The problem
Each new exam course needs a plan: which topics in which weeks up to the exam, with mocks and revision built in. Building one by hand from a 60-page exam board specification takes about 3 hours, and a tutor starting 4 new courses a term spends about 12 hours a term on them.
What the AI does
Save the exam board's specification PDF in Google Drive. Open a new Google Doc, click Ask Gemini, add the specification as a source and ask for a week-by-week plan from the start date to the exam, with the number of sessions a week, revision weeks and a mock. Google says Gemini in Docs can reference other Drive files to write content. You check every topic against the specification and adjust for the pupil. No pupil details are needed. It needs Google AI Pro ($25.26£18.99€22.60A$36.46C$35.70 a month) on a personal Google account.
A worked example
A self-employed maths and physics tutor in Reading starts about 4 new GCSE and A-level courses a term. They keep each board's specification in Drive and draft every scheme of work in Google Docs with Gemini.
Before
About 3 hours per scheme of work: 12 hours a term
After
About 1 hour per scheme, mostly checking: 4 hours a term
What it's worth
About $93£70€83A$134C$132 a month in time saved, against $25.26£18.99€22.60A$36.46C$35.70 for Google AI Pro. Saving 8 hours a term over 3 terms is 24 hours a year, 2 hours a month, at an assumed $47£35€42A$67C$66 an hour.
How to set it up
- Subscribe to Google AI Pro ($25.26£18.99€22.60A$36.46C$35.70 a month); Google AI Plus doesn't include Gemini in Docs.
- Download the current specification from the exam board's website and save it in Google Drive.
- Open a new Google Doc, click Ask Gemini, add the specification and ask: 'Write a week-by-week scheme of work from 8 September to 12 May, 1 session a week, grouping topics in a sensible order, with 3 revision weeks and a mock in March.'
- Check every topic, tier and paper against the specification, and correct the order to suit the pupil.
- Copy the Doc for each new pupil and adjust it, rather than starting again.
What goes wrong
- It can skip optional content, mix up tiers or misplace a required practical. The specification is the authority; check the plan against its contents page.
- Exam dates come from the board's published timetable, not Gemini.
- Google AI Pro is a personal plan on consumer terms. Keep pupils' names, schools and any additional needs out of these Docs.