Excellent question.
The key to mastering both AS and A2 History 9489 content in time using
spaced repetition is to work smart, not just hard. Here's exactly how you can structure it so
that:
You cover all topics
Retain information long-term
Maximise exam skills
🧠 STEP-BY-STEP: Spaced Repetition Plan for A Level
History (9489)
✳️1. Divide Your Topics First
Split your syllabus into 10–12 core topics (from AS and A2):
AS Topics (Paper 1 + 2):
League of Nations 1920s
League of Nations 1930s
Origins of the Cold War (1945–1949)
Cold War Escalation (1950–62)
Détente + Later Cold War (1963–91)
A2 Topics (Paper 3):
Truman + containment (1945–53)
Eisenhower/Dulles + brinkmanship
Khrushchev’s foreign policy
Nixon/Ford + détente
Reagan and Second Cold War
Gorbachev and end of Cold War
📅 2. Use a Spaced Repetition Table (See Below)
Every time you study a topic (e.g. blurting, essay, flashcards), log the date and schedule next
review using intervals:
Date 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Topic
Studied Review Review Review Review
League 1920s Sun, June Wed, July Sun, July Sun, July Late
Date 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Topic
Studied Review Review Review Review
30 3 7 14 August
Truman Thu, July Mon, July Mon, July Late
Mon, July 1
Doctrine 4 8 15 August
Tue, July
Khrushchev Tue, July 2 Fri, July 5 Tue, July 9 Early Sept
16
⏱ Suggested Intervals:
Day 1 → Day 3 → Day 7 → Day 14 → Day 30
✅ 3. Daily Plan Using the Table
Every day, do 1–2 of the following (rotate topics):
Task How to Do It
Write everything you remember. Then review notes and add
🧠 Blurting
missing bits.
📝 Essay Write one paragraph for a past paper question (PEEL +
Paragraph context + historiography).
💬 Verbal Recall Teach the topic aloud or record yourself explaining it.
🧪 Source Read a past extract. Identify main argument, tone, and use
Analysis your own context.
Use Anki or paper flashcards to test key dates, reasons,
🔁 Flashcards
people.
🗓 SAMPLE HISTORY WEEK (July)
Day Task
Mo
Blurting: Truman Doctrine + Make 5 Flashcards
n
Tue Essay Paragraph: Cold War escalation + Review
Day Task
League 1920s
We
Review: Truman + Extract Practice (League 1930s)
d
Flashcards: Cold War critics + Recall Detente key
Thu
events
Fri Timed paragraph: Reagan’s policies
Sat Blurting: Khrushchev + review Cold War causes
Sun Weekly review of everything + plan next week
📊 Weekly Tracker Table
Last Mastery Next
Topic Weak Spots
Studied (1–5) Review
Too general on
League 1920s June 30 3 July 3
Corfu
Truman
July 1 4 July 4 Forgot key dates
Doctrine
🔥 GOLDEN RULE:
❝ Don’t study the same topic too long in one sitting. Touch it repeatedly, not endlessly. ❞
1. This way, you’ll cover all your History content twice or more before mocks, and at
least 3–4 times before finals without burning
🧠 OVERALL STUDY STRATEGY (JULY–OCTOBER)
🔁 1. Spaced Repetition & Active Recall
Use flashcards (Anki, Notion, or physical cards).
Review notes in intervals: Day 1, 3, 7, 14, etc.
Use blurting: Write what you remember, then check and fill gaps.
Apply to:
History events, timelines, historiography
Literature quotes, themes, critics
Art techniques, artist influences, keywords
📝 2. Past Paper Practice (2–3 times a week minimum)
History: Practice one essay/extract weekly, use mark scheme.
Literature: Plan and write 1-2 timed essays weekly.
Art: Weekly review of your coursework journal, then focus on
technique/stylistic improvement.
📈 3. Weekly Review
Sunday: Reflect on what went well + plan what to revise/improve next week.
