So 6 weeks before the A levels, my son tells me this (possible ADHD)

[blueshoes]

6 weeks before the A levels, my son has admitted that despite all the timetables he did, the hours studying at home and notes he has written, he has not taken anything in. He just cannot get himself motivated to study.

For his GCSEs, it was the same thing. He performed below expectations. I thought he had cracked it but he kept it from dh and I. It has got worse for the A levels😓

For his recent A level mocks, he only watched videos for 4-5 hours before the actual exam. He got A (fave subject), B and C. All below his predicted grades and below the conditional offers he got for university.

Does anyone recognise this in their dcs or themselves. What can you advise for ds?

Could this be ADHD? Appreciate this is the eleventh hour. We are willing to go private for diagnosis and medication, if that is even a possibility.

Worth following up the ADHD but a diagnosis won’t magically change anything in 6 weeks.

I’d have an honest discussion with him about if uni is right for him. It might be that a more coursework heavy course is better for him, and he can start looking in advance of results day and clearing just in case. Alternatively it may be that uni isn’t for him, and then once exams are over you can start helping him look for a job.

I also don’t mean to sound dismissive but it may also just be him panicking. ABC sounds like he must have taken something in. Maybe help for exam stress and anxiety?

It’s expensive but crammers over the Easter full days
Then go down the ADHD assessment route

I hear what you are saying. Ds has his heart set on studying Economics at university. He loves Economics as a subject at A level and finds it easy to absorb because he is doing something he loves. His offers at uni are to do Economics.

He just has to get through the A levels.

Does he find the body doubling technique helpful at all?

Does he any symptoms of adhd? Just lack of taking in studying by itself wouldn’t indicate it. It sounds like he has studied a bit if he’s done some hours of it, would he benefit from a tutor to help him?

I would panic but it does not sound like him.

If anything, he wants to panic, so that it can help him focus. He says he just cannot get motivated. His phone is a huge distraction. He says he will put in aside from now on.

What are crammers? Sounds interesting.

ADHD body doubling can be very effective
Sit with him working as he revises

https://www.oxfordcbt.co.uk/adhd-body-doubling/#:~:text=Body%20doubling%20works%20by%20creating,nearby%20provides%20motivation%20and%20focus.

Thanks for suggesting. He's tried studying at Gails cafe but still nothing was going in.

He is now going to set up his desk next to dh in dh's study and wear headphones. I think this is body doubling. He is going to give that a go.

“despite all the timetables he did, the hours studying at home and notes he has written, he has not taken anything in.” This is telling me that he can’t absorb information by reading textbooks and writing notes. This isn’t that uncommon.

“For his recent A level mocks, he only watched videos for 4-5 hours before the actual exam. He got A (fave subject), B and C.” This is telling me that he learns by watching and hearing information. This isn’t that uncommon.

Solution- He should study for A levels by watching more video lectures on the subject matter. Often the visual/oral learners also do well by doing the subject. So if it’s A level maths (which he will be taking if he’s aiming for an economic degree) then he should be doing maths problems from past papers to study.

editing to add doesn’t sound like ADHD, only that he doesn’t have the learning style that the school system is centred around- reading & writing to learn. A fair % of people learn by watching, listening and/or doing. Learning how to study is learning what works for you as there is no one size fits all method that works.

Intensive Easter revision courses
A friend used these and was very impressed
You need to check it is the correct exam board

www.mpw.ac.uk/locations/london/courses/easter-revision/

He may need the dopamine rush of going against the clock
Give him past papers for the set time
Mark against the mark scheme and compare with examiners report

Imo you need to reassure him that whatever happens you will support him with figuring out the next step, but also impress on him that better results mean more options so don't give up on studying!

I have ADHD and what worked for me was concentrating pretty much exclusively on past papers: doing them over and over again and memorising the answers. Watching videos etc just allows my mind to wander.

Sending him lots of good luck!

Thanks for sharing the link. I read it and think it could work. We are going to try body-doubling.

