Best Free KS3 Revision Websites in 2026: An Honest Review

The best free revision resources for KS3 depend on the subject and how your child actually learns. For maths, Khan Academy and Corbettmaths are strong and genuinely free. For science and humanities, BBC Bitesize remains the most consistently useful all-rounder. Each has real gaps — knowing them saves your child wasted revision time.

Why free resources alone are not always enough

The Education Endowment Foundation's review of digital technology in education consistently finds that the impact of edtech depends on how it is used, not just which tool is used. Passive reading of revision notes or watching videos produces weaker learning gains than active retrieval — being tested on what you know, without looking.

Most free websites are strong on explanation and weak on adaptive practice. That means they work well when a student does not yet understand a topic, and less well when they need to consolidate and test themselves. Keep this in mind as you explore the sites below: use them for explanation, and supplement with active practice — whether through the site's own quizzes, flashcards, or an AI tutor.

1. BBC Bitesize

Best for: Science, history, geography, English, and general all-subject coverage across Years 7–9

BBC Bitesize is the most complete free revision resource for the UK secondary curriculum. It covers virtually every KS3 subject in plain, accessible language, includes short video clips, and provides multiple-choice quizzes to test understanding after each topic. The content is written by subject experts and checked against the national curriculum.

Strengths: Broad subject coverage; genuinely free with no account required; accessible on any device; short, manageable topic chunks; well-suited to Year 7 and 8 students meeting topics for the first time.

Limitations: The quiz questions are fairly straightforward and do not replicate the complexity of KS3 or GCSE assessment questions; content can be thin on topics that schools teach in more depth; some science sections assume knowledge of a specific syllabus order that may differ from your child's school.

URL: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/secondary — free, no account required.

2. Khan Academy

Best for: Maths across all of KS3; some science (particularly physics topics)

Khan Academy is a non-profit platform providing free video lessons and exercise sets. For maths, it is arguably the strongest single free resource available — the UK section maps well to the KS3 maths curriculum including Number, Algebra, Ratio and Proportion, and Statistics. The exercise sets provide immediate feedback and the platform tracks progress.

Strengths: Outstanding maths coverage; exercises with step-by-step hints when the student is stuck; parent dashboard for progress tracking; free and ad-free.

Limitations: UK curriculum mapping is much stronger for maths than for other subjects; English, history, and geography content is written for a US curriculum and often irrelevant to UK students; videos do not adapt to individual responses.

URL: www.khanacademy.org/uk — free, account recommended for tracking.

3. Corbettmaths

Best for: Maths revision, particularly for students who prefer working through practice questions

Corbettmaths is a UK-based maths revision site created by a secondary maths teacher. It is exceptionally well-organised by topic (with 5-a-day practice question sets, video explanations, and textbook exercises) and maps directly to the UK secondary maths curriculum at KS3 and GCSE level. The practice questions are pitched accurately and come with answers.

Strengths: Excellent for structured daily maths practice; the 5-a-day format builds retrieval habits; topic list is comprehensive and indexed by number; made for the UK curriculum.

Limitations: Maths only; no interactive adaptive element — the student needs to self-direct; some students find the interface less polished than commercial alternatives.

URL: corbettmaths.com — free, no account required.

4. Seneca Learning

Best for: Students who want structured topic-by-topic revision with built-in recall testing across multiple subjects

Seneca Learning uses a spaced-repetition algorithm to present content and then test students on it, with the algorithm bringing back content the student got wrong more frequently. The free tier covers KS3 maths, science, English, history, geography, and some languages. It works well for consolidation revision when students already have a basic grasp of the content.

Strengths: Genuine retrieval practice built in; covers multiple KS3 subjects; tracks what has been completed; has a school-linking feature that some teachers use to assign topics.

Limitations: The free tier has limitations on content depth; some content is thin compared to BBC Bitesize; exam-style question practice is less developed than the recall function; best for consolidation rather than first exposure.

URL: senecalearning.com — free tier available; premium plan available at additional cost.

5. Quizlet

Best for: Vocabulary and term-based revision (languages, science terminology, history key terms)

Quizlet is a flashcard platform where students (or their teachers) create sets of digital flashcards. For subjects heavy in vocabulary — modern foreign languages, biology terminology, geography key terms, history concepts — it provides flexible testing modes including self-test, match, and write. Many student-created KS3 sets already exist.

Strengths: Highly effective for vocabulary and definition recall; multiple study modes; students can create their own sets (which reinforces learning); free tier is usable.

Limitations: The free tier is increasingly limited, with ads and some features gated; quality of existing sets varies significantly — always check accuracy before using someone else's set; not suitable for subjects requiring extended writing or problem-solving.

URL: quizlet.com — free tier with limitations; Quizlet Plus available at cost.

6. GCSEPod

Best for: Subject-specific revision with short, well-produced video "pods"

GCSEPod is primarily targeted at GCSE (Years 10–11) but has some KS3 content. Many secondary schools subscribe and give students free access — check with your child's school before assuming it requires individual payment. The pods are professionally produced and topic-specific, typically 3–7 minutes each.

Strengths: High-quality, concise video content; exam-board-specific sections; popular with Year 9 students beginning to think about GCSE preparation.

Limitations: May require a school subscription for free access; less suited to Year 7 and 8 than to Year 9; limited interactive practice compared to Khan Academy or Seneca.

URL: gcsepod.com — check with your child's school for free access.

What to look for when evaluating any free revision site

Not all free revision resources are equal. When assessing any site for your Year 7, 8, or 9 child, consider:

Active vs passive: Does the site test the student, or just present information? Passive reading of notes does not produce the same learning gains as retrieval practice.

UK curriculum alignment: Is the content written for the English national curriculum and the relevant exam board, or adapted from US or other curricula?

Quality control: Is the content produced by subject specialists? Is it peer-reviewed or curriculum-checked?

Age-appropriate: Is the interface and language appropriate for an 11–14-year-old?

Sustainability: Can your child use it independently without getting frustrated or distracted?

Frequently asked questions

Which free revision site is best for KS3 maths?

For KS3 maths, Corbettmaths and Khan Academy are the two strongest free options. Corbettmaths is better for students who want to work through structured practice questions with answers; Khan Academy is better for students who need video explanations before tackling questions, and for parents who want to track progress. Both are free and specifically useful for Years 7, 8, and 9.

Is BBC Bitesize enough for KS3 revision?

BBC Bitesize is a strong starting point but not a complete revision programme on its own. It explains topics well and has basic quizzes, but the questions are simpler than those in KS3 assessments. Students who only use Bitesize may understand topics but struggle to apply that understanding in exam-style questions. Pair Bitesize explanations with active practice from Seneca, Corbettmaths, or similar tools.

Are there free revision websites for KS3 English?

BBC Bitesize covers KS3 English including reading, writing, grammar, and literature (Key Stage 3 texts). For reading comprehension practice, Seneca has some English content. However, free resources for English are generally weaker than for maths — English improvement requires writing practice with feedback, which most free websites cannot provide. A tutor or AI writing coach that gives specific feedback on paragraph structure and technique is more effective than any free passive resource.

Can my child use free websites instead of a tutor?

Free websites are a valuable supplement but do not replicate the personalised, responsive engagement of a good tutor. The Education Endowment Foundation consistently finds that one-to-one and small group tuition produce stronger learning gains than digital technology used alone. Free sites work best as daily practice tools alongside occasional tutoring, not as replacements for it.

For interactive, curriculum-aligned revision practice that goes beyond what free websites offer, see aitutors.me.