Revision time can be a very stressful time for both parent and student. The worry of your child achieving their potential, encouraging your child to revise when they are not motivated to, coping with the worries of your child whilst remaining positive about the whole experience.
Many of you will have some sort of experience of tests or exams, and some of those experiences would have been positive whilst others would have been negative. The important thing is that your child see's you as a positive support throughout this potentially stressful period. Some of your experiences will be able to support your child but it is important that the differences in revision are recognised.
How can you help your child?
Before the exams- Encouraging your child to get organised.
- Providing a good environment.
- Supporting the revision programme.
- Understanding what type of learner your child is?
- Looking at the resources on the student revision web site.
- Rewards.
- Looking at the guidance from exam boards.
- Ensure your son/daughter gets plenty of rest.
- Ensure they have the correct equipment for the exam.
- They must try and forget the exam just taken particularly if they have just had an exam that they have found particularly challenging.
- Help them plan a revision timetable, this can take up to a couple of hours to complete. You will find a blank revision timetable and guidance on the school revision website. This tool can make the biggest difference to your child as it provides structure and focus.
- Provide the with a revision pack as a way of making a positive start. The revision pack could include valuable revision tools such as; highlighter pens, coloured pens/pencils, index cards, folders, sticky notes, paper, ruler and rubber. You may also want to top this up during the revision period.
- Subject specific revision guides and notes (subject teachers will suggest the best revision guide for their subject).
- Help them prioritise what is needed and what is not; encourage them not to constantly revise what they already know (traffic light system).
- It can sometimes be hard to find a quiet environment for your son/daughter especially if there are younger siblings to consider at home as well. It is important that they have an area where they feel they will not be disturbed. If your son/daughter is keen to keep music or the television on then it is worth talking to them about using these as rewards for doing some revision. Music without words during study is fine, as these do not interfere with the information trying to be remembered.
- If your son/daughter still insists on using these when revising the best solution is to remove them from their room. This may create a short term battle, but sometimes necessary if they will not take on the responsibility of doing revision.
- Help your child to stick to the revision timetable, give them praise when they have completed a session. At this point you may want to agree a reward structure, such as going to see friends, watching a favourite television programme, shopping, playing for a short period on the games console etc. Try to avoid money and rewards as this can become very expensive.
- Try to be a little flexible with the timetable, there may be times when things become stressful and other unexpected events occur. Agree that they can go out if the time is made up at an agreed later point, or if they are just not feeling up to it remind them of all the good work they have done and will continue to do, one session is not the end of the world.
- Show interest in the revision, talk through issues that arise and help them if they need to reorganise their timetable.
- Do some revision with them.
- Remember there are many different ways of revising, the way you revised is not necessarily going to work for them.
- Students should ideally work in half hour blocks, getting up to move around in between sessions is important for the brain and the body.
- Acknowledge that you may be stressed about your child achieving what they should do but try to avoid putting this stress onto your child.
- Provide healthy snacks for them when they are revising. Fruit is better than chocolate as it releases sugars slowly. Chocolate or sweets will release sugar quickly, but then will make your son/daughter feel quite tired.
- Water is the best source of drink as this will keep the body and brain hydrated
- Encourage them to get plenty of sleep. Only review information immediately prior to an exam, do not attempt to learn new material.
Download this advice and a revision timetable planning guide here (pdf)