Could be related to adhd but you haven't really given much info about how he is the rest of the time. Struggling to motivate himself to study isn't on its own indicative of adhd, but it could be related to adhd if those struggles are part of a bigger picture in which he struggles with other things as well.

If you suspect ADHD, then I would definitely pursue a diagnosis - things will just get much harder at university, but they will be able to put support in place (mine gets 1:1 study skills support, amongst other things) and medication might help. Private prescriptions are expensive, try the Right to Choose option on the NHS.

If he needs to take an extra year to sort things out pre uni, then do that, if you have to repeat a year at university it costs even more!

DS (waiting for adhd and autism assessments) did his A levels last year and struggled hugely with being able to revise. He could have achieved As but got BCC. He did absolute minimal reading night before exam. GCSEs he got through due to natural intelligence, not hard work.

I have adhd and am autistic and I never revised as I couldn’t concentrate or motivate myself. I also wouldn’t absorb any information if I managed to do any revision.

I don’t know how to advise you as I never found a solution for myself or my son. However I would stress that his wellbeing is a million times more important than grades and if he has adhd then he is already struggling a lot. Knowing you have the potential but unable to reach it made me feel stupid and lazy, when it’s not my fault. Hopefully he might be able to get some last minute revision in that will stick. Good luck to him!

Yes this has a ND flavour. This can be a natural point for things to unravel slightly for ND people

This is helpful
”6. Develop Active Study Strategies
Passive studying, such as merely reading textbooks, may not be as effective for students with ADHD. Opt for active study strategies that promote engagement and interaction with the material. Take handwritten notes during lectures, join study groups to discuss concepts with peers, and practice teaching the material to someone else. These activities reinforce learning and enhance understanding.

1. Experiment with Different Learning Styles

Every student learns differently, and this is especially true for those with ADHD. Experiment with different learning styles to discover what works best for you. Some students may benefit from auditory learning, such as recording lectures or reading aloud, while others may prefer visual or kinaesthetic learning. Embrace your preferred learning style to maximize the efficiency of your study sessions”

incredibly boring for you but your son teaching you the key elements of the topics he has learnt - economics

then past papers for the maths and economics

you tube revision channels

Probably not particularly helpful but my son did very little work for GCSEs or A levels despite lots of support and offered help. He definitely underperformed and did the same at university. We had lots of talks but he just didn’t get it. He ended up with a 2:1 but was capable of so much more. He ended up working in a local supermarket after uni for 2 years and then reality hit as all his friends were in proper jobs and careers. He has fought his way into a finance graduate scheme with a big company and is finally working his socks off and fulfilling his potential with ambition for the future. It has taken a long time and at time6 has been very stressful but he finally ‘gets it’. When I talk to him about school etc now he says that he just didn’t see the point and didn’t have anything that really motivated him that was real and tangible. Unfortunately they only get it when they get it and no matter what you say they have to want to do it.

OP, he's not on his own if my current (A Level) cohort are anything to go by. Some learners do need the stress to actually focus - my own DS included.
In terms of revision techniques, I would be encouraging him to do little and often, seek support from subject teachers to ensure he's not revising what he already knows (this can be comforting but also a cause of losing focus), and make sure he's hitting the AOs of the awarding bodies - past papers are the key

Why are you jumping to ADHD when you’ve clearly said he admitted he was distracted by his phone? I don’t know how any of these poor kids can concentrate for long periods when they’ve got those things.

Concur

I mean you can’t diagnose adhd based on this at all. But yes I was (am) like this and it is due to adhd.

id recommend not being all freaky about him failing his alevels and getting like you must revise you must do this you must whatever. Be his support and his safety net. There’s a reason he lied/omitted regarding his exams two times now. (don’t mean that in a dickish way but he clearly feels that they’re important to you).

There’s a big wide world beyond school and uni and if he has got adhd, going to uni is pretty moot unless he’s passionate about what he wants to do. Help his find his passion. What does he do instinctively? What gets him coming back again and again?