How to help with Revision and Exam

Start revision in a positive manner. Help your child to write in the dates of their exams. Please find attached revision timetables which your child can use to plan when to revise.

Check your child’s revision focus is on the subjects or topics that is his/her weakest. Many students will start with their best subjects/ topics and leave the weak ones until the end.

Use post-its. Try different coloured ones as reminders about vocabulary, formulae, quotes etc. Display them on mirrors, doors or around computer screens.

If your child is stuck or seems bored, encourage him/her to use a different method of study i.e. orally or in pictures/diagrams rather than writing more notes. Using different methods uses different parts of the brain.

Remind your child to seek help from his/her teachers at school; we provide lots of information and guidance. If your child prefers not to seek advice in the revision sessions or catch up after school, ask them to see their teacher on a one to one basis to get the help they need. You can also contact the teacher or Head of Department for support.

Get your child to break revision into small chunks. It is better to do three 20 minute sessions of focused revision with breaks rather than plan 3 hours and feel overwhelmed or confused with information. The Academy recommends your child should complete a minimum of 7 hours independent study per week.

Ensure your child brings the correct equipment to the exam- Black pen, pencil, ruler and calculator.

Revision means re-looking at work; it is important that your child has all the work they need in a format they can read and understand. To move knowledge into the long term memory, your child needs to re-look at it at least three times and in a variety of different ways.

Encourage your child to balance the time they spend with their friends or at work. Essentially, both revision and social times need to be in moderation.  Please support the school in ensuring your child completes a minimum of 7 hours independent study per week.

Encourage your child to get a good nights sleep before an exam and ensure they get to the loading area in good time. There is nothing worse than arriving flustered or entering the hall after the exam has started.

After the exams, both you and your child may feel a sense of relief, but there may also be signs of stress and anxiety if things haven’t gone well. Feelings may ‘catch up’ with your child after the effort of studying hard, and you may need to ‘let them be’ for a while. After an exam, controlled assessment or coursework submission, they might not want to talk about it immediately.

If they are anxious, reassure them that they have done their best for now and any problems can be dealt with in the future. Try and plan something nice for when it’s all over – reward them for trying their best, however they may feel it went.

Top tip for getting involved with your childs education

Ten Practical Tips

• Show them you’re interested. Get to know their timetable and talk about what they’ve learnt that day. If you’re not familiar with a subject, get them to teach you so that they are putting their new knowledge into practice.
• Give them a quiet place to do homework
• Help with homework but don’t do it for them. Be there to help your child find answers to problems. If your child needs to research a particular subject, go with them to a library or use the internet together. Make sure they meet homework deadlines.
• Make the most of TV. Choose programmes that are related to what your child is studying. Ask your child’s opinion about what they’ve watched. Even soaps will cover topics that are relevant – such as bullying or sex and relationships.
• Plan family visits to places of educational interest e.g museums. These can bring lessons to ​life.
• Have a handy ‘toolbox’. Keep a box of pens, pencils, rubbers and so on. Buy a dictionary so that your child has all the ‘tools’ they need to do their homework.
• Get a good attendance record.  Any time off from school affects your child’s progress. Make sure they arrive on time, and give them a healthy breakfast before they leave home. It helps their concentration.
• Stay in touch with the school. Your child’s teachers and Year Leader are great sources of help and advice – not just if your child is having problems. They will be able to suggest other ways in which you can help your child with their schoolwork.  
• Attend parents’ evenings
• Don’t forget to say ‘well done’. We all need praise now and then, but it’s particularly important for a child. Congratulating your child will encourage them to do well next time and show them you genuinely want them to succeed at school.

Other sources of help

Short of ideas for activities that are relevant to your child’s schoolwork? Why not ask friends what they get up to with their children.

You will also find lots of useful information on the internet. The ideas for activities at www.parentscentre.gov.uk are split into different age groups. The site also gives information on helping your child with homework and exam revision.

A group effort
Of course, you’re not the only person who can support your child as they move through school. Older children, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends of the family can all play a part. ​