GCSe revision - how is it going?

[andisa]

My DS is getting on with it but with so much cajoling from us. He wants to do well but finds revision "so boring". His grades have been good, a few slipped a bit in recent Science modues but without us organising him I'm not sure what he would achieve. Some boys methinks are not mature enough for the responsibility of exams at 15 as our DS will be.

Well done to all those mums who hang on in there and support their lively sons to get sitting and doing the study! It takes effort. And good on the boys despite their reluctance who do knuckle down - my DS included

bigbluebus DS is probably closer to an hour a day over the holidays, I don't think he has enough stuff to cover to do two hours especially as one exam isn't till 22/6. I'm impressed that your DS actually started before the easter holidays as it seems to be some sort of unbreakable rule that no one in my house can even look at a revision guide before they break up for easter (even if its very late like last year)

DS has 3x science, english and an RS paper. He has worked out what he wants to have covered by the end of the holiday and has a rough plan of how to get through it which includes several days doing nothing but eat easter eggs.

dd is struggling to get motivated and down to it. She has a lot to cover but seems to find it hard to concentrate for more than about 10 mins. I don't think she's good at effective revision either - she doesn't like writing so won't make notes, doesn't like reading so tries to get me to read books to her (which is so slow, not to mention tedious for me and she doesn't appear to be listening either). Then having spent all day doing extremely little she tells anyone who asks she's done 8 hours! It's going to be a long holiday... fortunately they don't get study leave until after half term (when the exams are half over) so she can do (or not do) her revision at school after these holidays are over.

Would online revision sites help glaurung? Then at least she is doing something active.

Or how about mind maps - DS isn't big on writing revision notes but he will quite happily make a mind map of a topic area. His are fairly scribbily but DD2's were a work of beauty involving lots of different coloured glitter gel pens.

the main problem with online stuff webwiz is that it ends up being a facebook session unfortunately, but it may be the best way forward in any case. She does actually really want to do well, but is very easily distracted and doesn't seem to have made the connection between effort put in and good results. The modules she did last year went very well (also on not much work) and I think that's lulled her into a bit of a false sense of security too.

Ah yes the facebook thing, that's why I normally steer mine away from online revision. I suggested that DD2 have a bit of a facebook "holiday" during exam revision and she looked at me as if I'd asked her to cut her arm off!

webwiz I found a revision timetable in his school bag one day (when I was brave enough to venture in there to look for a letter that I saw, from the school website, he had been given to bring home!!!). It took me a week to persuade him to write anything on the timetable!!!!
He was awake at 7.30am this morning and raced downstairs to collect his mobile phone (we don't allow it upstairs at night!) and has spent 3 hrs playing You Tube clips on that it bed!! He has now (after much encouragement), got up, had breakfast & a shower and has embarked on Maths revision - after 15 minutes he has decided he needs a break - to go on the playstation! If know if I allow that he will still be on it in 5 hrs time.
I try and vary the revision between internet study (done on the laptop at the kitchen table so I can see that it is revision) and reading and doing questions in revision guides. His school books are such a mess I don't think it is worth even opening them!!! He has almost a full set of CGP books to use - at great expense to me.
I just can't get my head around how it is fine to spend 10 hours a day playing mindless games on PS/computer/phone but he can't spare a few hours a day to try and give himself the best possible chance in the career path he seems so keen to pursue!

copied from an earlier thread:

Advice written below by DD (taking GCSEs this year):

For most subjects at the end of each section/module/unit/whatever in the text book there will be some form of examiners tips/key points/quick reviews. You should go through each of these summaries. Find out what you don't remember clearly and revise that. Dont panic about the stuff you already know. I've taken a GCSE, AS and A2 in Dutch and as part of my preperation I read through examiner's report (available from the exam board for each subjectafter each sitting). These are coments that the Examiners have made about what students have written in previous exams, they mention where they have gone wrong, or common mistakes made when answering specific questions. I suggest looking for these for the subjects you are taking if you are worrying about exam technique.

Specifically for history:
If the question has sources to refer to, REFER to them. If you don't, you will only be able to get a maximum of half marks. Also use Key Factors. They are the main things that have made things progress or regress for example Technology, Religion, War, Government. Refering to these can very easily boost your mark. If you are unsure of these Factors talk to your teacher. Frequently history exams will include a 'how far do you agree with...' question, for these you should include more than just what you think, you should say why you think it and why someone else may say differently. Lastly, use of your own knowledge is key, don't just write about what is included in the source or question, however do not list what you know. Writing fairly detailedly about two or three things of your own knowledge is normally enough to give you full marks. (basically try to show off what you know, and pretend that the examiner knows nothing)

bigbluebus your DS is making life very difficult - if only they would realise if they just got on with the revision they would have plenty of time to do other things! Mind you I have just frittered away several hours on here but in my defence I was at Sainsburys at 8am this morning doing an epic shop while my teens were still asleep.

Yes, my ds "revises" using on-line stuff whilst having FB open in another window - he just can't see it !!!!!

Has anyone else had this response to "incentives" (bribery) - "that's just blackmail and I don't respond to blackmail"!!

I think everyone responds to blackmail if the reward is big enough

"Has anyone else had this response to "incentives" (bribery) - "that's just blackmail and I don't respond to blackmail"!!"

Frankly if mine said that, I would see how they responded to grounding and Internet disconnection! But for the cheek rather than anything to do with revision.

I had just that attitude to blackmail when I was young gettingsorted so I can respect it. Having had that reaction myself is probably why I won't offer my own dc bribes now. I don't think it's a cheeky response, just a statement of fact, unless he is still going to expect the incentives if he does well anyway.

You might be best withdrawing the incentives, but reminding him it's in his own best interest to do well in any case.

I feel for you gettingsorted it is tough getting them to see the imperative to study.

We keep working with our DS - half an hour at a time then he needs a half hour rest on XBox! We feel we have to be on top of him for his own good in the long term and we hope by A' levels ,his independent study will materialise [bugrin]