🗓️DAILY TIMETABLE (Mon–Sun until mocks & Oct/Nov)
Time Activity
5:30–6:00 AM Wake up, pray/devotion/stretch (spiritual + mindset
grounding)
6:00–7:00 AM Active recall (flashcards or blurting) for History/Lit
7:30 AM School breakfast
8:00–4:00 PM School time (use free periods to annotate Lit texts or
sketch Art ideas)
4:00–5:00 PM 1-hour focused revision session (subject rotates: Lit,
History, Art)
5:00–5:30 PM Break (nap, snack, walk)
5:30–6:30 PM Past paper question or content drill (based on mock
syllabus)
7:00–8:00 PM Art practice/journal work or revision sketching
8:00–8:30 PM Wind down: light reading or spiritual journaling
9:00 PM Sleep (early sleep = better memory & mood)
🧩 SUBJECT-BY-SUBJECT BLUEPRINT
📚 History (9489)
Goal: Master essay structure, historiography, and analysis.
Weekly Plan:
Mon: Revise a topic via active recall (e.g., Cold War, League of Nations)
Wed: Practice 1 timed essay (Plan + Write)
Fri: Extract paper analysis + integrate own context
Sat: Flashcard review + 1 past paper paragraph
Sun: Review weak spots & improve blurting notes
🔑 Use:
PEEL paragraphs with context + historiography
Weekly “debate yourself” sessions: argue both sides of a question
📖 Literature (9695)
Goal: Know texts deeply, write powerful arguments with quotes & critics.
Weekly Plan:
Tue: Thematic essay planning (by play/novel/poem)
Thu: Quote memorisation & critic analysis (active recall)
Fri: Write 1 essay or commentary under timed conditions
Sat: Annotate texts again or do unseen practice
Sun: Oral essay (talk through an answer aloud, record it)
🎯 Master:
At least 5 quotes/theme
At least 2 critics per essay
Use context with precision (not general)
🎨 Art
Goal: Build consistent, conceptually strong coursework and refine final piece.
Weekly Plan:
Mon: 30-min idea journal (develop themes, colour studies)
Wed: Technique refinement (try another artist’s style)
Fri: Visual analysis write-up (link to artists/themes)
Weekend (2 hrs): Final piece work, annotation, sketchbook layout
🖼 Focus on:
High intentionality in choices (colour, media, symbols)
Artist links + annotated development pages
Reflective annotations: “Why did I change this?” “How does this show my
theme?”
⛱️REST & BURNOUT PREVENTION
❗Golden Rule: 1 hour of guilt-free rest daily + 1 “light day” per week
(Sunday)
Sunday ideas:
Prayer, journaling, watching a movie based on your Lit book, going for a walk
while listening to a History podcast.
Daily Micro-Rest:
Every 90 mins of work = 10-minute screen-free break.
Use music, nature sounds, or silence.
Monthly Reset:
One day a month off from intense study to refresh your motivation. (Use to
brainstorm creative Art ideas or revisit goals.)
📅 FINAL SPRINT TIMELINE
July:
Content-heavy month.
Solidify weak topics + begin consistent past paper work.
August (Mocks):
Full mock preparation (simulate exam conditions).
Tighten time management, essay structure, and Art presentation.
Sept–Oct:
Mock analysis: re-study where you dropped marks.
Drill exam skills.
Polish final Art coursework & reflective analysis.
Lock in Literature and History arguments with critical sharpness.
✨ MOTTO: “Every day, a drop — together, an ocean.”
🎯 DAILY A* BLUEPRINT (JULY–OCT 2025)
Each day includes:
1. Core Revision Block (1 hr)
2. Exam Skills Block (30–60 min)
3. Art Development Block (30–45 min)
4. Rest + Recharge Time (non-negotiable)
✅ DAILY TASKS MENU
Use this menu to choose at least one task from each subject every day.
📚 HISTORY (9489) — Daily Tasks Menu
Task Type Example Activities
📖 Content Revision Blurting a topic (e.g. “Why did the Cold War start?”),
review with notes
🧠 Flashcard Drill 15 mins of key terms/events with spaced repetition
✍️Essay Practice Write a 1-paragraph timed intro + 1 body paragraph (PEEL
+ context + historiography)
🧐 Source Skills Practice evaluating an extract: What is the main argument?
What tone? Add own context
💬 Verbal Recall Teach a friend or record yourself explaining a topic in 5
minutes
📖 LITERATURE (9695) — Daily Tasks Menu
Task Type Example Activities
📚 Quote Memorisation Use active recall to write 5 quotes from memory per
text
✍️Mini Essay Plans Plan 1 essay intro + 2 topic sentences + quotes (no
writing)
🧠 Critical View Learn 1 critic or contextual link per text (e.g., “Feminist
view of Isabella”)
🔍 Close Reading Annotate a page of your text: imagery, tone, themes,
punctuation
🎤 Oral Practice Record yourself answering a past question aloud — build
argument flow
🎨 ART — Daily Tasks Menu
Task Type Example Activities
🖼 Visual Journal Add a drawing or collage + reflection to your sketchbook
🎨 Refine Technique Practice 1 element (e.g. shading, painting skin tone,
fabric folds)
🧠 Artist Analysis Write 1 paragraph analysing an artist you’re inspired by
📝 Coursework Annotation Add captions: why this colour? Why this layout?
