Looking for tips on how to support DC through GCSE's

[NoHayDosSinTres]

DS is just about to start his GCSE's. I feel out of my depth and a but powerless and feel I should be doing more. He has worked very hard so far, and done well in his mocks.

If your DC has been through or are going through their GCSE's what things are you doing to support them during this stressful time?

Help them make a revision timetable. Make sure they have correct equipment- calculator etc. Encourage good eating and sleeping. Encourage breaks and pleasant activities. It s quite a long time to be under pressure- so try and relieve the pressure and let them get on with their job.

I've done this three times so here are my thoughts:
Buy all they need - study guides, past papers (our school did printed ones) stationery such as flashcards or highlighters.

Offer to be a sounding board for practice (but don't be upset if they say no).

Provide somewhere they can work - desk in room, table in quiet room.

Buy snacks. Many snacks. All the snacks in the world. All the crisps, biscuits, sweets they like.

Ultimately they have to work our their own way but make it clear you are always there. Good luck to them.

Meant to say yy to other activities. Dd continued with orchestra and Guides, ds2 kept playing football and training athletics.

Thank you

He's worked really hard so far and has just completed his second round of mocks as requested by the government . He said a few weeks ago that he felt a bit burnt out, which was a worry, but he seems OK now.

He has been working hard and continues to do so, and so the study leave time is not a time when he has to cram it all in I don't think. I am trying to take the pressure off him by not having him do chores and I am keeping his room really clean and tidy when he is at school and I am encouraging him to go to bed earlier. I have booked some noice treats for us at the weekend for half a day to give him a break.

I said I was going to read his Eng Lit books as this is his least favourite GCSE and he agreed, but not sure if I will make it worse

Another Q.

Is there an optimum amount of time to study a day? Someone once told me that anything over 4 hours (or was it 6, but I doubt it) was counterproductive.

Also, in the run up to the GCSE's what is the most productive study?

Finally, the upsurge in Covid is worrying me. My DS has worked so hard during secondary and he wants to sit them. I think he would be really upset if he didn't if he caught Covid. DH and I were paranoidly thinking of putting a ring of steel round him in the run up and not having anyone over and even driving him to and from school on the exam days.

Sounds a bit overboard by all 4 of us have had covid twice, and now my youngest has it for the 3rd time!

If he is happy you can certainly help with Eng lit. If he is looking at grade 4/5/6 in it then discussing themes and order of events (esp fir Shakespeare) is really useful and no special knowledge us needed from you.

If he is more 7/8/9 then you need to go a bit deeper into the spec but I am sure you can still help. Look at past papers together and pick out key points, then check the mark scheme.

Only if he is willing of course; dd and ds2 were not keen.

Four hours a day sounds a lot to me. Two hours of productive work is better.

No thoughts re covid but the papers are spread out this year so students will sit at least one (normally they ate much closer eg French within three days)

My eldest's school used to encourage them to produce a revision timetable for holidays pre-exams. They divided the day into morning/afternoon/evening slots, and suggested a guideline of working 2/3 rds of the time on 2/3rds of days.

Planning how time will be used is certainly helpful for some.

Personally one time when I experienced a short period of intense study, physical exercise every day was also enforced. I grumbled at the time, but it's a very good plan actually!