We know that encouraging your child to revise can sometimes be challenging. This has been especially common with all the recent changes and uncertainty around examinations.
Nonetheless, it is clear that in whatever form they take, students will have to demonstrate their full knowledge of the curriculum. Therefore, revision remains important!
We spoke to David Wilson, one of our expert teachers and examiners, on this very subject. He has given us a great insight into 3 simple ways to encourage your child to revise.
David is the Head of Mathematics in a high achieving school in Bury, as well as a Specialist Leader of Education providing support to other schools. He has also worked for exam board Pearson for six years as an examiner marking GCSE papers.
What are your top tips for encouraging children to revise?
David discusses both positive and negative ideas to use as ways to encourage your child to revise.
1. Highlight how Maths is key to future success
“A good maths grade will increase the chances of the student getting on their preferred college course. With some vocational courses, you can access at a higher level, saving time, if you get good grades.”
Here, David suggests encouraging students to look to the future as a motivational tool. By emphasizing the doors that succeeding in GCSE Maths will open, you can have a positive impact on your child’s motivation levels. By gaining a pass at GCSE, further and higher education as well as jobs and apprenticeships become easier to access.
2. Help to Create Structure for Their Revision
“Encourage them to have a revision timetable, and stick to it. Provide a suitable, conducive environment for students to study in. Quiet, undisturbed, desk, comfortable chair. Use rewards for sticking to the revision timetable.
Some online access may be needed, but generally speaking, removal of distracting devices/social media for the revision sessions is a good thing.”
Revision timetables are a fantastic way of structuring revision. They can help your child to block out time to spend on specific topics. This will ensure that they are accountable and that they also cover those subjects that they might find challenging or not enjoy as much. They can be motivational too, creating variety in subjects and time spent, ensuring they don’t get bored.
Removing distractions is another key element of encouraging your child to revise. Eliminate social media, gaming devices, and anything else your child finds distracting during studying. This will virtually guarantee they are more productive in their revision. Through becoming effective and successful in their revision, your child is then more likely to revise again as they feel a sense of achievement! This is another great way of creating positive studying habits.
3. Discuss With Them the Impact of Resitting Maths on Their Further Education
“If a student does not get Maths at school, they will have to resit at college, which can negatively impact their experience of further education. The chances of passing on resit at college reduce significantly. It is notoriously low, around 15-20%. The best chance of passing is the first time at school. Schools provide much more support than colleges for GCSE.”
Teenagers in England who fail to achieve at least a grade 4 in English and Maths GCSEs have to continue studying the subjects until they achieve a pass or turn 18. This can have an impact on your child’s further education. It takes time and effort away from their future college studies. If your child does have to resit their English or Maths GCSE, read our advice here about how to support them with it.
Why not visit SchoolOnline.co.uk to see how we can support your child with Smarter Learning and Better Grades? From just £12.99 a month they could be well on their way to achieving the grade they need in Maths and English to succeed in the future!
For more tips on how to support your child in their revision visit our blog here.
