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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask year ten daughter to revise during half term.

178 replies

examstresshelp · 27/05/2021 18:27

And if it's reasonable, how much per day/altogether?

I don't want to be too pushy, but their school is low key where other local schools help with timetables and advice and I think she should be doing at least some during the holiday so she doesn't panic afterwards.

I certainly did in year ten.

OP posts:
NeverForgetYourDreams · 27/05/2021 21:30

@examstresshelp

I was thinking three hours maximum per day.
We doing every other day as I have a couple days off so we visiting friends we haven't seen since Feb 2020.....
KaleSlayer · 27/05/2021 21:32

And you also don't need to be chained to a desk doing hours of revision to pass GCSEs

3 hours a day in half term is hardly chained to a desk. And it depends on ability and what grades you’re aiming for. My son wanted top grades, he may have got them with less revision but wanted to be sure. He spent the rest of his day gaming and going out with friends.

NeverForgetYourDreams · 27/05/2021 21:34

@TippityTapTap

I hadn't realised that there was an expectation to revise during the half term. Do all schools do exams at the end of Y10? Are they normally on everything they have done in the year?
This year at our school they are doing them as mocks-lite to see how they did over lockdown I believe.

I've told DS15 that they could end up being counted towards next year GCSE if the pandemic continues but having said that we are treating like the year 11 autumn mocks and having as a baseline to improve from. I'm hoping they give him a kick up the proverbial because at the moment not sure he would pass the 5 needed to get to college....he needs a bit of a reality check!

pointythings · 27/05/2021 21:34

It depends on so many factors - what have her scores been like through the year, what do her teachers say, what lockdown provision have her school offered? My two did GCSEs pre pandemic - DD2 did hers in 2019. No way did she do 3 hours a day in Yr10 in 2018 - but she was consistently on track with all her work and homework. She worked hard but took sensible breaks and ended up with excellent grades. She put extra time into her weaker subjects and targeted her revision effectively - it isn't necessarily how much, it's also very much about effectiveness.

If you have a DC who is struggling and on the borderline of passing, more holiday revision may be needed. They're all individuals.

LadyRoughDiamond · 27/05/2021 21:37

Teacher here. At this stage she should know what she’ll be assessed on (general areas to focus on) and so I’d suggest she spends up to two hours a day working on subjects she’s less confident on. Does her school offer access to revision tools like GCSE Pod? A mix of cue cards, videos and online quizzes should help keep things engaging. Perhaps plan a treat for the end of the week so that she has something to work towards. And keep the encouragement (and snacks) coming!

Original poster
examstresshelp · 27/05/2021 21:41

@pointythings that is a good point. In fairness, she has a great work ethic and is on top of things. That said, she is someone who gains confidence from being ahead of things-last minute panic revision doesn't suit her. They have been doing small tests and she's been doing well.

I know I might sound pushy, but she is well supported, has treats and we celebrate her work ethic. Her mental health is sound.
This thread has definitely proved there's a wide range of approaches to revision, but then we all have different children, so that would be to be expected.

OP posts:
KaleSlayer · 27/05/2021 21:41

Honestly reading this thread makes me so grateful for my mum.

So that’s like saying my son shouldn’t be grateful as in some way I’m a bad mum. Thanks. 🤣🤣🤣

My kids don’t agree, they think I’m the best mum ever. 🥰🤣

Pinkylemons · 27/05/2021 21:43

@StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind

Jesus I can't believe some of the replies on here.

6-8 hours a day over half term? Even three sounds absolutely mental. Tbh I don't remember my mum ever checking whether I did homework or revised, all throughout secondary school. She didn't make me feel under pressure which I imagine helped a lot.

I used to do homework as quickly as possible and I don't think I spent much time revising. A couple of hours here and there maybe? I remember cramming with my friends down the park ahead of exams.

I did pretty well in my exams and have gone on to do fine since, I have a good job that I'm really happy in.

Stop piling the pressure on, no wonder teenagers are struggling more than ever.

I could have written this. My daughter just asked the best way to revise and i was a bit stumped 😂. I don’t think I’ve ever revised for any exam. I did ok in them, passed them all anyway.
NeverForgetYourDreams · 27/05/2021 21:43

[quote examstresshelp]@pointythings that is a good point. In fairness, she has a great work ethic and is on top of things. That said, she is someone who gains confidence from being ahead of things-last minute panic revision doesn't suit her. They have been doing small tests and she's been doing well.

I know I might sound pushy, but she is well supported, has treats and we celebrate her work ethic. Her mental health is sound.
This thread has definitely proved there's a wide range of approaches to revision, but then we all have different children, so that would be to be expected.[/quote]
If I hadn't suggested a revision timetable DS would have spent all week on gaming ..... a little nudge is sometimes needed ....

