Re GCSEs- what do you do with a child who...

[BrigitBigKnickers]

Spends hours revising biology (with huge amounts of support) makes mind maps galore, notes, is tested on facts and still...

Cannot remember a fucking thing?

She has had copious amounts of extra help, revision sessions, revision books, past papers, supported revision (where we have gone over the whole course.)

No course work just a two hour make or break exam.

What do I do? The poor girl has worked sooooo hard and will get no reward for her efforts. She is despondant.

You need to stop swearing about it to start with.

Some children are just not natural scientists. At this stage, I would go for past papers and exam technique. So she can see where marks can be picked up - for example, where the question asks for TWO examples, give two and not one - read the question thoroughly. If she is a poor scientist she is probably doing foundation paper and some of those are more common sense.
Or BBC bitesize is god too if it is done for her paper.

The last thing she needs currently is stress and pressure especially on a exam she finds so very difficult. If she can go in relaxed, she may be able to concentrate enough to pick up some questions.

Is she sure she is remembering nothing?

I second Kez's suggestions. Now exam technique is all.

• reading the questions properly (eg numbers of questions to be answered in each section)
• assigning time to each question according to marks awarded. This saves a lot of time being wasted chasing down the last 5 marks.

Relaxation techniques (breathing control, that sort of thing)

Good technique will help her relax which will help her remember.

What does the teacher say regarding past papers? I am sure if she wasnt progressing so well at the school revision sessions they would ahve gone all out to help her.
Get the marking scheme from the exam board and work out exactly where she can get points, some exams boards assess one question for spelling and English, so points available there. Work out how long to answer each question so she doesnt blather on on the wrong questions.

Good luck to her but above all you need to be calm, it isnt the end of the world (easier said than done I know).

kezI am obviously not swearing at her! I am keeping calm and upbeat.

Bitesize is hopeless as no where near enough depth for iGCSE
She is not doing foundation- double award iGCSE- higher papers.

Her physics and Chemistry are better (more maths related which she is good at) its the Biology she is struggling with and she needs a B to study psychology A level next year

We have just started going back to the exam papers again and she is freaking out. It does seem to be the exam technique she is having difficulty with-she isn't very good at applying what she knows- I have to admit- some of the questions are rather obscure.

I don't know the answer but it seems to me that course work or some form of continuous assessment suits some children where others thrive of terminal exams.
I have a child in each camp.

It sounds like she's panicking and that's stopping her from recalling the stuff.

Has she tried looking at a particular topic and actually making sure she has retained it - so making up a mnemonic or making a list, reading through, covering it and recalling what's on the list repeatedly until she can remember it all.

Maybe knowing that she can recall some of it easily will give her some confidence and unlock the other stuff.

Have you tried going through exam papers but rather than focussing on the content focussing on the approach with a little bit of scenario setting?

eg you play invigilator:

'Now turn over your paper'

then going through with DD what she does next. Play it lightheartedly. Present it as multiple choice:

Does she:

a: Run screaming from the room?
b: Fall asleep?
c: Read through the paper?

She has studied hard, she knows the stuff, she needs to relax so that she can do herself credit.

I have a son who is in the same position. First of all, you can go online and see lessons on the net which are usually pretty good and concise.

Get her some good exam technique - read through the whole paper first. Do the questions you definitely know first. Use the number of marks to help you decide how much to write. DD knows that she knows the answers to all the questions. Now she should do the questions she "thinks" she doesn't know the answers to. If time, read through your answers again.

Get good rest the night before. Write bullet points on cards/post-its, etc around bedroom/house.

Good luck!

You back off! The poor kid doesn't know whether she is coming or going!

Oh yes and the best way is to practise past papers.It soon throws up the areas you need to focus on, you know what areas are frequently examined.

I don't think I'm remembering a thing when I'm revising, but so long as I read, read, read before hand it all comes from somewhere in the exam!

but I'm also good at exam technique, that is very important

Sounds like waaaay too much pressured to me - hot bath, some easy telly and an early night will probably do her far more good at this point.

"she needs a B to study psychology A level next year"

Psychology A Level involves learning reams of stuff. Are you sure that it is the best choice for her? (to be discussed after the exams, obv)