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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

how much revision are your teens doing?

38 replies

Cynthia32 · 15/04/2009 21:13

My DD hasn't really done enough I don't think, has just done a bit here and there this holiday, without a proper plan, despite me telling her to make one and stick to it.

OP posts:

webwiz · 15/04/2009 21:58

Hi Cynthia32 how old is your DD - is it GCSEs or older?

BecauseImWorthIt · 15/04/2009 21:58

Not enough! DS1 is doing his AS levels this year, and seems to think he can just coast along with a few hours here and there.

diddy1 · 15/04/2009 21:59

They really need a revision timetable if they are yr 10/11. This will help them prepare well for exams. For maths there is a CD rom called 'mathswatch' it is brilliant, very much like a home tutor. They can ask their teacher or these - they cost £3. Well worth it and grades improve as a result.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 15/04/2009 22:00

What is this revision of which you speak?

BCNS · 15/04/2009 22:01

ds is doing GCSE's and not enough revision IMO ( but I keep my opinion to myself! .. most of the time)

diddy1 · 15/04/2009 22:01

For as/a level look at 'Hawthorn school' on the net- great revision tips and past papers. Most exam boards have past papers available on their websites.

galaxymummy · 15/04/2009 22:05

not enough

diddy1 · 15/04/2009 22:07

They should be doing 4/6 hours a day during hols. In evening afta school 3 hours.

RustyBear · 15/04/2009 22:12

I never thought DD was doing anything like enough -certainly nothing like 4-6 hours a day - but she still got 5 As at A level so maybe she was doing it in the middle of the night....

diddy1 · 15/04/2009 22:20

It does depend on the ability of your child. I have been a teacher for twenty years and have seen pupils succeed and fail. The ones who succeed and do well(prob not as intelligent as your child) need to spend many hours revising. It does depend on the subjects too! Some these days don't take much revising.

diddy1 · 15/04/2009 22:25

lasr post-meant reply to rustybear

RustyBear · 15/04/2009 22:38

Well, one of DD's was General Studies which they all had to take & for which I can pretty much guarantee she didn't do any work at all and still got 100% on 3 of the modules - she said it was pretty much just a comprehension exercise.
But the other four were History, English Literature, English Language & Psychology, which I would have thought probably needed a bit of work. Maybe she just had very good teachers - she was at a 6th form college that is always rated outstanding by OFSTED.

snorkle · 15/04/2009 23:18

What exams is she revising for Cynthia? Are you going to let her discover the error of her ways herself or get on her case over it?

It's hard to know quite how much ds is doing - he's spent quite a lot of time at his desk, but I know a lot of that has been programming or playing games for fun rather than revision. He only has 3 science GCSE modules as he's year 10 though, so next year & the two after that are the more important ones.

He did make a highly ambitious plan at the start of the holidays which I knew he wouldn't stick to (& am quite certain he hasn't). He's generally conscientious though and I suspect he's done enough.

Macforme · 16/04/2009 00:05

3 hours a day after school?
What a miserable life for the poor kids who have to do that. My eldest did study hard (and is heading for med school) but my oldest son is currently in his GCSE year and ,well he doesn't study and I can't imagine how on earth one could force a child to study. Encourage, yes, but 3 hours a night????

I am trying to get him in the hosue a couple of hours a few nights a week with day time study in the run up and keeping my fingers crossed.. because there is no way my guitar paying skater boy is going to do more than the absolute minimum.

I wish...

I do think generally girls seem to be more studious.. or mature at that age. Having had two of each it's the boys I worry about!

SuziSeis · 16/04/2009 00:14

macforme

NOPE dd is a lazy lazy oik doing absolutely rien that I can see

ds is as yearnd currently on work experience so not doing much but took books with him ( he is staying with friends) so i am sure he will read a bit

difference between success and failure to achieve expectations - the ability to slog a bit

dd just never will

Original poster

Cynthia32 · 16/04/2009 02:41

DD is studying for gcses. She didn't do much in the first couple of weeks and is worrying now so is trying to cram it all in.

OP posts:

diddy1 · 16/04/2009 09:07

It is nothing to expect 3 hours a night in the run up to examinations say up to ten weeks before. The norm at our school. The parents are very supportive and we teach the children how to revise from year 7. As a result we are one of the top achieving schools in the county. Always in the upper quartile for results and the nearly all the pupils reach their full potential. If a child is under stress due to worying about the exams we have a support system in place and offer holiday revision days and after school sessions with in the particular subject field. It is all in moderation though and we as parents have to encourage revision but also time to themselves too. Working from 5-8 is a pretty reasonable ask especially for As and A2 modules. If you need any specific subject material, I can get you some extra help for your DD Cynthia. No problem at all.

ourlot · 16/04/2009 09:15

Don't worry Cynthia, it's her responsibility not yours. If she thinks you are shouldering the responsibility she may not try so hard.
I am an exam crammer, it's the best thing for me to pass. How did she do in mocks? I did so badly in my mocks as didn't revise that it put the rocket up my bum I needed.
If she's worried she'll do what she needs - assuming she has a good revision strategy . Number of hours is less important than what is in them.

optimisticmumma · 16/04/2009 15:31

About 2 hours a day this hol. Doesn't seem enough for me but it's up to him. I'd love to see these kids who do 3 hrs a day and 4-6 in the hols. How do you make a 16 y o do it?????? Am talking GCSEs btw.

mumblechum · 16/04/2009 18:36

1 hour a day for SATS, so far nothing for 3 GCSEs he's supposedly taking a year early. Some of his friends are talking about doing 4 or 5 hours a day.

Milliways · 16/04/2009 22:56

DD spent a whole day at the library and is doing several hours a day.

we have however taken some time out for girlie shopping and tomorrow she is having lunch with friends

Pimmpom · 17/04/2009 15:31

My stomach actually done a flip when I read 4-6 hours a day. No, dd is not doing nearly enough

LissyGlitter · 17/04/2009 15:43

Calm down, they are only gcses! As long as they get into college or to whatever they want to do, then it's fine! They can always retake, it's not the end of the world, far more important is that they get through this important part of their emotional development intact. I'd rather have a happy child than one with 10 A*s! If they are clever enough, they will get good results, if their strengths lie in other areas at the moment then that's fine too.

Macforme · 17/04/2009 18:04

LissyGlitter... great point!!

I think the thought of trying to get teens to study many hours a night (unless they are naturally inclined.. my daughters both are , my son definitely is NOT) could be seriously damaging to their emotional and mental health ..

I went to a highly academic girls' school... we were expected to study many hours each night. Yes it got the results, but it also had a very high number of girls with anorexia...

I was an 'achiever'..I have GCSEs, A levels, a good degree... and was stressed for many years! It didn't bring me happiness or glory and I'm now in a low paid job working with severely autistic children where my ability is measured in other ways.

I would dearly LIKE my son to pull out his finger in order to achieve what he is actually capable of, but I don't think that hothousing kids actually produces anything BUT good grades that are often not replicated when the person gets to Uni and has to study independently. I may have to settle for my son being a musical free spirit and hope for the best:D

steps off soapbox quietly and heads for chocolate

Tortington · 17/04/2009 18:07

i'm with lissy - ds is doing an apprenticeship - so literally is doing no revision as he doesn't give a shit.

dd however wants to go to college. she assures me she is doing about an hour a night - i doubt it.

its not the end of the world as long as she doesn't do a btec - which she is threatening if she fails.

i must go to church and pray to the saint of GCSEs to help me overthrow the evil influence of made up pretend qualifications.

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