How do I get 13 year old ds to revise?

[Boomtasticly]

He's got end of year tests in the next couple of weeks and getting him to do any work for them is practically impossible. He reluctantly sits and does 5 mins then thinks he's done enough, claims he knows it all. He is doing very well at school despite his lack of work at home. Parent's eve was all good and high targets in all his subjects. Should I leave him to it? Surely he has to knuckle down at some point. I just don't know how to get through to him that you reap what you sew. He's so laid back about it all. Arrrghhh!

Should have said, he's year 8.

if possible speak to his teachers, ask them what he has to focus on-then work with him, ask him to present his work to you and test him on it maybe?

Sounds like me. Mum was used to my sister doing hours of revision and doing well. By year 9 she’d given up, realised my grades were great without it and that if I wouldn’t motivate myself then there was no point her working herself up at me. If he’s naturally academic leave him to it for now, just try and ensure he does his homework. Revision is boring and usually the fear would make me do a few days revision before the exam ... usually.

If he's doing well in school he must be doing something right! So do give him credit for that.

Studying has changed so much - I've a perennial student and have studied for most of my adult life. Having returned to it at the ripe old age of 47 I find myself doing revision games on my phone and lap top. It doesn't feel like work and the information sinks in.

My dd who is 12 talks about LaHood - I think it's an interactive revision game they do on tgeir phones in class. I have just started using quizlet which is good for making up your own quizzes and accessing others. The caveat is that the info isn't reviewed so not necessarily correct.

A suggestion of online revision tools might be useful.

LaHood????? Bloody phone - I meant Kahoot

How important are these end-of-yr exams, will he get moved to an inappropriate set if he does badly? Doesn't sound like it.

I've Been making mine do 10 minutes revision before he can go on PC. Even if he just reads out loud.

Also he can't bother me after 9pm unless he wants to revise. Sometimes works. Mine has GCSE exam tomorrow, I'm glad it's almost over with.

My year 9 is the same. We agreed we’d turn off his internet during the week until the exams as he’s too obsessed. He wants to get rid of the temptation.

“He is doing very well at school despite his lack of work at home. Parent's eve was all good and high targets in all his subjects.”

What are you on about OP?

Why does he need to ‘knuckle down’?

He’s doing well at school, meeting his targets.

Do you want him to go and start a university course in astrophysics or neurosurgery next year?

Let him be a teen. By your own admission the school are very happy and he’s doing fine. Stop micromanaging him.

Leave him be and get a hobby. Step back.
You’re his mother - not his owner / boss.

Does he know it all?

If you take his science book can he tell you the reactivity series, or what is in an animal cell that isn't in a plant cell, or how oxygen gets from the air to a growing foetus (all topics my DD y8 is currently revising).

If he can then maybe he has remembered it as he goes along (lucky him). If not, then he needs to do some work.

Our school have asked for 1hr per subject per week for 4 weeks prior to the end year exams. Which for my DD is way insufficient for maths and science (and some other subjects) but might be far too much for your DS.

I am helping DD set up 'good habits' for the GCSE years. The trouble with being clever is people don't have to do that so early and can come unstuck as they haven't learned they need to work.

So I guess you either leave him to it (but tell him you expect very good results), or test him and help him see whether or not he does know everything.
I know at his age I wouldn't have needed to revise for maths exams (didn't really have to do that until degree level), but I would have needed to revise e.g. history.

If he's getting good grades maybe hes confident but if he doesn't do gd then he made the decision that he knew it all so do it this time see what he scores

My son sounds the same. He thinks he knows it all and does get very good marks in most subjects. I am helping him revise by asking him to look over a couple of pages of a subject and then testing him on it. I’ve discovered his biology is quite weak (for a grade A student) so I am reinforcing the revision by asking him questions through the day. This is quite easy when it’s nutrition and digestion because we can discuss at mealtimes eg which food group are you eating, why do you need this, etc. Might be more tricky with languages because I don’t know those.

If he knows his stuff and does well in his exams, then all's well. If he doesn't do as well as he expected, then he will learn that he needs to try harder next time. In year 8, there will be no dire consequences if he doesn't do his best, and it's an ideal opportunity to let him find out what he is capable of. Nagging him will achieve absolutely nothing. Leaving him to it is the best way.

FWIW my youngest is like this - he concentrates fiercely in class, comes home exhausted virtually every day, but only needs minimal revision when exams come round because he's already absorbed it all. Everyone is different - not everyone needs weeks and weeks of solid revision in order to do well.

I never revised for end of year exams or mocks in any meaningful way, except possibly cramming some vocab, quotes or formulae the night before. I was bright and it was fine.

Sounds like he needs a little push. Can you get him a tutor? My two work well for a tutor, when they're away from the distractions at home. Also, carrots! We give screen time based on number of pages work done, and they're desperate for that. Also extra 'virtual money' on the games - if they do exceptionally well we give big rewards here too.