Year 10. How much revision?

[gleegeek]

DD has come home from school with a letter saying they are expected to do at least 3 hours a day of revision over the holidays for their Year 10 exams at the beginning of May.
As she seems to be allergic to revision (major performance anxiety - I suspect if she doesn't do well she can blame not having revised rather than not understanding...) and so far has winged it through tests, I do think she needs a push to revise but she is just overwhelmed and doesn't know where to start!
We've bought the revision folders, revision guides for each subject and lots of new pens etc but I don't really know how else to help her whilst at the same time thinking she also needs a good holiday!!
Any advice gratefully accepted

That seems like a lot of revision to ask for.

On the other hand if she is overwhelmed and doesn't know where to start then she definitely needs to do some just to learn 'how' to revise. My DD1 needed handholding through revision as her dyspraxia meant she couldn't organise it herself.

List the Subjects
List the topics under the subjects
Estimate how long she needs to revise each topic
Add it up

Work out what you both think is reasonable revision time over the holidays. e.g. average 2hrs per day for 15 days = 30hrs total. Maybe add in any other time you think will be available before the exams start.

Now compare with estimate of how much revision is needed. Alter allocations or revision time until they match.

Look at plans for the holidays. When is revision going to be done? 9-11, or 4-6, or when? If some days are booked or you want a solid break, then need more hours on the other days.

Allocate subjects per revision session, probably no more than 1hr blocks, maybe 30-40mins.

How do subjects need to be revised? Making revision cards or mind maps? Using online resources? Doing practice questions? Try to make learning active not just reading a text book / revision guide.

Have an 'aim' for each session. Not just 'revise chemistry' but 'learn properties of metals and non metals'. Then she will know if she has succeeded. For English not just 'revise Macbeth' but 'identify quotes to support views on 4 main characters' or 'key points regarding use of light and dark symbolism'.

Maybe some sessions can be 'discuss with mum' eg you have her revision cards for Macbeth, and she talks about themes, characters etc.

I have a neice in year 11 and a son in year 10.

She told me recently that she revised well for her year 10 exams and her mocks and she has now a much more manageable amount of revision in year 11. She said the kids who did no revision in year 10 are having a much harder time.

So we are going to try and get ds to follow suit. It will be like rolling a stone up hill, but we'll try!

I agree with steppe
The fact that DD1 did good revision for her end y10 exams (which were late July so really did cover all of y10) meant she was better prepared for y11 mocks and the final exams:

She had revision cards prepared.
She had reviewed and learnt topics once already.
She knew what revision schedule and methods worked for her.

TeenTimesTwo - that's really helpful, thank you so much To be honest I never really learned how to revise properly so it's great to have some guidance of how to split up the subjects/calculate the timings.

Thanks Steppe mum - it's so hard. Dd is much more likely to do it if she's self motivated. If I nag too much it has the opposite effect but I do know she needs help in structuring it all!

Some tips on how to set up revision timetables and good websites for revision here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2822454-Study-tips-and-websites-for-those-with-children-in-Y11

3 hours a day for Y10 Easter holidays seems like a lot, but I think our Y10 exams are much later than yours.

Thanks noble giraffe will take a look at that.
I'm writing down all the websites I find because I think dd might like seeing another teacher teaching some concepts - particularly in maths and sciences.

My year 10 daughter has I think been asked to do 4 hours revision for each subject over the holidays; they were helped to set up a spreadsheet to plan what they would do when.