I'm making him sit by me to do it whilst I work 😂. It worked during lockdown 1.0 so here's hoping it works again...!

therearenogoodusernamesleft · 27/05/2021 21:45

@examstresshelp

For me, it's partly about reducing stress later by preparing well now. Cramming in year 11 is hardly restful. If she does a decent amount now, not only will she feel confident in the exams this year, but she's laying down knowledge for year 11. 2-3 hours a day means a lot of time not revising.
You seem very confident about this approach to 'deeply embedding' knowledge, and I'm just not sure it works like that.

She will have a whole year of new information to learn on top, and as a PP says, she'll end up having to revise her revision.

Some revision is sensible, but part of this process is to let her find the right approach. This may include not revising enough and realising she could have done better - it's a powerful lesson.

As per another poster, I went to an excellent grammar, all expected to apply for OxBridge, and we didn't have the expectation of revising 6-8 hours a day.

Hawkins001 · 27/05/2021 21:46

@examstresshelp

And if it's reasonable, how much per day/altogether?

I don't want to be too pushy, but their school is low key where other local schools help with timetables and advice and I think she should be doing at least some during the holiday so she doesn't panic afterwards.

I certainly did in year ten.

Study for as much as she can maintain concentration, better to have a good footing and be good for gcses, alevels, uni courses ect. Rather than just chilling and doing the basics.
Original poster
examstresshelp · 27/05/2021 21:46

@KaleSlayer I think my dd thought I was the worst earlier and now I'm acceptable again! A bit like yours, I see school work/hobbies as the thing they have to do and not much else apart from what they choose-eg cooking things they want to, so effectively a hobby and putting away the laundry I deliver to their rooms.

I think it's horses for courses. My dd is on track for good grades and can cope with, even perhaps enjoys, studying. If studying were stressful to the point of damaging mental health, it would be different.

OP posts:
KaleSlayer · 27/05/2021 21:48

As per another poster, I went to an excellent grammar, all expected to apply for OxBridge, and we didn't have the expectation of revising 6-8 hours a day.

But the standard of teaching at many comps will not match your grammar. So, many kids at a comp hoping to apply to a top University do have to do much more at home.

Hawkins001 · 27/05/2021 21:48

The Sheldon coppers of today or the Einstein of the past, did not become intelligent, by only studying when they had to for exams ect, instead they spent a life long of learning and studying.

KaleSlayer · 27/05/2021 22:02

examstresshelp

I think it sounds fine. 3 hours leaves her with 10+ hours a day to do what she likes. You know your child best. My son would have been really annoyed with himself he hadn’t reached his full potential in his GCSEs and I got a big thank you on results day for keeping him motivated.

Rabbitheadlights · 27/05/2021 22:06

I've told DD not to bother, she knackered and frazzled after the tear from hell, she puts enough pressure on herself she doesn't need it from me too.

k1233 · 27/05/2021 22:09

To me it's like taking a week off work but being told you need to do a few hrs a day while you're off, so you're not swamped when you get back. I disagree with revision in term break. I think it's much healthier to take time to rest and recharge. When you get overloaded it can be difficult to take in new information. A short break can leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go again.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 27/05/2021 22:16

My yr10 DS is a lazy git and his school is shit and has been throughout COVID. I will certainly be expecting him to do a couple of hours a day with me, as his exams are on return to school. He seriously needs to start to learn how to revise and prioritise in the first place.

therearenogoodusernamesleft · 28/05/2021 05:34

@KaleSlayer

As per another poster, I went to an excellent grammar, all expected to apply for OxBridge, and we didn't have the expectation of revising 6-8 hours a day.

But the standard of teaching at many comps will not match your grammar. So, many kids at a comp hoping to apply to a top University do have to do much more at home.

That's an interesting point, thank you.
a8mint · 28/05/2021 05:47

Of course she needs to revise!

spanishchica · 28/05/2021 06:05

Of course she should revise. It's good practice. 3/4 hours a day is what my year 10 son is planning

Holly60 · 28/05/2021 06:44

@examstresshelp

End of year 10 assessments/exams
I would start by sitting down with her and going through what she needs to have revised by the end of june. Then work out how many hours it’s going to take. Then work backwards from June to see how many hours a day that’s going to be to get it all done. You will be able to see if/how much she needs to revise in half term. It might make sense to her that she does a bit more in half term to take the pressure off the evenings when she is back at school.
Holly60 · 28/05/2021 06:45

She can ask her teachers for a list of topics she needs to know

Holly60 · 28/05/2021 06:48

And when you do the timetable get her to block out hour slots but then spend 45 minutes revising and 15 minutes break each hour. And try to be available to test her if you can. This is what my two did when they took their exams many years ago. I also had tea and healthy snacks ready for their breaks (I sound so pretentious when I say that but my DD has since told me it made a massive difference as it felt like we were in it together)

MsTSwift · 28/05/2021 06:57

Dd year 10 smack in middle of mocks this week and week after half term. She has done a lot of revision at her own instigation. We away half of the holiday so she can revise in the second half.

Not sure I agree with the condescending “comps are shit” posts 🙄. Dd all girls comp gets the top results in the county numerous oxbridge Russel group from there and if any thing verges on too pushy academically.