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Original poster

Disappointing GCSE science mock results-how to improve in 13 weeks?

34 replies

alwaysplanning · 07/02/2024 11:23

DC received their mock results last week. Overall ok results, with room for improvement across the board. However, he is especially disappointed with science results-5/5/4 predicted 6/6/7 (triple). Biology especially disappointing (4, predicted 7 but realistic might be a 6).

How best to focus on the time that's left? He admits that he didn't do enough (any?) past papers but as he still has a lot to relearn of the syllabus how should he spend his time? He mostly used Seneca and cognito with free science lessons videos in there too but his working memory is poor so he's obviously not retaining the content.

If he starts with past papers, should he methodically work through each question with his revision guide/YouTube videos and learn through tackling the questions? With the answers to hand? Should he struggle and persevere with revision notes? Do flashcards?

Sorry if that is a really basic question, I'm not sure he really knows how to revise. He has no useful class or revision notes either, has dyslexia and probably finds making notes stressful and difficult.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Bluevelvetsofa · 07/02/2024 11:26

What was the reason for the results being less than hoped for? Was it not having time to finish the papers, or was it because he couldn’t answer the questions?

I’m wondering if he has had support for the dyslexia, in the form of extra time or other access arrangement.

Howsoon23 · 07/02/2024 11:30

Revision books are your friend - most schools provide so i am suprised they havnt. CPG are commonally used. Also does the school do revision sessions again most schools do - if so insist he attends. talk to the teachers about where his biggests gaps are and focus on them.

you can go a long way in physics with knowing the equations and be able to use
And i could do a lot of quizzing with him using the revision books

Original poster
alwaysplanning · 07/02/2024 11:31

Thanks for your reply. I don't think he used his extra time for sciences, I think it's just that he doesn't have a strong grip of the content.

OP posts:
wiltonian · 07/02/2024 11:31

Seneca - online. It's easy to use and specific to the relevant board. If you pay for it you can, I think, get past papers too.

Original poster
alwaysplanning · 07/02/2024 11:33

Howsoon23 · 07/02/2024 11:30

Revision books are your friend - most schools provide so i am suprised they havnt. CPG are commonally used. Also does the school do revision sessions again most schools do - if so insist he attends. talk to the teachers about where his biggests gaps are and focus on them.

you can go a long way in physics with knowing the equations and be able to use
And i could do a lot of quizzing with him using the revision books

He has the revision guides, admittedly he didn't really use them, he finds the layout busy and confusing (and just is resistant to too much reading, frustratingly). He started on the CGP workbooks but I think the problem is he knows it while he's working through a topic then promptly forgets it 2-3 weeks later.

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TheLongpigs · 07/02/2024 11:36

There are really good revision guides available and v good value on Amazon. I prefer these to online revision as it's writing (like in the exam), and much easier for you to keep track of. You can pull out the answers and keep them, ask him to do 5 / 10 pages a day and then work through the answers together, marking as you go. He could make serious improvement this way. Some revision guides have really good précis of the topics in them, which helps learn missing content.

Original poster
alwaysplanning · 07/02/2024 11:38

TheLongpigs · 07/02/2024 11:36

There are really good revision guides available and v good value on Amazon. I prefer these to online revision as it's writing (like in the exam), and much easier for you to keep track of. You can pull out the answers and keep them, ask him to do 5 / 10 pages a day and then work through the answers together, marking as you go. He could make serious improvement this way. Some revision guides have really good précis of the topics in them, which helps learn missing content.

Thank you-are there any that you would especially recommend?

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shepherdsangeldelight · 07/02/2024 11:39

What is the view of his teachers? Do they think he is still capable of reaching the higher grades? Crucially - were those results achieved on higher papers and are they still going to enter him for the higher papers, or are they now recommending that he takes foundation papers? Does he need science for whatever he is planning to go on and do later? Arguably he might be better to take foundation papers and bank 5s rather than risking getting a lower grade on higher.

TheLongpigs · 07/02/2024 11:41

You would need to check what exam board your school are using, but I am a big fan of the Collins revision guides.

Tumbler2121 · 07/02/2024 11:51

Some schools give disappointing mock results with the belief that the children will try harder. Obviously some will just be disheartened. Instead of guessing have a chat with his teachers and ask where there is room for improvement

BaconAndAvocado · 07/02/2024 11:57

DS17 got underwhelming mock results but went on to doing well in the real thing.

Conversely, his friend did really well in the mocks but dropped a few grades in the real thing....

As long as he gets what he needs for the next step, that's generally all that matters in GCSEs.

haggisaggis · 07/02/2024 12:02

My dyslexic dd finds flashcards and mind maps the most useful things for her to try and get information in to her head. She will prepare a mindmap for a topic and then when she is revising she will make mind maps from the mind maps - they get smaller and smaller as more information is retained. Flashcards are useful as well to get information into longterm memory.

