How to revise properly, advice needed please.

[ihatethecold]

My Ds is in year 10 and has loads of revision to do for his science mock exams in 2 weeks.
He isn't very motivated and just wants to do test papers and questions.
I would like to help him to revise better but i don't know where to start.

He will do about an hour each day under duress but i don't think he is using his time very well.
He has 3 subjects, broken down into 3 sub categories. The teacher has said he needs to do 2 hours on each sub category.

When i talk to him about it he turns a bit Kevin like.

Any advice.

I think doing past papers is an ideal way to revise tbh. So long as he

• Tries tobkeep to the time allocated to each question
• Spends a significant amount of time studying the answers to work out what he missed and why, and then re-reading those parts or going back to re learn that sub topic if appropriate

I teach two sciences. I recommend that students focus first on learning recall information carefully and by heart- this can be done easily by using a read, cover, write, check method to make sure that they know e.g, the names of all the vessels in order through which blood passes on its way through the heart, or the formulae and charges of common ions.

When they have securely learned these, they should then attempt past paper questions under timed conditions.

Hth

Thank you.

Flash cards/cue cards/revision cards-all the same thing just different names are good you can make them up and carry them on the go to revise from or my dd writes stuff out and then tries to learn and rewrites out what she thinks was on the cards. I wouldn't nag tbh your ds will do it in his own time

There was a new scientist brain special a couple of weeks ago with a section all about learning.

Essentially recall recall recall is what you want.

My favourite method, however, is mind mapping. Proper mind mapping with one word per branch, branches all one colour, hierarchical from centre out (look for Tony Buzan on YouTube), and sketches & diagrams. Make one with notes/a text book. The next day, try to recreate it from memory before checking and correcting it. Same again the next day.

That, in conjunction with flash cards, past papers etc will be good. Remember with past papers that the mark scheme is pretty rigid. It's not enough to say "that's what I meant". It's either on the mark scheme or it's wrong.

Memrise is a good app for recall - there's a lot of gcse stuff on there. Sign up on a pc and search the courses, they should appear on the app then.

Great advice. Thanks.
Mind mapping is a new one on me. Think I need to investigate what they are further.

There's an app called brainscape, you can make your own flash cards which are good for learning to retain information

In a mature student, I find dicking about on mumsnet till I panic and try to cram works for me (not)

Sigh

I really need to get on with my revision tonight :(

My experience is that children are different and each has to find a way that works for them. Both of mine do well with past papers and then marking against the proper mark schemes, but that is the only technique they have in common. One likes revision workbooks (not the guides) as he needs to write things down and prefers to answer questions, the other has to say things out loud in order to learn it so walks round the house chanting facts! She also prints off the syllabus, reads each line and tries to say out loud the answers.

Lots kf different ways too revise I recommend Study Skills by Stella Cottrell ...it is aimed at Uni.students but is in and easy accesible format and goes through all the different styles of learning and revision

Is that a book smelly? or a website?

I've looked at brainscape but its american.
Is there a UK version?

Eh? It doesn't matter because you just make your own cards.

www.palgrave.com/page/detail/the-study-skills-handbook-stella-cottrell/?K=9781137289254

Is a book sorry can't link properly

Thanks Greys.
I thought it generated the flash cards for you using the curriculum of the chosen country.

If he's having trouble concentrating at home, would dropping him off at the library help? I always studied better in the library.

Lol!
He has barely got out of bed since last Saturday.
He studies, eats, xbox's, everything whilst managing to live in his pit!

Active revision (drawing, writing, past papers) is far more effective than passive revision (reading etc)
I found revision really dull as I'm a kinaesthetic learner. I overcame this by using coloured chalks on the road outside our house to draw out the photosynthesis cycle and the Krebs cycle. I found using coloured pens to write notes and drawings really useful too

DS is in Year 9 but has been told to start revision for a few subjects they are taking early because of the way the school runs. I cut up some squares of white card for him to write out revision notes on. Buying a pack of coloured fine liners/ highlighters/ felt tips can help colour coordinate things.

Has he got the books to revise from and to copy out notes. Maybe test him yourself on definitions of words etc.. (testable stuff)

If he is unable to study effectively, you could always make a timetable rota to help him have an order to his studying.