Is studying for exams either something you can or simply can't do?

[theoptionaldinner]

My teenage son hates studying, I find him constantly sneaking off and playing his Xbox or generally procrastinating. My best friends son is the complete opposite and studies for 1.5 hours most days, even when it's not exam time he's always making notes etc. I worry that my son just isn't going to do well in school because he just can't/ won't put the work in. So my question is, are some people just natural revisers? He's only yr 9 but I feel he should be putting the work in now?

Anyone can learn revision strategies that work for them. If they have the motivation.

But the motivation needs to be there. That's my worry. I wish he just wanted to work harder

People have their own methods. Drum it into him that he needs to pass or he'll only have to resit.

That’s your answer, right there.

In y9 he needs to make sure he is listening and participating, asking when he does not understand, and trying his best, completing all of the work set. Beyond that, he doesn’t need to be revising unless he has a test.

Do you have the time to help him by quizzing him in the run-up to tests? Perhaps when cooking or in the car together? Or help him / show him how to make flashcards?

Anyone can learn to revise. They need to find a method that suits them though. No one is going to learn anything my following a revision style that doesn't suit them.

Hmm I have an exam tomorrow, I've just had ten days study leave and I didn't open a book. Motivation needs to come from within.

Does he actually know how to revise?

I think people can assume either that school / home has taught revision, or that it comes naturally, and it doesn't always.

Oh, hang on, I thought we were talking about revising for tests and exams. If we're talking just generally, other than homework what studying are you expecting him to be doing?

I do mean for exams, he has winter exams this week

I never learned how to revise.
No one taught me any methods and I never figured any out.
I remember doing things like Spelling tests in primary school where if you got a spelling wrong you had to write it out 5 times or something. I could never figure out how that was meant to make me learn how to spell a word because I was just literally copying it 5 times. A lot of what I thought was revision methods was me essentially doing the same thing - just copying out (or highlighting) certain things. Didn't make me remember anything.
I got fairly reasonable GCSE results but there was much more modular short exams and coursework that counted towards the final grade. On the subjects that were 100% exam I did terrible.
Basically.....if he doesn't know how to revise someone really needs to help him and teach him some methods.

We are all different.

I feel your Year 9 is more typical than your friend's Year 9.

I have 3 x young adults. None of them voluntarily studied for 1.5 hours every night at 13 / 14. They've all gone through University and have steady jobs they enjoy.

No, it's not ideal, but as others have said, it has to be a combination of motivation from within, and learning what techniques he finds work from them.
You have to support and encourage and work with him as much as you can.

Maybe take the X Box away during exam week, and the week before? It can be easier to knuckle down if temptations are removed.

It's a skill he can and should learn. Now or later depending on his motivation.

Same!! And I need to learn so I can help my kids when they're of revising age. I'm doing a qualification at the moment and thank god most of it is practical but the essays are killing me. How do people learn study skills - essays and revising?? How? Where do I look for this?

As PPs have said everyone has their own revision style - constant revision, school only revision, no revision... What worked for me was 1 time revision, late evening, the night before the exam. No idea why but things seemed to "stick" that way for me. I did yearly exams in secondary so tried many different methods and that was the only one that really worked for me. Maybe encourage a few revision sessions at different times and see if any particular one seems to suit?