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OVER REVISING!!

2 replies

Canwegobacktothe90snow · 02/06/2025 17:16

Hi all
My son is 15 years old and an absolute breeze to parent! However, he's about to take his mock exams, all June, some in July, again in October and some in Jan and Feb!! He's pretty much in the top few in all his subjects and his own standards are exceptionally high! But he is revising at every given minute, pretty much! On the weekends he is studying all day, he's set himself a study rota and only takes a few 10 minute breaks on his PS5. It's non stop, he even gets up at 5am so he can have his breakfast and get ready earlier so as he has more study time. On exam days he's up at 4:30, nothing we say can change his mind, he's so driven to achieve the best grades he can. Yes we have told him to ease up, and that gcse's aren't the be all and end all and there's so many other avenues open to him after his gcse's but he won't have it. He gets so so down and his so tough on himself but he just will not deviate from his revision schedule etc. We haven't put any pressure on him at all, and we now have the school nurse and counsellor going to talk to him, but it's really troubling me and my wife. He just won't listen to us saying that even if he drops the intensity a level he'll be just fine, the walls are up.
Any advice welcomed
Many thanks in advance
Matt

OP posts:
HiddenInCubeOfCheese · 02/06/2025 17:29

This was me (although I wasn’t as extreme).

I would get the counsellor and nurse well away from him, tbh. It’ll make him think there’s something wrong with him and likely heighten the anxiety.

You’ve said your bit and you can’t ban him from revising or lock him in the bathroom! It’ll be comforting to him to prepare the way he thinks is best.

He will eventually tire himself out (it might also look like burn out, however)

notnowmrshudson · 03/06/2025 09:34

dd 14 is similar - very hard on herself and forgets to take breaks! I suggest planning a day where you could do something fun out and maybe have a talk about how well he is doing. That he's doing great and grades aren't everything.

If it's gotten so bad that it's negatively affecting his mental health I'd understand speaking to professionals - but maybe there's always something small you can do too to support him. This article might help! https://weareluna.app/parents/guides/mental-health-and-wellbeing/exam-stress/ x

teen revising

Supporting your teen with exam stress | luna app

Discover the best ways to help your child with their exam anxiety, as recommended by doctors.

https://weareluna.app/parents/guides/mental-health-and-wellbeing/exam-stress/

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