GCSEs - revising the subjects they 'like' only!

[GraduallyGoingInsane]

Looking for a bit of advice really.

DD1 is in Year 11, and hoping to do very well. She's taking 11 GCSES, and she is revising hard. She goes to revision classes at school in all of the subjects that they are offered in.

HOWEVER, when she revises at home, she is definitely cherry-picking the subjects she enjoys and is good at. I suspect she is well on track for her grades in English, History, French, Latin, Art etc....but Maths, Physics and Chemistry have taken a back seat. Biology gets a look in as she gets to draw pretty diagrams, but that's about it!

I've suggested she made a revision time table, which is now proudly colour co-ordinated and stuck to the fridge. Sticking to it just isn't happening though.

Anyone any advice? Are they all doing the same thing? I just don't want her disappointed on results day.

You could be describing my DS, however English and Latin are most definitely not at the top of his revision list!

I too suggested a revision timetable. He did one, however it featured no latin! My advise would just be to keep pestering her to do the dreaded subjects. Maybe suggest smaller time slots, so do two lots of 45 minutes instead of an hour and a half at once.

I am dreading the latin for DS, he is hopeless at the language but has done nothing to prepare. One week to go!

It's a nightmare isn't it? Maybe your DS can teach my DD maths, and she can return the favour with the latin!

There has been no mention of maths yet either, although I'm not overly concerned as it's only one exam for that which is after half term.

How is your DD going about revising for latin? DS seems incapable of doing any of it! So far he's learnt a bit of his set text but that's it. At this rate he'll get a C if he's lucky!

Has she already taken some modules in Maths, Chemistry and Physics if so there may only be one exam to revise for in these subjects, whereas there may be two exams for History, French and English.

BF and I only revised Eng Lit, which we hated , on the bus, we both got As

I did bugger all History revision and got an A for that too (shear luck the stuff I learnt at 11.30 pm the night before the exam was the first question).

Maths she should have practised all through the year, I never found it very easy to revise.

Chemistry and physics need learning, although non scientists find them very heavy going.

There's no excuse for Biology its fun and lots of it hangs together in nice tidy stories (I'm a Biologist, you can tell).

I'd make sure she has text books and revision guides for science, the modern ones are much clearer than anything we had.

A revision timetable is very important.

Also, tell your daughter that she needs to get the very best she possibly can on the subjects she is dropping because that is the last time they will appear on any certificate or her CV.