How much revision? and how do you make a 15yo revise?

[velvetspoon]

DS1 is doing his GCSEs this year.

I have been asking to him to revise. He does a little (if I'm lucky maybe an hour a day, less if he has homework). His school have said he should be doing a couple of hours a day at most during the hols, he went to a revision class yesterday for 3 hours so thinks that gets him out of doing any more work today.

He wants to do well, or at least he did - at the start of the year he wanted to do medicine/dentistry. However after some disappointing mock results (albeit he didn't revise at all, following which he has been predicted B grades in most subjects) whilst he hasn't exactly given up, he seems to view all that as beyond his reach. I have tried to tell him that getting a C in exams where he did no work, doesn't necessarily mean his 'best' is a B. But I don't think it's going in. B's won't get him onto A level courses in his chosen subjects in the 6th forms he wants to go to, and he knows that.

Lack of revision has been his undoing before - before his 11plus, I bought all the books for him to practice, he refused to do them, and ended up failing by one mark. The kids he went to primary school with, who generally weren't as able as him, but who did pass, and who he is still friends with, are now on course to get A*s in every subject.

I just want him to try. I have asked, I've begged. I've offered bribes. Nothing seems to make much difference, he's doing a little work, but not even as much as the school have said (and I'm not sure that's enough even if he was doing it all).

I can't give up, but I'm feeling increasingly anxious about it all. I feel like I failed him by fucking up the 11plus, I'm worried history will repeat itself again. I just want him to have the opportunities I did, to go to uni etc.

I have also used the loo for revision. When ds1 was doing gcse revision I stuck post it notes where the loo roll is and on the back of the door and next to the taps (on the assumption that he washed his hands) Changed them every few days to cover the chemistry syllabus (his worst subject) Will be doing the same for ds3

Stress levels... mmm my DD is also in Y11 and sounds similar - that part about "veers between thinking he can wing it and pass or alternatively that it's already too late to do as well as he needs to so no point" sounds eerily familiar! The stress comes from wanting to be in control, but we are not! My approach is to continue to offer support, but detach myself from the outcome. No use being a 'crutch' for our DC - if they need us to pass exams then how will they cope in Uni and work? Developing their own motivation and revision strategies must be part of the solution. I am still facing challenges with DS who is now at uni and am calling him weekly to follow up on him applying for summer internships. Have told him I won't buy him a new laptop (old one crashed) until he applies!! Not sure if I'm right, still trying! Have DD aged 7 so maybe I'll get it right third time lucky...

It's also proven that students retain information better if they write things down rather then just do stuff on line or on a laptop.

I used to make revision notes - key phrases and facts as bullet points, sketches, diagrams, plenty of colour - and found that I developed an almost photographic memory as a result and could mentally see the revision sheet in the exam.

I would work flat out for an hour or two and then have a scheduled break to do something completely different.

DD1 was very good revising for her mocks (although not for long enough because we all missed them on the diary sheet).

She's upto her eyes in preparation for an art exam at the moment, (some fool has given her a A prediction, which she'd like to get). When that's done I will suggest a revision time table.

However, I think they get far more guided revision in school that we do.

She wants to do 3x science (which she'll get As in without a lot of work) and Art AS which doesn't need an A (she just wants one). Personally I'd like to see her get A for maths more.

She's dyslexic so a B for English, RE, drama, music and Geog would be great, but they are all a bit in the lap of the gods and the examiners ability to translate her spelling.