DS GCSE notes are almost useless

[mamamedic]

DS is in Year 11. Mocks in Nov and Feb. He's at a Grammar school but on track for 5/6 rather than 8/9. Very happy chap.

I had a look through his notes in various subjects. Shambolic. Bits of paper everywhere, no filing, no obvious order etc. Very limited useful content!

They don't look like they'll be v easy to learn/revise from. TBH I'd like him to ditch the note taking completely in all classes and just listen and learn.

So this is my question...Is it possible to pass your GCSEs by just using the AQA/Edexel/CGP books and revision guides from Amazon? Plus school textbooks and maybe a few online Science videos? Just NOT his notes?

He's not going to be allowed to ditch the note taking. The teachers will not tolerate it.

I would advise the revision guides, a text book for each subject, and reading the BBC Bitesize guide to every lesson he has, every day, unless of course he has an excellent grasp of it

He could do with making new notes. They don’t have to be handwritten, typed maybe, by goingvthrough his textbooks & revision books.

Also practice answering exam style questions.

Can I recommend that you or he looks up the Cornell method of notetaking? (YouTube has some great videos).

It is a great way of combining minor notetaking in lesson, with consolidation at home (and very easy to do!)

I'm sure people will advise you to get on with reorganising the notes, and being proactive.

Myself, I'd sign up to Tassomai for sciences, spark notes etc. For English, and khan academy (free) or conquer maths/Mr. Burton's math/maths is fun.

Also z-notes, which are free.

Some kids just do better with prepped notes.

Then get decent text books with proper optional studies for history and geography, if they are taking those.

If your child is looking at A levels, you might need a study skills crammer later, but I don't mind paying for notes and pointers at GCSE. It gives them a sort of framework to build on.

I like the CGP books for maths for repetition, and the Save My Exams site for past papers/worked questions.

DS has just done his GCSEs and yes it is possible to pass just using the revision guides, CGP ones in particular are brilliant. But the new exams have a lot more content so I would strongly suggest he starts going through them now, cramming is not adviseable. DS made flash cards of all the information from the guides, didn't use his school books at all. Good luck!

He needs to get used to note taking. I don't think it's reasonable for you to decide what terms your child will engage with the lessons.

In year 11 students should be more than capable of taking responsibility for their own note taking and making sure their notes are good, especially grammar students.

I don't think you can rely too much on CGP for grade 8s. It gets the basics but is too simplistic.

For English, have a look at York Notes over CGP and then look at Mr Bruff online.

Actually as a science teacher I disagree. So many high quality revision resources. I would recommend cgp rev guides and all the workbooks/maths for science. Then mygcsescience is a great website with extra info for higher grades.

Thank you all so much. Some really helpful responses which I'm already investigating. MN does it every time! X

YouTube has lots of teachers/tutors doing excellent videos for GCSE.

Depending which exam board, put it in the search. Ds1 is also year 11, he has used FreeScienceLessons as recommended by school, Mr Bruff and Mr Salles for AQA English Lit, Primrose Kitten also for science, you can download her entire revision guide for free. She is fantastic.

My son's school recommended CGP revision guides which have been fantastic. They were bought in bulk by the school and we bought them from them.

Best advice, each day he comes home, type up notes from that lesson. As I keep saying to Ds1, they are asking you to eat an elephant, it is too big to eat in one sitting, but taking a bite every day is doable.

I too like CGP books. I was told BBC bitesize is not for getting the higher grades.

Also just reading is not an effective way of learning. He has to do something with the information in order to learn: mindmaps, notes, example questions. There is always time to put in work to improve his grades. I agree with starting now and not just cramming for exams at the end.

It really depends on the subject I think
DS has just done his GCSEs. He did double science based on the CGP books rather than his notes.
History and Geography used his notes as they are much more board/syllabus/school specific so harder to get generic revision materials. I mean there are many options for modules etc, and with geography field work will depend on what the school actually did.
Maths was loads of past papers.
Still not sure how he passed French - you obviously don't need to be able to speak it.

I would certainly recommend getting his books and files in order - it gives a starting point.

My DS was not much good at online revision sites - too easily distracted!

Pmd you

Just as an aside, how on earth has he got to year 11 in a Grammar school, with the teachers not realising his note taking/ books are so poor?!

Well yes Traalaa I'm a bit puzzled as well. We're not in a grammar school area but do have two grammar schools not too far away (one for boys, one for girls, huge competition to get in etc). They pride themselves on their A/A*s (1/2s) so I imagine they'd be piling the pressure on if a child was predicted 5/6s - I don't really understand the 'very happy chap' bit (maybe the OP was being sarcastic?)

OP, no real advice (my dd isn't at that stage yet) but have you talked to the school about this and got their view?

You have the grading the wrong way around waspnest. 9 is highest grade, 1 is lowest!

A reasonably able child should be able to get high grades with revision guides and practice questions imo it's totally doable if he's atteneded all the lessons and paid attention.

There are so many learning and revision resources available outside of schools nowadays that your own notes aren't necessisarily a main source of information

9 = A**
8 = A*
7 = A
6 = B
5 - B/C
4 = C/D
3 = D/E
2 = E/F
1 = G

ish

alexanderhamilton - 4 is a C not a D!

Sorry yes, don't know why I put that! But aren't 5/6s B/Cs (which would be great at DD's school but maybe not that impressive at a grammar school)?

Crosspost.

On the OfQual table although 4 is classed as a pass (with 5 a good pass) it is between the level of an old C/D grade (low C high D)

My DD lost her science GCSE books a couple of months before her exams (claims teacher lost them) and revised totally from revision guides. She got a B which I reckon was a fair reflection of her ability.

She also had no teacher for the last of terms in textiles and hardly any notes (teacher was ill) and bagged an A using the revision guide, though her coursework was very good.

Yes her school was pretty crap.

Traalaa. It's a fair point! They don't seem too fussed! Yes it's a grammar school but I suppose even grammar schools have 30 in their class and there's not time for everything.

Waspnest All 3 of our kids are at different grammars and I suppose, like all schools, they have a cross section of kids. He does have help from Learning Support but I wouldn't say he struggles academically compared to his peers even though he's probably not going to get 8/9s. I suspect it's a problem with organisation and application in his case! Hence the reason for the post.

Not being sarcastic about him being happy. He is. I think that's quite relevant when we're discussing school issues.

Tinklylittlelaugh. Wow. Good for her! That's very encouraging. Thank you.

Odd. I never took notes in secondary and had no idea what you were supposed to do for "revision" - the revision guides were enough for me and I got good grades. Not top but good. I didn't learn how to revise until university. I think if you're exam minded you can coast through like this. I did have undiagnosed ADHD, though, and that was probably behind the chaotic state of my schoolwork.