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

29 replies

velvetspoon · 18/02/2014 12:57

DS1 is doing his GCSEs this year.

I have been asking to him to revise. He does a little (if I'm lucky maybe an hour a day, less if he has homework). His school have said he should be doing a couple of hours a day at most during the hols, he went to a revision class yesterday for 3 hours so thinks that gets him out of doing any more work today.

He wants to do well, or at least he did - at the start of the year he wanted to do medicine/dentistry. However after some disappointing mock results (albeit he didn't revise at all, following which he has been predicted B grades in most subjects) whilst he hasn't exactly given up, he seems to view all that as beyond his reach. I have tried to tell him that getting a C in exams where he did no work, doesn't necessarily mean his 'best' is a B. But I don't think it's going in. B's won't get him onto A level courses in his chosen subjects in the 6th forms he wants to go to, and he knows that.

Lack of revision has been his undoing before - before his 11plus, I bought all the books for him to practice, he refused to do them, and ended up failing by one mark. The kids he went to primary school with, who generally weren't as able as him, but who did pass, and who he is still friends with, are now on course to get A*s in every subject.

I just want him to try. I have asked, I've begged. I've offered bribes. Nothing seems to make much difference, he's doing a little work, but not even as much as the school have said (and I'm not sure that's enough even if he was doing it all).

I can't give up, but I'm feeling increasingly anxious about it all. I feel like I failed him by fucking up the 11plus, I'm worried history will repeat itself again. I just want him to have the opportunities I did, to go to uni etc.

OP posts:

KatyMac · 18/02/2014 16:52

I created a spreadsheet based on what DD hoped to do - but built in 40% redundancy......so I'll be happy if 60% gets done

I set it all up then walked away - I answer questions on recording and order but amount is up to her, if she wants to do more or less I shrug & walk away - it's her problem

Holidays it's 4.5 hrs a day so aiming to get 3 done
Termtime it's about 10.5 hrs a week
Over the 15 weeks she will do about 225 hours revision (I expect about 130 to be done)

She has time to cover each topic 3 or 4 times between now & the exams (but she is only doing 6 exams) plus spend some time on her Arts Award

But tbh - who knows.....

Beastofburden · 18/02/2014 16:48

so, maybe go after quality not quantity. Can you get him to focus his efforts on the areas which will make the most difference? he may even get into it.

mummymeister · 18/02/2014 16:44

if its an identified problem from previous times then the issue isn't revision but not understanding that if you want something you have to work for it. bit of work experience in a dull job to show him where he is heading if he doesn't get the marks he should? controversial I know but could work. its difficult - at 15 really he is in charge of his own destiny. what about a revision chart - loads of free ones online that work out how much you should be doing every day on each subject. you can then track what he is doing. but sorry fundamentally now its down to him. sometimes you have to just let them screw up I am afraid. have a plan B ready in case he does but try to get him into the right mind set beforehand if at all possible. have a word with teachers?

lucy546 · 18/02/2014 13:47

I think after school, 1 hour a day is a lot to ask. I know that my DD (also in Y11 at a grammar school) can barely do an hour every day with all her coursework, controlled assessments and ISAs - but on weekends and holidays she revises hard.

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