Incentivising GCSE study ?

[purplejeanie]

Has anyone done this successfully or got any tips? My year 10 son is bright but hates revising and isn’t one of those children who can do well in tests without revising. If he does well in a test he’s pleased, but doesn’t care enough about the outcome to consistently work. He’s starting to do worse than his peers and getting upset, but still prefers to do anything other than revise. I want him to achieve his potential but every time he gets a test, things get stressful. I sit with him and try and help him revise and test him, but he’s moody and resistant. If I leave him to it, he will barely do a thing.

I want to find a way to motivate him to study over the next two years, but not just a reward for good GCSEs (ie the end result). Has anyone found a system that works? I know he should be self motivated, but that’s not currently the case! Doing things like removing tv if he doesn’t study, just makes for a hostile atmosphere so I’d prefer for a more positive system.

Psychology studies suggest nothing offered as extrinsic rewards really works . Motivation is intrinsic to work. Would suggest you "educate" him on the future impact of his choices to achieve GCSEs or not and allow him to make his own choices as nothing you do or not will likely actually work. Sorry. Teacher here. Consequences about not doing homework etc are fine but the actual quality of his study is likely beyond your control. If he understands his choices that's great parenting at least.

He does worse than his peers but he is bright?
I would expect him to step up without a prize. I would set stydy time and help him get a better routine.

Could you focus less on rewarding time spent revising and more on improving the quality of the revision and take the pressure off him to manage it all himself? Could you get him tutoring? Or organise with other parents to take turns hosting revision sessions (eg, they meet up as a group and revise together quietly and there is pizza and snacks).

Does he know what he wants to do next? Go to open evenings if not yet happened or look at grade requirements online.

Does he actually know how to revise? Active sessions, mind maps, note cards, telling you the 7 key points etc.

Otherwise bribery/rewards - go and learn the causes of the 1st world war. When you can come down and tell them to me I'll order pizza in.

There's a y10 thread on Secondary Education you may find helpful.

He’s in a very selective school and when he studies effectively he does do well so I know he’s bright. He’s had a maths tutor since the summer holidays and is motivated to study ‘for the tutor’ and his performance has hugely improved since then. Maybe the answer is more tutors because they motivate him, but I’m quite reluctant to do that because I think (other than maths), the issue is around his effort rather than lack of understanding. I think the suggestion around understanding the meaning of getting good GCSEs is a good one —ie helping him to get excited about a potential career/a level /uni course that requires good GCSEs. Although I think he’s quite typical teenage boy , in that it can be hard to link effort to consequence.

He does understand how to revise I think, but is a bit lazy so just doesn’t do it. Will read the notes off the screen which is so ineffective. I will try to bribe with pizza when he revises effectively ! Study groups are a good idea —thank you

Psychology studies suggest extrinsic rewards don’t work.

my personal experience with my teenage dd is the bribery goes a bloody long way.

cash, chocolate, pizza or lifts all work.

Academic mentoring or coaching may work better than having lots of tutors, as they support study across all subjects and make sure the student knows how to revise and what works best for them to encourage motivation. Also a bit of external accountability.

All revision sessions should have a defined output. Whether that is doing a practice paper, making revision notes on selected topics, or being able to write out or recite facts.