How does it link to theme?
✏️Conceptual Work Mind-map ideas for your final piece or composition
adjustments
⏱️DAILY TIMETABLE EXAMPLE (2–3 hrs/day)
Time Task
5:30–6:00 AM Wake + devotion/stretch/pray
6:00–6:30 AM History blurting + flashcards (Cold War or League)
6:30–7:00 AM Literature quote recall + essay plan
7:00–7:30 AM Art sketchbook or technique practice
Evening (5:00–6:00 PM) Rotate between:
Timed history paragraph
Lit close analysis
Art annotation | | 9:00 PM | Bedtime (mental recovery = memory gain!) |
🧠 WEEKLY STRUCTURE FOR VARIETY
Day Focus
Monday Content-heavy day (revise + blurting + reading texts)
Tuesday Past papers + analysis (history/lit)
Wednesday Art journal + one essay plan
Thursday Flashcards + mini assessments
Friday Speed writing + oral practice
Saturday Deep art work + full practice paper
Sunday Light review, rest, prayer, planning next week
📊 TRACK DAILY WINS (Optional Tracker)
Make a simple table or Notion page:
Day History Task Lit Task Art Task 1 Thing I Did Well
Mon Flashcards + intro Essay plan Artist analysis Didn’t
procrastinate 💪
✨ Remember
“Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”
— So, your daily habits
🌿 WHAT IS GENTLENESS?
Greek word: prautes = humility + restraint + strength submitted to
God
Not timidity or softness, but calm, Spirit-led strength that uplifts others
without crushing.
💖 DAILY HABITS TO CULTIVATE GENTLENESS
1. 🛐 Start Your Day in the Spirit
Prayer prompt:
“Lord, make me gentle like You. Teach me to respond with grace, not
reaction. Make my strength serve others.”
Verse to reflect on:
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” — Philippians
4:5
Morning 5-min gentle spirit practice:
Breathe deeply.
Read 1 short passage (Proverbs, Psalms, or Gospels).
Ask God to help you use your tone, hands, and words to reflect His love.
2. 🗣️Watch Your Tone — Before Your Words
Gentleness begins in:
How you speak (“Is this building or breaking?”)
How you listen (without cutting people off)
How you correct (with humility)
Replace “What’s wrong with you?” with “Are you okay?” Replace “You
always mess up” with “Let’s try this again.”
📿 Ask:
Would I still speak this way if Jesus were in the room?
3. 💪 Gentleness Is Strength Under Control
Don’t confuse gentleness with letting people walk all over you.
Instead:
Stand firm without crushing
Set boundaries without bitterness
Correct wrong with calm boldness
📖 “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” — Proverbs 15:1
Next time someone frustrates you (even at school):
Pause. Inhale. Ask: “Can I speak truthfully but softly?”
4. 💭 Respond, Don’t React
Reactions are flesh.
Responses are Spirit.
Build this reflex:
Pause. Ask: “Is this anger or conviction?”
Pray quietly: “Holy Spirit, take over my mouth.”
Speak peace, not heat.
5. 💌 Gentleness Toward Yourself
Don’t bully yourself when you fall short.
Be gentle in your repentance.
Speak life over your flaws.
Remember that Jesus is gentle with you.
📖 “Come to Me… for I am gentle and humble in heart.” — Matthew 11:29
🧭 WEEKLY GENTLENESS REFLECTION
Every Sunday, reflect with these journal questions:
Did I raise my voice when I could’ve been soft?
Did I correct anyone with grace?
Was I gentle toward someone who annoyed or hurt me?
Was I gentle with myself?
🧠 REMEMBER THIS:
Gentleness is not a feeling — it’s a decision.
You can be firm and fearless yet still gentle and graceful.
Gentleness is the tone of Jesus — and people remember your tone more than
your words.
Would you like me to make you a “Gentleness Journal Page” (PDF or Notion
layout) you can use daily with prayers, verses, and reflections?
