How much revision?

[Petalflowers]

Just had a ‘discussion’ with dc about level of revision. He has done approx 3 hours, and now wants to go to the golf range. He hasn’t done that much over the last few days due to various factors.

What is everybody’s dcs managing to do for a-levels (and GCSEs -I have one doing each this year)?

I also have one doing A-levels and one doing GCSEs.

Y13: Does an hour or two here and there and then complains that he is exhausted. Maybe 2-3 hours a day of actual work?

Y11: Revises without being prompted or reminded. Difficult to estimate number of hours as he does lots of short sessions with breaks in between; maybe 4-5 hours a day in total?

I don't think 3 hours is enough personally unless they were a very diligent student who has been revising as they've gone through the course or this is going to be a 'light day' with some hobby time and then it's back to normal tomorrow.

In my head I'd have said at this stage 6 hours a day is reasonable and typical. Put it this way, 5 hours is a school day's worth of lessons plus an hour for homework equals 6 hours.

I don’t think they should be doing more than a normal school day (for DS this would be 9.30-12.30, 2-4, + 2 hours homework, so 7ish hours).

My year 11 daughter has drawn up a 5 hour a day time table and so far is sticking to it religiously. I think she'll be very glad to go back to school though! She's very studious, and not overly social though, doing all her socialising through school and dance, so I don't think the temptation to go anywhere is great! She's also very competitive and is very driven by this. Still, we are only 7 days in to a 17 day schedule so she has a long way to go!

Yr11 here too - DD quite laid back, we have had a few words over the last 3/4 months about revision (she's able but a coaster) and I found myself becoming a pushy mum which I didn't like! I don't think asking DD to do 7 hours each day would work and I think it would end up being more detrimental. I'm going with the flow and feel that effective revision is the way to go rather than you must do so many hours (with some reminders ...). She has spent 3 days in school over Easter and has one more session for History next week

I think gauging revision is hard because 'not one size fits all'. DD's attended Maths revision after school since Jan, she's completed 40% of both her English exams (worked very hard on coursework) and 60% of DT....she has 121 with French tutor each week ...which leaves really just sciences, computer science and history. She has a full week of exam leave before she sits any exams and apart from Computer Science all syllabus have been completed....so next 3 weeks in school are virtually all revision. .

DD is not competitive, it would be great if she achieved 8/9's but I think we will both be content with achieving good results and having a happy relationship come 19th June when she finishes.

Thank you teenmum for providing necessary common sense and balance. I’m encouragng three to four hours a day and I can see it’s not going to be enough in some areas. At the moment it’s going ok but I’m keeping a close eye on his state of mind, potential fatigue and our relationship as it’s not worth damaging any of those over. It’s a long slog until mid to end June as well.

DS1 is aiming for 6 hours a day and mostly seems to be managing it. He did similar for his mocks.

Then and now it took him a while to find his groove but it's now working. He and his friends have been organising (themselves!) football sessions and cricket nets as a bit of light relief.

6 months ago I would not have imagined this approach was possible but something seems to have clicked recently. Possibly hormones?

DS is doing six hours a day.

My DS revised all day when he was doing A levels. He would do it in one hour - 90 minute chunks (past papers) then have a break for food/drink. He was doing science A levels though so there's a lot of stuff to remember. He got top grades so it was worth it. Whether yours is doing enough really depends on his subjects and his existing knowledge...either way it is important to take breaks and have some down time.

Agreed on the breaks.
My advice to students is to do proper bursts of revision and then have breaks. They also should block off afternoons/mornings/evenings ti keep up with hobbies and see friends and chill.

What bothers me most as a teacher is when students say they're doing 8-10 hours of revision but it's 8-10 hours with their phones, internet, social media, phones etc. The reality in that situation is they probably aren't doing proper effective revision and they aren't getting a real break either

My Year 11 has just started doing about 6/7 hours a day of proper revision which mostly involves doing past papers then working on weak areas, supervised by me, sadly. This is because he has basically done no work for the last 2 years and there have been lots of changes/challenges for him over the last 5.

He sailed through a GCSE 2 years early, doing absolutely no work at all which led him to believe all GCSEs would be like that I think! He did no revision at all for his mocks but has finally seen the light although I wonder if it is too late. In case anyone thinks I'm a sadistic old witch, I'm only trying to help him so he can do what he wants to do (A levels) and because he is actually very capable.

In normally circumstances I would expect him to be doing about 2-3 hours a day currently.