: notes, flashcards, or questions
- Customize with colors and tags
- Save your board
Adding Content to Boards
- Text Notes: Type or paste revision notes
- Flashcards: Create question/answer cards
- Past Paper Questions: Add from the question bank
- Images: Upload diagrams or screenshots
- Links: Add external resources
Organizing Boards
- Group boards by subject or exam
- Use tags for easy searching
- Share boards with classmates (optional)
- Export boards as PDFs
5. Using Past Papers
Accessing Past Paper Questions
- Go to "Past Papers" in the navigation
- Filter by subject, exam board, and year
- Browse available questions
- Click on a question to view details
Question Information
Each question includes:
- Exam board, year, and paper number
- Mark allocation
- Official mark scheme
- Examiner comments
- Comprehensive revision guide
- Related topic links
Practice Modes
Study Mode:
- View questions with instant access to mark schemes
- Read revision guides alongside questions
- Take your time to understand concepts
Test Mode:
- Timed practice under exam conditions
- Mark schemes hidden until completion
- Earn bonus XP for high scores
Revision Guides
Each past paper question has an accompanying guide that explains:
- Key concepts being tested
- Step-by-step approach to answering
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Exam technique tips
- Related practice questions
6. Taking Quizzes
Starting a Quiz
- Navigate to "Quizzes"
- Select your subject and topic
- Choose difficulty level (Foundation/Higher)
- Set number of questions (5, 10, 20, or custom)
- Enable timer if desired
- Click "Start Quiz"
Question Types
- Multiple choice
- Short answer
- Fill in the blank
- True/False
- Extended response
Using Hints
Stuck on a question? Use hint tokens to get help:
- Remove 2 wrong answers (1 hint) - Multiple choice only
- Show topic/keyword (1 hint)
- Reveal first letter (1 hint) - Short answer
- Show related formula (2 hints) - Math/Science
- Display worked example (3 hints)
- Full answer explanation (5 hints)
Earn free hints through daily logins, perfect scores, and level-ups. Or purchase hint packs in the shop with Brain Coins.
Scoring and XP
- Complete quiz: +20 XP, +10 Brain Coins
- Perfect score bonus: +50 XP, +25 Brain Coins
- Using hints reduces XP earned slightly
- Detailed feedback on incorrect answers
7. Using Flashcards
Accessing Flashcards
- Browse pre-made flashcard decks by subject
- Create your own custom decks
- Add flashcards to revision boards
Creating Flashcards
- Go to "Flashcards" → "Create Deck"
- Name your deck (e.g., "Photosynthesis Key Terms")
- Add cards with question on front, answer on back
- Include images if helpful
- Tag with relevant topics
Study Sessions
BrainMapRevision uses spaced repetition to optimize learning:
- Cards you struggle with appear more frequently
- Mastered cards appear less often
- Track mastery level for each card
- Earn XP for completing flashcard sessions
Flashcard Tips
- Study in short sessions (10-15 minutes)
- Review daily for best retention
- Say answers out loud before flipping
- Mark cards honest ("Easy", "Medium", "Hard")
8. XP & Leveling System
How XP Works
Experience Points (XP) represent your learning progress. Earn XP by:
Study Activities:
- Complete a quiz: +20 XP
- Perfect score bonus: +50 XP
- Answer past paper question: +15 XP
- Review flashcards (10 cards): +10 XP
- Create revision board: +25 XP
- 30-minute study session: +30 XP
- Daily login: +5 XP
- 7-day streak: +100 XP bonus
Community Contributions:
- Submit past paper question: +25 XP
- Write revision guide: +50 XP
- Helpful forum answer (per upvote): +10 XP
- Report error: +5 XP
Achievements:
- First quiz completed: +100 XP
- 100 questions answered: +250 XP
- Subject mastery (90%+): +500 XP
- Help 10 students: +200 XP
Leveling Up
Level requirements:
- Level 1: 0 XP (Start)
- Level 2: 100 XP
- Level 3: 250 XP
- Level 5: 1,000 XP
- Level 10: 5,000 XP
- Level 25: 25,000 XP
- Level 50: 100,000 XP
- Level 100: 500,000 XP
Level Perks
- Level 5: Unlock custom theme creator
- Level 10: Daily coin bonus +10
- Level 15: Unlock exclusive themes
- Level 25: Access to 2x XP events
- Level 50: Premium badge
- Level 100: Legendary badge + custom profile URL
9. Brain Coins & Shop
Earning Brain Coins
Brain Coins are the in-platform currency used to purchase themes, hints, and cosmetics.
