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Secondary education

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Exam panic - best way forward

6 replies

Teaonthelawn · 18/01/2018 14:12

Last night my son was in tears over the approaching mock exams. In terms of ability he is around 6 - but struggles in maths and science. He was telling us how stressed he is over the exams/pressure from school etc. He's definitely overwhelmed and I think that is because he doesn't work hard enough on his revision, puts his head in the sand and then as exams loom panics. He was really upset last night - we listened and sympathised. I now think we need to have a clearer look at the situation - he needs a plan and I need to get his head out of the sand. I guess it is a conversation I have not been wanting to have because I know he really will not want to talk. Any ideas as good ways of starting the conversation so that I don't immediately meet a brick wall.

OP posts:
PrincessHairyMclary · 18/01/2018 14:24

If he takes good notes in his lessons then use his exercise books to revise or get some revision books. School often subsidise them.
Consolidate each page into a revision card such as
Rates of reaction
Mitosis
Meiosis
Periodic table and patterns with in it.
He needs to learn physics equations as they no longer give them so you could make flascards of them and help him.
Khan academy is good for general maths and science help.
Crash course YouTube videos are good although may go into more detail than necessary.
GCSE bitesize.
Watch the YouTube videos of required science practicals

TeenTimesTwo · 18/01/2018 14:35

Can you help him work backwards

  • why are you stressed
  • because I might not be able to do the paper
  • what helps you to be able to do exams
  • revision
  • do you think you have really done enough revision
  • no, but ...
  • OK, so to help you feel better prepared next time we need to ....

We stressed to DD that she could only do her best. So if she had done her revision she had done all she could do, and after that it was a bit of luck on the questions.

Also, although it is easier to get the best grades you can first time round, it isn't the end of the world.

Would any of that help?

TeenTimesTwo · 18/01/2018 14:56

Maybe use the aftermath of the mocks to get him to agree to a minimum level of revision, e.g. 2 hrs after school (including any revision classes or set h/w), 6 hrs over weekends, X hours over half terms / Easter holidays - that kind of thing?

EduCated · 18/01/2018 14:59

Also remind him that the point of mocks is to see what it is like before the real thing and understand where you’re at so that you can work on it. If things go terribly wrong there is still time to pull it back by the time the real exams roll around.

Teaonthelawn · 18/01/2018 15:00

Thank you Teen - that is really helpful.

OP posts:
Astronotus · 18/01/2018 15:39

For subjects which my DC disliked or couldn't get motivated in we did the revision together, which was difficult for me time wise but helped them.

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