It’s that time of year. Time for key assessments, exam revision and exams. The pressure on students can be immense as they prepare for these pivotal moments in their school career, so we thought it would be helpful to share some tips on how to revise and prepare for exams without getting too stressed.
Getting the right equipment and space
Everyone revises differently and different students will benefit from different tools and equipment. It’s worth experimenting with what helps your child most – flash cards and highlighter pens, post-it notes and charts, or digital apps, podcasts and games. Or perhaps a combination of all of these. If you can get hold of past exam papers they can be great for helping your child to get used to the exam format as well as being a useful revision method.
With all the tools and equipment to hand, then try and create a revision space at home. Again, what works best for your child will vary from child to child but somewhere quiet is best without the temptation of the Xbox or the TV. Phones can be a problem, although there may be some revision aid apps your child might benefit from. You don’t necessarily want to remove their phone, but try and persuade your child to turn off notifications and distractions.
Finally, consider whether your child will revise best on their own or with you on hand to support them, and try to create a place that is a pleasant, clutter free and comfortable space conducive to work.
Make a plan
There is a lot of revision required for GCSEs and National 5s and this can quickly feel overwhelming. To help overcome this, create a schedule that feels “doable”. Help your child break different subjects down into small areas if you can. For example, rather than dedicating a day to revising a whole English literature book, break it down into 20 mins a day looking at one chapter at a time.
Set a revision routine so that it becomes a daily habit, rather than a battle, because life has a knack of getting in the way and you may end up realising they haven’t done any revision all week.
Little and often
We’ve touched on this already, but little and often can be much more effective than irregular but long revision sessions. 20 minutes to an hour a day feels doable. All weekend doesn’t.
That said, be flexible on the amount of time set aside daily for revision. Some days your child may be on a roll and be happy to work away for more than an hour. On other days they might just be too distracted, tired or fed up, in which case it may just be better to take a break.
Managing time
There are a few free apps that can help your child manage their time, so for example, they do 15 minutes work, then take a break, then do 15 minutes more. It can be really rewarding getting to the buzzer!
Rewards, exercise and fun
Taking a break and having some fun are as important as the revision itself. Reward your child with a day out during the school holidays or a special meal after school. Of course, your teenager may not want to do something with you, so let them go out and have fun with their friends if that’s the case.
Exercise and fresh air are vital to your child’s mental health and can go a long way to helping with anxiety and stress. If they have always done a particular club or activity, it’s a good idea to keep it going even during exam times. Alternatively, encourage your child to go for a walk, play a game of football, or just get outside for a bit.
Keep the conversation going
Check in with your child often and ask them how they’re doing. Offer to test their knowledge or if you can, do some of the revision with them. Doing a maths question together or learning quotes for English can be a great way to help remember things. If your child is having trouble settling down to revision, get them started with something really easy, fun or their favourite subject.
Above all else, ask them how they’re feeling and keep an eye out for telltale signs of stress and anxiety. Look out for mood swings, loss of appetite or confidence, not wanting to go to school or any other indicators that something’s wrong.
Keep calm and carry on
However well you want your child to do, remember to reassure them that it is not the end of the world if they don’t do as well as they or you want them to. Explain that it’s important for them to try to the best of their ability but that there are options available to them whatever their grades. Be kind to yourself too. Exams are stressful for parents and carers as you often feel under pressure for your child to excel. This can have a negative impact on your child, and it can impact your health.
Get help
Some schools offer additional support during break or after school and if they do, encourage your child to attend. Better still, if your child is not in their final year yet, why not enrol them at a MagiKats centre. This takes the pressure off you, and you can be confident that they’re getting tailored support in all the areas they need. Then when it comes to their final year, they’ll have confidence in their abilities and be in the best possible position to achieve their full potential in their exams. Take a look at our GCSE and Nat5 support programmes.
We also recommend you look at our revision booster plan for more ideas on the best revision techniques. We’ll be sharing more revision tips and advice on Facebook so don’t forget to follow us and let us know how you’re getting on.