Study Rewards:
- Complete quiz: +10 coins
- Perfect score: +25 coins
- Daily challenge: +25-75 coins
- Weekly challenge: +150 coins
- Level up: +50 coins per level
Daily Rewards:
- Daily login: +5 coins
- 3-day streak: +15 coins
- 7-day streak: +50 coins
- 30-day streak: +200 coins
The Shop
Access the shop from your profile or navigation menu.
Themes (100-500 coins):
- Ocean Wave: 200 coins
- Forest Sanctuary: 250 coins
- Sunset Blaze: 300 coins
- Neon Nights: 350 coins
- Retro Arcade: 400 coins
- Galaxy (Level 15+): 500 coins
- Custom Theme Creator: 1,000 coins (one-time unlock)
Hint Packs:
- 5 hints: 50 coins
- 10 hints: 90 coins (10% discount)
- 25 hints: 200 coins (20% discount)
- Unlimited hints (1 week): 500 coins
Power-Ups:
- 2x XP Boost (1 hour): 100 coins
- Time Freeze (pause quiz timer): 75 coins
- Second Chance (retry wrong answer): 60 coins
- Skip Question: 50 coins
Cosmetics:
- Animated Avatars: 150-300 coins
- Profile Borders: 75-150 coins
- Custom Badges: 100 coins each
- Username Colors: 125 coins
Managing Your Inventory
View and manage purchased items in your Inventory:
- Switch between owned themes
- Check hint balance
- Activate power-ups
- Equip cosmetics
- View purchase history
10. Tracking Your Progress
Progress Dashboard
Access your personal analytics from the "Progress" page:
Statistics Shown:
- Total XP earned
- Current level and progress to next level
- Brain Coins balance
- Study streak (days)
- Total study time
- Questions answered
- Quiz completion rate
- Average quiz scores
Subject Mastery
- View mastery percentage for each subject
- Identify weak topics that need attention
- Track improvement over time
- Compare with class averages (if in a classroom)
Study Analytics
- Daily, weekly, and monthly study charts
- XP earned per subject
- Most active study times
- Quiz performance trends
Goal Setting
- Set daily study time goals
- Target specific topics to master
- Track progress toward goals
- Earn bonus XP for reaching milestones
11. Classroom Features (Teachers)
Creating a Classroom
- Navigate to "Classroom" → "Create New"
- Name your classroom (e.g., "Year 10 History")
- Select subject and year group
- Generate invite code or link
- Share code with students
Managing Students
- View student roster
- Track individual progress
- See completion rates
- Remove or add students
Creating Assignments
- Select "Assignments" in classroom dashboard
- Click "Create New Assignment"
- Choose content: quiz, past papers, or board
- Set due date
- Assign to entire class or individuals
Class Analytics
- View class average scores
- Identify struggling students
- Track assignment completion
- Generate progress reports
For Students: Joining a Classroom
- Receive invite code from teacher
- Navigate to "Classroom" → "Join"
- Enter invite code
- Confirm joining
- Access classroom resources and assignments
12. Study Tips & Best Practices
Effective Revision Strategies
- Start Early: Begin revision weeks before exams, not days
- Study in Chunks: 25-30 minute sessions with 5-minute breaks
- Mix It Up: Alternate between subjects and topics
- Practice Regularly: Do a little every day rather than cramming
- Test Yourself: Quizzes are more effective than just reading
Using BrainMapRevision Effectively
- Complete daily challenges to maintain your study streak
- Focus on topics where you score lowest in quizzes
- Review flashcards multiple times for better retention
- Practice past papers under timed conditions
- Read revision guides even for questions you answer correctly
Maximizing XP and Coins
- Log in daily for streak bonuses
- Aim for perfect quiz scores
- Complete weekly challenges
- Contribute quality content to earn community rewards
- Use 2x XP boosts during intensive study sessions
Preparing for Exams
- 6 weeks before: Create comprehensive revision boards
- 4 weeks before: Focus on weak topics, use quizzes
- 2 weeks before: Practice past papers under exam conditions
- 1 week before: Review flashcards and revision guides
- Night before: Light review, get good sleep
Getting Help
- Use the community forum to ask questions
- Check revision guides for detailed explanations
- Request new topics if content is missing
- Report errors to help improve the platform
- Collaborate with classmates in shared boards