a level ,help for ds

[frazzled74]

ds is doing AS levels now, he did really well in gcse but is struggling now. he sat his business AS retake today (got a d last time)but he says that he did even worse today as didnt have time to complete exam,he sat the mock last week and got an A ,i think he struggles with the time and pressure factor of exams. He is struggling with maths full stop and says he wishes he had never chosen it. Any tips on how i can help him to revise, or advice that i can give him ?

DS is only 2.5, so no experience of encouraging revision, but one thing that really helped me was a suggestion from my old history teacher.

She suggested that you break the day into 3 chunks (so morning, afternoon and evening) and pick 2 of them where you will revise for a total period of 4 hours. Have one of them completely free to do what you want. (I used to do 3-4 hours before lunch, go out in the afternoon, and then do another 3-4 hours after dinner). It did help a lot on Friday's - I was allowed out in the evening as long as I'd done my two big chunks of revision.

oh, and block facebook

For Maths DD2 recommends going through notes and writing out methods of doing different types of calculations and then doing past papers. Fortunately the Maths syllabus didn't change when the "new" A levels came in last year so there are lots of past papers available.

I'd get him a Maths revision guide as well, DD2 has a Letts one that covers all the exam boards and the core modules (it was just from our local Waterstones) and she's using this as an overview of what she should know.

For revision, I would say don't just read. That is the worst way to revise. Make short notes (or concept map if that is his thing), then explain the work to someone else (prepare to listen and be bored ask intelligent questions). And past paper questions: Do the paper, then mark it using the mark scheme, then write the perfect answer with the mark scheme as a guideline.

In exams, reading examiners' reports it says again and again that a bit of planning is more important than writing loads. I tell my students to plan anything that is worth 6 marks or more.

I would second webwiz re the revision guides, DS1 has one for each module.
Also, at the end of each chapter of his text book there is a selection of mixed questions which act as a good revision exercise.

If he is finding the maths really tricky, can he identify some specific areas and maybe get some additional support from school?

I really hope it all works out for him.
This is our first time (as parents) going through the AS exams - it's horrible isn't it!

Another good method - but not for maths - is to do mind maps. Good for subjects like literature, history and anything with a lot of verbal info.

I agree about chunking the day up and having a limit of time.

Maths revision is different to other subjects. Do as many past papers as you can and each time you get stuck look it up. Eventually you get faster and better at it. Learn any formula you need so it is quickly there when needed.

If there are areas he is particularly weak on he should be able to ask for help after lesson.

thanks for tips, he is usually a bit reluctant to take advice or help from me but has agreed to do a maths paper every other day under exam conditions with me being around to nag and motivate!