Ask Becki Bradshaw, Head of Revision and Test Practice, your questions about revision and exams

[MaddyMumsnet]

Created for Oxford Revision
Do you need tips to help your child revise effectively, manage exam stress, or create a study plan that works? Becki Bradshaw, Head of Revision and Test Practice at Oxford University Press, is here to answer your questions.
With years of experience and a team of experts behind her, Becki has developed resources and support that uses proven strategies to help students build confidence and succeed in their exams.

• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by 5/3/25 will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Becki will be back on the week of the 10/3/25 to answer some of your questions

About Becki Bradshaw: “As Head of Revision and Test Practice at Oxford University Press, Becki pulled together the best subject and cognitive science experts working in secondary education today to create the Oxford Revise team. Collectively, they have one mission: to give students access to the best strategies and guidance so that they can approach their exams with confidence, and succeed!"

Here’s what Oxford Revision has to say:
“By this point you’ve supported your child through many, many years of schooling and now, somehow, it’s time for exams! The Oxford Revise team knows what this is like first-hand, in fact many of us feel like we sat the exams ourselves. But one thing we’re certain of is - you’ve got this!””

So, whether you’re wondering how to structure revision sessions, looking for advice on balancing study and downtime, or simply want to know how to keep your child motivated during exam season, post your question on this thread for Becki to answer.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Terms and Conditions

How can we encourage children to develop independent thinking skills in a world where AI tools like chatGPT, Alexa and Google are so readily accessible? And is there a constructive role for AI in the revision process?

I feel like I don’t have a clue how to help my children revise - I’m assuming they will be taught in school?

The way of answering questions in exams seems a lot more specifically structured than it did when I sat exams. How can I best help my children to prepare for that?

Would you have a space in their bedroom, or within the family home - I am thinking that being in a bedroom would make them feel isolated ?

How would you practice mindfullness for better sleep for a 10 year old who is studying for a grammar school entrance exam (he is more than capable academically but struggles with nerves and anxiety for exams)

In primary school age children achieving at the expected level for their age, how much should we be doing at home to aid learning?

How much time should children be spending preparing for exams?

My son has dyslexia, and manages it with help - he's also being screened for dyscalculia - any tips for revision at home, school is really helping and he has extra time for exams.

What time of the day do you recommend for revision time - my DS leaves it until the evening for his GCSE's this summer, and I think it's too late - and can disrupt sleep, I am trying to get him to revise in chunks throughout the day - he needs to discipline to do this - with younger siblings running around the house -it's hard for him. How would you get them to unwind ??

what is the best way to revise to make the information stay - writing notes and reading back, bitsize or anything else ?

I find the that amount of knowledge and subjects for GCSE's overwhelming - so I can only imagine how my DC's feel - and the pressure to get good results is so much higher than when I was at school. How would you ensure that they do enough - but not burn out. School have a revision timetable and revision classes available - how would you help through this period of time in their life to get the best results academically and emotionally.

I find i so hard to motivate my youngest to revise for exams - he's bright and busy, he will look at his books and study revision guides - but I can see that it's making him miserable - any tips to make it more fun - can we do 10 minute spurts once an hour - that's doable but will it work ? he's 11 and has exams at the end of every term to keep in the set his has been put in.

Thank you everyone who has left questions so far! There are 8 days left to share a question for Becki to answer, and to be entered into the £200 VEX voucher prize draw. 😊

My question is when my DC's get to revising for GCSE's - I think that there is no 'one size fits all' for revision - how would you help create a revision timetable or study area for children of 2 very differing academic abilities to give them the best support - do you have or know of a scoring system to get to the best solution ?

I want to make exam time as stress free as I can, and making sure that they get a good nights sleep - and not have sleepless worry nights - how would you start mindfulness with a 14 year old, and how long before the exam time would you start.

How do you motivate a child to revise for the subjects they are struggling with, rather than doing the ones they are shady good at because it's easy?

And how can you best revise for subjects where the questions are about analysing texts/sources etc. rather than knowing facts?

How would you 'test' your child on their revision ? I want to really help but some of the subjects are way above my capabilities - especially sciences - any advice would be most welcome.

How would you deal with the period after taking exams and before the results - my DD was so stressed after her mocks, and worry about her MH for the GCSE time - and how would you address less than predicted grades long term ?

What is the best way to revise for longer essay style questions?

Do you recommend focusing on revision skills in KS3 to try to help them prepare for real exams in KS4? If so, what’s the best way to start this?

How can my child get help with answering essay questions eg in history in the correct way. She knows the content but does really badly on practice papers and her teacher says it’s because she’s not answering the questions correctly. We’ve looked at the mark schemes but they’re quite hard to understand

KS4 exams are something my DC is getting worried about - school seem to be putting a LOT of pressure on them to do well, I want them to revise and obviously do well - but don't want this to put them off exams in the long term - any tips or advice for a stressed 10 year old ?

How do your support revision for a child with additional needs, who comes home exhausted every day?

What extra resources would you buy for a bedroom and are sticky notes with bitesize points on a notice board a good idea ?

Do you think revising with a friend would work and help motivate, my DD wants to revise with her friend, mum is ok with this, they are both bright and in the top set at school and studious - I just think if I start and allow this - it will happen every years exams - but I do think it may benefit them both - thoughts ???