GCSE revision....

[familyissues12345]

Hi

GCSE's being taken this summer - lower to average student (expected to pass everything, some scraping!)

How much revision should he be looking at? How much does your child do?

Thanks!

So you did help them to get started on something productive then?!

Kids often/usually need a bit more support than simply being sent upstairs to "do some revision". I'm struggling to see what's controversial about saying that 🤣🤣

Yes, I support them, but it's just that - support, not because if I didn't they'd be more likely to sit in their room doing nothing for 2 hours when they've told me they're revising.

My view won’t be popular, but I think it’s important for DC to revise hard for GCSEs. They aren’t life-defining, but good grades do keep as many future options as possible open.

It’s also important for DC to develop the good study habits and work ethic they’ll need to succeed at A level, where the content is much harder.

Tbh I would expect mine to be doing what a poster up thread noted- so 3 hours on school nights and then 5 hours a day at weekends at this stage (with a bigger push over Easter and closer to exams if possible).

Remember year 11s have a long summer ahead and ime they’ll enjoy it much more if they’ve spent they know they’ve worked as hard as they can for their GCSEs.

I don't think anyone needs to be studying for 3 hours after school in order to develop good study habits and succeed at A level.

The thing is, it doesn't matter what we think is important, or what leads to success. If I suggested my son do 3 hrs study after school I just know he wouldn't want to do it and I wouldn't want to make him. So then what do you do?
He knows he needs to work to get the grades he needs for A levels.

I have two girls doing GCSEs this year: my daughter and her best friend who is living with us due to a very chaotic home situation.

DD got all 7-9s in her mocks and has yet to start revising as she’s obsessed with finishing her art portfolio which is due next week. I am relaxed about her lack of revision as she has worked hard all through the GCSE courses and has a solid basis. I’d love her to push herself and get all 8s and 9s but that’s up to her as you need to be self motivated to do that. We will see what happens once her art is submitted.

In the same mocks her friend go a few 3s and 4s and then 2x 6s showing she is able but she had not worked at all. I’m supporting her to revise about two hours a night and four hours a day at weekends as she could get good grades if she really knuckles down. I will suggest 9-3 every week day of the Easter holidays with weekends maybe just a few flash cards to consolidate learning. Life will be so much easier for her if she can get into sixth form. But I worry pushing her too much will lead to her breaking as she’s quite fragile.

My older DD was predicted all 9s and got really anxious, studying 8-9 hours a day, had lots of panic attacks and got all 6s and 7s except her 9 in art. I never want to live through that level of pre exam stress again.

So I guess what I’m saying is it’s horses for courses and there are no universal answers. Only you and your child can work out the balance right for them.

DS1 got a grade or more higher than his target grades in all his mocks in Feb.
He has been doing about half an hour a night. And probably a couple of hours most (but by no means all) weekends.

It is still a long slog til the end of the GCSE's, and whatever they do needs to be sustainable for the next 3 months.

In my view encouragement/cajoling/gentle forcing are still necessary in that order while DC are in year 11.

In an ideal world they would all be self-motivated, but it’s not reasonable to expect 16 year olds to have the long-term thinking skills to apply themselves fully to their exams.

Of course no one ‘wants to’ work for 3 hours a night, but it’s about providing the guidance, tools and discipline if necessary to ensure they’re working hard.

I do not do 'gentle forcing' - whatever the heck that is.
He's not a toddler resisting having his teeth brushed, a pre-schooler needing vaccinations, an awkward pre-teen needing new clothes or a shower.

What does gentle forcing look like in your house?

It is a last resort, as ideally I’d want to encourage them to see the benefit to their own future.

Ultimately though, I would ground DC and remove phones, screens etc if they refused to do their revision.

3 hours on school nights actually leaves plenty of time for other things. DS will usually work in one hour sessions from 4pm-7.30pm (with a 10 minute break each time) and then have the rest of the evening free.

Alternatively, he will get up early and do an hour before school or do more at weekends if he wants to do something else after school.

and have you ever needed to do those things?

I think many people (even if they agreed with your approach) would find it impossible to monitor as they are at work, or doing afterschool activities with other children, certainly for the first part of the 4-7.30pm slot.

anyway, I seem to be over-invested in what works for you.
All the best for your DC this summer.

my DS decided to do 2 hours per weekday night but includes any homework. he does 2 hours on Saturday morning and is adamant he will not revise on Sundays as that is his free day!

DS started mid January and says he's taking it steady so as not to burn out. seems sensible!!!!

he says they are doing exam questions / papers in class although a few subjects are still teaching content. he says he has been getting the equivalent of 8s. his head of year said he seems to be working hard.

he is predicted 8s for all subjects except 9 in Maths. if he gets all 7s that would be awesome anything more is a bonus.

(note I keep saying "he says" - all will come out in the wash at result time!!!) 😀

I would encourage and support a child but not push or nag. Yes it’s hard doing re-sits but that’s a life lesson. For some kids, pushing will make them less likely to do anything or will make them feel pressure from a parent. They should do well for themselves, not parents.