Top tips for parents embarking on exam years.

[Madreb]

These are the two things i think can be the easiest/most effective ways to support dcs with no cost.
Make use of car journeys - find appropriate pod casts for them to listen to on the commute to school - get a chief quizzer for the car (revision guides have questions in them) then ask questions when you are going somewhere. They feel like it isn't taking any time from them as the journey would be happening anyway.

The best thing you can do is download the spec for each GCSE they studying and ask them to explain the bullet points to you based on which units (sub topics) they have studied so far. If there is something on the spec they are unclear of then help them to get better at it. Of course you wont be an expert but you can a) google b) get a feel for areas of weakness.

Make sure they (and you) keep things in perspective. Reading the exam results threads with DC being devastated they 'only' got 8s or 7s is sad. It is nice to have high results, but as long as they have what they need for the next steps it's OK.

Similarly, for heavens sake, have back up plans for post GCSE. Make sure they have a plan for at least the same results they got in mocks (if lower than predictions) and to allow for a drop of grades by at least 1 grade. If they require 7s for their 6th form and get 6s in their mocks then have a back up school. If they require 6s have a back up school / college and course.

The world won't end even if they have zero passes. I know.

I'd look at the revision guides more than the specs. Revision guides are more readable.