How much revision? and how do you make a 15yo revise?

DD1 was very good revising for her mocks (although not for long enough because we all missed them on the diary sheet).

She's upto her eyes in preparation for an art exam at the moment, (some fool has given her a A prediction, which she'd like to get). When that's done I will suggest a revision time table.

However, I think they get far more guided revision in school that we do.

She wants to do 3x science (which she'll get As in without a lot of work) and Art AS which doesn't need an A (she just wants one). Personally I'd like to see her get A for maths more.

She's dyslexic so a B for English, RE, drama, music and Geog would be great, but they are all a bit in the lap of the gods and the examiners ability to translate her spelling.

It's also proven that students retain information better if they write things down rather then just do stuff on line or on a laptop.

I used to make revision notes - key phrases and facts as bullet points, sketches, diagrams, plenty of colour - and found that I developed an almost photographic memory as a result and could mentally see the revision sheet in the exam.

I would work flat out for an hour or two and then have a scheduled break to do something completely different.

Stress levels... mmm my DD is also in Y11 and sounds similar - that part about "veers between thinking he can wing it and pass or alternatively that it's already too late to do as well as he needs to so no point" sounds eerily familiar! The stress comes from wanting to be in control, but we are not! My approach is to continue to offer support, but detach myself from the outcome. No use being a 'crutch' for our DC - if they need us to pass exams then how will they cope in Uni and work? Developing their own motivation and revision strategies must be part of the solution. I am still facing challenges with DS who is now at uni and am calling him weekly to follow up on him applying for summer internships. Have told him I won't buy him a new laptop (old one crashed) until he applies!! Not sure if I'm right, still trying! Have DD aged 7 so maybe I'll get it right third time lucky...

I have also used the loo for revision. When ds1 was doing gcse revision I stuck post it notes where the loo roll is and on the back of the door and next to the taps (on the assumption that he washed his hands) Changed them every few days to cover the chemistry syllabus (his worst subject) Will be doing the same for ds3

My son likes to read on the loo. I removed all the gaming magazines and replaced with revision guides. 15mins revision a day!

More info here as to why planned breaks works (and also why constant revision is essential to being able to recall information at a later date.)

Have you ever heard of the pomodoro technique? I saw it work fantastically in our school for year 10 and 11. An hour of revision would be a massive amount if it was incredibly active revision (mindmaps/exam questions etc). The idea is that you work solidly for 20 or 25 minutes (absolutely no distractions, don't look at your phone, leave your seat etc) and then have a 5 minute break. Repeat 3 times then either stop or have a longer break. There are free apps available for it, more info here.

"has drawn up a lovely colour coded revision timetable starting next week"

This is DD - the timetable is complete & despite missing Monday almost completely she has caught up & stayed on track for the rest of the week being about 1.5 hrs ahead of her self right now.

I am astounded!

& all in 15 minute bursts with plenty of downtime for FB/texts etc

I'd say it depends on his ability and memory.
It's my second time with a DS doing GCSEs.
DS1 started revising after the Easter in Year 11. Too late IMO. He was however predicted all As and A*s. He pulled it off by the skin of his teeth and in retrospect wishes he had started earlier. (As a matter of interest he is doing A levels now and adopts a method of permanent ongoing revision).

DS2 is now in Y11. He is also very able but doesn't have the razor memory of his brother. He is away this week but has drawn up a lovely colour coded revision timetable starting next week .
We shall see.

I would have a chat with him again about what his aims are for the future. Has he got a University in mind? There are good short films on YouTube about courses, accommodation, student life and so on. Once he can 'see' himself post 'A levels, doing a course he loves, or a job he is passionate about, the motivation and the studying will follow. Even visit a university town and have a look around the campus. If he can't motivate himself for GCSEs, A-levels will be even harder.

Digital entertainment is definitely a thing. We are all the same- who wouldn't rather take a sneaky look at MN than deal with that boring email at work? DS1 is through school exams now but even for Uni finals he would not buy a new computer game until after the exams were over- and when he still lived at home he would take his games stuff out of his bedroom until the exams were all over. Too much temptation.

Perhaps he is put off by the thought of doing 3 hours a day of 11+ Bond style revision. There are lots of other ways for him to revise for gcse, workbooks are just one way, there are plenty of online sites with quizzes and podcasts. Would you have time to take an active role and test him on things? Talk only French for a day - no English allowed etc?

I have got the lining wallpaper out this week to write a revision timetable on - I will also write out the post it notes and stick them around the house in places where ds can't fail to see them eg by the loo roll in the bathroom, on the mirror in his room, opposite his seat at the dining table etc etc. I'm thinking of taping his Geography case studies and playing it regularly in the hope that he subconsciously takes some if it on board but at the end of the day it is all down to him.

Lead a horse to water ...

Totally agree with mummymeister. if he understands that if you want something it requires work then your are halfway there. A gap year and working in various jobs helped my DS focus. He is just taking a little longer to get it right in his head first before he decides to work.

OP, the girls at DD's school who are sitting their GCSEs in May/June were told to have a good rest at half term.

They had their mocks after Christmas and now have their results.

This is their time to digest how things are going for them and work out a strategy for Summer.

This seems a very good idea to me, assuming pupils worked hard for their mocks.

Your story struck a chord with me - I still think the 11+ was a set-up!

All I do is share what we do. We have a 2 hour period at the same time every day where they have to an hour's proper work (the other hour is spent in general timewasting lol). To enforce this I wrote a computer program (!) that scuppers games and videos on the computer during that window, the pull of digital entertainment so huge.

Another one who thinks you can't make them revise, you can only encourage them. With DS, I confiscated his playstation controller and let him have it back for an hour each evening, revision dependent

With DD doing A levels this year I have the opposite problem in that she's doing too much dancing, drama, revision and extra responsibilities school has forced onto her (in that order) but that's a problem for another thread.

Send him on a residential course for the Easter holldays where he will get some inspiration and tough talking.

velvetspoon. why did you tell him that you did no work and still passed? no wonder he thinks he can do the same. is this really the case? can you not "find" some old diaries from your teenage years which show that you did in fact do some revision. do you have parents or siblings that could back this up? my DH is super bright he didn't work that hard for his o levels but I would never tell our DC's this. I just tell them how thick I am and that everything is a struggle just to get a c. does he like the attention that he gets from you stressing about it? what about the "whatever" approach. make it clear you wont be supporting him if he doesn't get where he wants to. you have to vary what you are currently doing because this clearly isn't working.

Beastofburden - I created the frame she input the sessions - it's working so far........

It's the shrugging that is working in my house along with 'whatever'

IME they revise best if they have confidence that it's going to work. So anything you can do to prove that effort will be rewarded is good- encourage him to tackle the bit with the highest reward for effort first.

Its also a good idea to revise with a friend cos they test one another and that sticks better. you appear with cake etc at regular intervals.

Wake him with coffee and supply a nice breakfast.

if you can afford it, send him on one of those easter revision courses somewhere shit hot.

I have to say I made mine do their own spreadsheet- if I did it, it just becomes something that is part of the parental infrastructure and can be safely ignored. If they do it, its part of the problem solving and has to be dealt with.

You can't make him revise, only encourage him.

A good plan is to split revision days into 3 parts - morning, afternoon and evening, and then to revise during 2 of those sessions. It takes accounts teenage sleeping habits and the odd party.

The key thing to revision is to make a plan and stick to it.