Supporting your child with GCSE examinations
A parent and carer’s guide to GCSE examinations.
Help your child to…
Get the most out of revision.
Get better results. Avoid panic or stress
during exams.
Where to find support? In order to help your child do their very
best in their exams, you might like to consider the following.
All of these are explained on our revision website
Click on “useful links” “Study skills”
Do they know what to revise? Each pupil has a copy of the exam timetable Have you seen it? Each pupil has individual entry forms
highlighting the day and time of exam Each pupil has a planner. The topics they find
most difficult should be revised first.See example They need to plan revision to time with day of
examination. Eg. Psychology last examination, concentrate that revision later in your programme
Revision Primary and recency The Brain works best around 30minutes
active revision followed by a break Pupils will remember facts at the start of
session and at the end but forget large chunks in the middle.
So 3 sessions for 30 minutes are better than one long session.
The Brain
Make revision Active Encourage them to mind map High light key words Make up rhymes Make up Mnemonics Test them Mind maps Use the school revision site Make use of different learning styles
SEAStatementEvidenceAnalysis
Are they practising past exam questions?
Help them prepare to answer past exam questions Agree appropriate time per question Start and end the session Completing full, well structures answers is a key
to positive examination success. Exams will always be stressful but doing small
timed tasks at home gets the brain use to this type of stress.
Help them Manage their health Eat healthy brain food
(e.g. bananas) Drink water Have a cut off point in
the evening to allow rest and recovery!
Build in relaxation time Begin revision early to
avoid build up of stress.
If your child is nervous during examination period Talk over trigger points Plan sensible revision programme with
breaks and rewards Change their routine before the
examination. Avoid discussing exam that morning Check they have the correct equipment Try meditation, or listening to calming
music
Are they attending extra classes? Every department offers a comprehensive
revision programme after school and some Saturday mornings
Ask to see this timetable and agree sensible timetable to support their needs
Click “Revision programme”
Good questions to askHow? What if? Why?
How was this similar to…?
What else might happen if…?
Why did this happen?
Can you predict…?
Could this have happened another way…?
Is it right to…?
Is it wrong to?
What is a possible solution to…?
Can you give me another example of…?
How would you feel if…?
By asking the right kind of questions…
You can get your child to think about a topic in more depth
You can get them to teach you something new
You can boost their self esteem
The learning environment at home Provide a quiet, comfortable,
well-lit place to study, with a dictionary, pens and paper
Feed them nutricious food and drink
Make sure they get enough sleep Get them outside for fresh air
and exercise Help them get the balance right
between work and play