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Original poster

How much revision is your yr11 child doing?

35 replies

Inncogneetow · 01/04/2013 22:43

I'm pleased with ds1's approach: he doesn't seem stressed and seems to be doing "enough".

He has all his exams this summer (not done modular courses etc.), so has 17 exams, but most are just 1hr. Some subjects, eg Eng Lang and Maths he doesn't need to revise for, just complete the practice work set for homework. He is on track for very high targets for all subjects.

This Easter hols in total he has about 15 hours of set homework to complete and is doing 10 hours of planned revision. (He does focused 30 min slots.) Also going into school for 5 hrs one day for workshops.

So is the average mumsnet child doing more or less than this?

OP posts:
webwiz · 02/04/2013 15:55

I know what DS is doing because he's been working at the kitchen table. DD1 and DD2 are home from university and have work/revision to do so they have been keeping him company.

We've just had PILs staying for the past five days and so revising has been a better option than answering a million questions from Grandma about your lovelife!

StephofArc · 02/04/2013 15:36

DD is doing about 6 hours a day, although she's in a different situation to most. We're also doing one day a week until her French exams of only communicating in French (with lots of looking things up and miming). I highly recommend it, DD was reluctant at first but the difference it's made is huge, after two days over 2 weeks.

Startail · 02/04/2013 15:22

Don't worry, I bet he'll read the easy ones properly in the real exam and get them right then.

I admire all you organised parents who know how much revision your DCs are doing. DD1 is in Y10. She does disappearing to her room, whether she is revising, watching iplayer or reading fantasy books, who knows?
The lap top flies back to BBC bitesize by the time I've opened the door.

Left to her own devices, she does work and mind maps and things appear on her walls. I don't nag, she's to much like me, nagging is very likely to be counterproductive.

webwiz · 02/04/2013 14:59

DS needs to work through past papers because he has a habit of getting the hardest question on the paper right and the easiest one wrong Hmm

A mix of learning and testing works best for him.

Original poster
Inncogneetow · 02/04/2013 14:42

ds1's school told parents in a session that there is no point for A/A* students to spend hours ploughing through past papers: they should just focus on the bits they know they don't know, or the higher mark questions and work on those... Then half the teachers set practice exam papers as homework.

ds1 seems to work best with a focuses session of 30-45 mins.

Icantotallydance - I don't know how accurate the school is at predictions. They do get top grades, but not loads of them. Last year certainly under performed in Maths. But ds1 got his predicted science grades in modules last summer, so hopefully that's positive.

OP posts:
NeitherShreddedNorSmug · 02/04/2013 14:04

DS is doing a couple of hours every morning and afternoon - so about 4 in total, and going over French and Latin vocab in the evenings. He seems happy enough with what he's doing. School have given him plenty of past papers to try, and he's been looking up the marking schemes on line once he's had a bash at the papers.

webwiz · 02/04/2013 14:01

DS's school recommended the 4hr/2hr thing as well mumslife - DS has just started revising so wanted to get some extra hours in while its the holidays. He has his first written exam 6 weeks yesterday as well but has a drama practical exam on May 8th so at least that's one gcse out of the way.

mumslife · 02/04/2013 13:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

webwiz · 02/04/2013 10:51

DS did 15 hours of revision over the Easter weekend, he is in school all day today and tomorrow doing something for music (not sure what!) and he has friends coming round afterwards to do some history revision. He has three days in school next week but is planning to do another 30 hours of personal revision on top of this to give a good start. He does have some bits of homework as well but not much.

He isn't the slightest bit stressed and is just getting on with it. He already has an A* in English language but apart from a few science modules and one English lit paper he still has everything left to study for.

DS could probably get away with less but has been coasting a bit lately so has spare energy to go for it!

ICanTotallyDance · 02/04/2013 10:44

Does his school have a good track record of keeping predicted grades/attaining high grades? He seems to be doing enough. GCSEs (and equivalents) aren't so important in the educational scheme of things, so long as he stays on for 6th form (otherwise they are quite important).

If his school has a bit of a dodgy record, I'd up the revision a bit, but if they're a good school and confident in him, I'd say he's just fine. Good luck to you both.