Mock exam failure

[username2013]

My DC mock exam results were appalling (2/3s). DC claims they worked really really hard. Now I beg to differ considering they opened up their English lit book the week of the exams to revise.

I am extremely disappointed. I would say they are capable of 5/6s across all exams definitely not an A* student.

What can I do to help turn this around. I am looking for tutor in maths and English.

May I add..dc isn't interested in learning, enjoys sports but that's it. There is very little motivation for their school work right now. I feel like I have failed them and not pushed them throughout their school life.

Any suggestions to turn this around. How to motivate? How to structure learning programme that is more strategic (resourcing). Or any suggestions!

When you say'mock' I assume you mean end of y10.
What grades do they need for their preferred next steps?
Did they make revision materials for their exams? If not then start there, this summer holidays.
If they think they worked 'really hard' why do they think they did so poorly?
What would incentivise them?

I would say they are capable of 5/6s across all exams definitely not an A student.*

What are you basing this opinion on? Have the school given predicted grades?
How does he normally perform in tests/homework etc?
Has he had any feedback on his exams - did he not know the information, not understand the information, didn't answer questions in the way the mark schemes require, ran out of time etc?
what help has he had with revision eg have you provided him with the relevant revision guides or helped him find appropriate revision materials on line?
Have you spoken with any of his teachers - what are they suggesting?

I assume these are Year 10 exams rather than mocks?

Should be perfectly possible to move from 2/3s to 5/6s in a year. Especially if this was on no revision (and remember that they will do loads of revision during Year 11). Depending on what he wants to do later than there may well be no particular benefit in getting 5s and 6s rather than 4s.

Thank you so much for your input. Yes I think traditional textbooks are just too dull for DC. Especially when it comes to physics or maths! There is zero interest which is making it more tricky. I will defo check the website out and find alternative ways to revise.
I have tried working backwards from what they want to do, but the motivation is still not there. My patience is too short also as I just feel so deflated and fed up by it all.
Yes distraction is an issue too, it's always a bit of a fight to obtain the phone away. And we are trying a timetable out although their teenage head is moaning saying it's pointless and 'no one else does this' 😔

Yes year 10 exams. Good point, I will ask why they think they did so poorly in their exams.
We are now really trying to build the material up over the summer with a watchful eye as their own material was useless in all honesty. It's difficult as there is just not enough hours in the day as we have other children to tend to and work!

I am basing this on most predictions being a 5 with 2being a 6. But predictions are just that. Without the work that won't be the case.

In the past it's a bit up or down with tests. If they revise for a small end of topic test then they fair well. For essay based exams they have been hit or miss. Hit when they have really understood HOW to answer a question but mostly they don't think about the structure that has been learnt on how to answer the questions.

Also silly mistakes in exams.. I looked at the maths paper and things I know DC knows were incorrect. Like they completely forgot the last 10years of schooling. I don't think time is an issue, but will need to get a firm understanding of this.
Also some questions missed out.
One subject which is an essay task, I don't know what else is expected as I read the answer and thought it was relevant with theory and explanation and links to current day. However feed black is 'more detail required' in which we are trying to get model answer example from the teacher.

I did revision cards for my DDs, DD1 has dyspraxia and couldn't at that age organise her way out of a paper bag (or identify key info). I then did revision with her 1-1 to help focus. But I was lucky, I had the time.

Have you had a look at the mark schemes for each exam paper? You can find them on the relevant exam board websites.

Exam questions have to be answered in very specific ways to actually gain marks. I suspect teachers will be concentrating on this issue and exam technique in general in Y11. But obviously students need to know the subject matter to answer the questions too.

End of Year 10 mocks are, in my experience, tough. The teachers mark them really hard. They not only show the students where they have knowledge gaps but give the teachers an idea of what the students need to work on from September. Your child will probably spend a lot of time in year 11 looking at how to structure their answers as well as what to put in their answers. Past papers and the corresponding mark schemes are really useful for this, particularly in STEM.

There are some great tutors on You Tube who go through papers and do model answers. DS found these really helpful in both essay and STEM subjects.

My son's just taken his GCSEs and the uplift in grade predication between his end of year 10 exams and his February mocks was significant, and was mostly down to knowing how to structure his answers rather than any additional content knowledge.

Hi @username2013 ! I have just sent you a Private Message.

Agree with this. Exam technique is extremely important and not to be underestimated. I revised loads with my DC so they knew the information, but unless it was presented in the required way it wasn't much help.