Octavia64 · 07/02/2024 12:05

Videos are not helpful as will give him the impression he knows the topic but he hasn't actually tested himself.

Past papers and then specifically revising topics he didn't know are best, revision workbooks are next best. He needs to be doing questions. Reading his notes or watching videos won't help much.

Bramshott · 07/02/2024 12:06

The benefit of making flashcards is you get 2 goes at retaining the info - the first when you make the card, and the second when you review the card in the week of the exam (ideally the night before). My DD is not a natural scientist (now doing arts & humanities A levels) but before each science exam last summer I went through her flashcards with her and it did seem to help (i.e. at least some of the info was still in her brain 12 hours later - small goals!)

piisnot3 · 07/02/2024 12:10

generally speaking, learning the content needs to come before spending too much time on the past papers. But he does need to do past papers once the content has been learned.
my-gcsescience is pretty decent - videos + MCQs. Goes deeper than cognito.
mrexham (youtube and website) is good for biology
flashcards / quizlet may also be good for someone who struggles with retention.

ideally, a few sessions with a tutor and a review of his past papers to see where he's dropping marks would allow weaker areas to be identified and targeted.

New2024 · 07/02/2024 12:15

Are school going to focus on revision from now on? If so, they will guide them through. Mine did combined not triple, he got 7/7 in mocks and 7/8 in actual GCSEs. In his school, only people judged capable of 7s were allowed to choose triple science. Mine was never going to as he’s a linguist and musician.

Revision guides and past papers were really useful as were school revision sessions. The sessions were often delivered by a different teacher from the ones he’d had in particular subjects. This was especially useful in some cases, giving fresh perspective to material/content

AlwaysFreezing · 07/02/2024 12:18

We used the revision cards, like the revision guides, but ready made flash cards. Brilliant. BUT he has to actually do them.

Littlebitpsycho · 07/02/2024 12:21

A long long time ago now but I almost got a U (ungraded) in my maths mock after only gaining something like 5/100 on the higher paper.

I hated maths. I was capable but lacked confidence and would panic (my DD12 is the same unfortunately)

I was lucky that my father (although not qualified, and a terrible impatient teacher) has 3 mathematical degrees and he sat and literally drilled me through past papers for weeks and weeks right up until my exams

It worked and I got a B as a final result. It is possible to seriously improve BUT it involves serious effort and willingness to put the time in.

Plus of course exams aren't the full story - what's his coursework like?

Clarabellawilliamson · 07/02/2024 12:21

The Oxford revise revision guides are the best in my view (science teacher). A good mix of content, retrieval and exam practice! 13 weeks is enough to make a huge difference. Good luck to him!

TeatimeBiscuits · 07/02/2024 12:32

New2024 · 07/02/2024 12:15

Are school going to focus on revision from now on? If so, they will guide them through. Mine did combined not triple, he got 7/7 in mocks and 7/8 in actual GCSEs. In his school, only people judged capable of 7s were allowed to choose triple science. Mine was never going to as he’s a linguist and musician.

Revision guides and past papers were really useful as were school revision sessions. The sessions were often delivered by a different teacher from the ones he’d had in particular subjects. This was especially useful in some cases, giving fresh perspective to material/content

’mine was never going to’ - he did, didn’t he? Am I misunderstanding?

jennylamb1 · 07/02/2024 12:44

Agree with the above on flash cards and mind maps. dyslexia affects working/long term memory and may be an issue.

ilovebreadsauce · 07/02/2024 12:55

With sciences, the WORDING of answers is SO important. Certain buzz words and phrases are needed to hit the marks.So study the mark scheme very very carefully when he does past paper

TousBous · 07/02/2024 13:05

The act of writing rather than reading or reciting helps with memory recall so encourage him to make notes, flash cards, mind maps etc. My dyslexic/dysgraphia DS found that a slog though. His favourite revision technique is to talk through and explain a subject he has been revising - at dinner, in the car, even on phonecalls at university… 😂 Any chance he could get, again and again! TBH I think I remember more about his degree subject than mine so it does work 😂

New2024 · 07/02/2024 13:16

TeatimeBiscuits · 07/02/2024 12:32

’mine was never going to’ - he did, didn’t he? Am I misunderstanding?

Show quote history

Never going to take triple science because he wanted to do several languages and music GCSE.

Plus, had he decided to do science in sixth form, doing Combined not Triple wouldn’t have prevented this.

Original poster
alwaysplanning · 07/02/2024 14:05

This is all so helpful, thank you. I agree that he needs to do more active revision so will look at the oxford revise workbooks. And the point about videos lulling into the false sense that you know the topic is so true, I hadn't thought of it quite like that. I don't know if they are doing revision sessions, I'll ask that question. I also like the mindmap, leading to smaller mindmaps idea, he did do something similar for history and was much more motivated that way. I feel a bit more positive..

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