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Supporting your child through their GCSEs
Is your child sitting their GCSEs this summer? Wondering what you can do to provide GCSE revision support as a parent or carer? Here are some of our top tips.
'How to support your child through their GCSEs'
As you know, getting good GCSE results is important for your child’s future. However, while what happens in the exam hall is down to your child alone, there are many things you can do as a parent or carer to help your child to prepare for their exams, and give them the best chance of success. If your child is gearing up to sit their GCSE exams this summer, read on to find out how you can support them along the way.
1. Help them to create a revision timetable
With most students having nine subjects to revise for, it’s important to make sure that your child has a revision timetable to help structure their study and make sure that each subject is paid equal attention. As a parent, it’s a good idea to find out what subjects your child is studying for and to have sight of their exam timetable. This way, you can help them to create a comprehensive revision timetable to plan their study and break it down into manageable chunks.
2. Create the right study environment
It’s one thing to make sure your child is doing revision, but it’s equally as important to ensure that they are able to study in an environment free from noise and distractions. This is important to make sure that they are not only able to concentrate, but so that they can actually absorb what they are taking in. Try to make sure that when your child comes to revise, they have a designated space at home that is comfortable, quiet and distraction free.
3. Promote varied revision techniques
While different revision techniques will work well for each student, try to encourage your child to think about what methods will help them learn best and retain information. A good starting point is to help them figure out their learning style - this will help them to understand how their brain works, so that they can employ the right revision techniques to help them get the most out of studying.
4. Be a sounding board
Although a lot of revision does involve hitting the books, one of the great ways you can provide GCSE revision support as a parent is to try and take an interest in your child’s revision. This could take the form of anything from simply lending an ear if they want to talk something through or have questions, to reading from flash cards or a textbook to test them on how much they have learned.
5. Print practice papers
Doing practice papers under timed conditions can be a great way to help your child get used to the layout and structure of exams, while also providing an opportunity to brush up on their time management skills. All exam boards publish past papers online along with their mark schemes, but be aware that there are a few different approved exam boards in the UK, and that your child’s school may use a mix of different ones. If you’re unsure, just contact your child’s school to ask.
6. Reward and encourage
Let’s be honest, sometimes teenagers need a bit of an incentive. If you notice that your child is being disciplined and doing well with their revision, don't be afraid to reward their good behaviour. Some ideas could include letting them go to the cinema with friends, having a few hours on a games console or ordering their favourite food. Such rewards can act as a bit of a ‘pick me up’ to help them keep momentum, while also helping break up their revision time.
Final tips:
- Stationery - Before your child starts their revision, make sure they have all the stationary they will need. This includes any textbooks, pens and highlighters and folders to separate each subject.
- Exam day - Make sure your child get a good night’s sleep the night before, and eats a filling and healthy breakfast in the morning.
We hope this article has helped you to understand how to provide GCSE revision support as a parent. Wondering what options your child has after their GCSEs? Take a look at these different post-16 qualifications.
