Even though GCSE exams seem far away, there’s never been a better time for teens to get a head start. In fact, starting to think about preparing for exams sooner rather than later can have a positive effect on performance and grades, as well as reduce stress and anxiety levels as they get closer. Your teens will also have much more time to study, meaning they’ll be able to adopt a more balanced approach to revision, set and work towards clear goals and plan out study sessions in advance. Here’s 5 ways to help kick start your teens’ GCSE revision early.
1. Set Clear Goals
Setting goals is a great place for teens to start when they’re starting to think about their GCSE exam revision. Not only will it help them have something to work towards over the next six months or so, but will also provide some clear motivation for all those times they don’t feel like spending an afternoon revising. Get your teens to write down the GCSE subjects they’re studying for and the grades they realistically want to achieve. From here they can look at the marking criteria for the grade band they’re aiming for, so they can get really clear on what the examiner will be looking for. Doing this will mean teens can plan out study sessions effectively and know which subjects they may need to put more time into than others.
2. Make A Simple GCSE Revision Plan
Being organised and following a simple revision plan is key when it comes to getting teens to start their revision early. Having a set routine to follow will add structure to their studying and if it’s kept fairly basic to start with, it will be easy for them to get motivated to start sooner rather than later. For example, having one set day per week to study or two dedicated afternoons, is a great way to get revision started when it’s this far in advance. If you try and get your teens to revise 4 days a week, 6 months in advance, it’s probably going to overwhelm or demotivate them, which isn’t ideal. Instead, as exams get closer, it’s a good idea to allocate some more revision time.
3. Keep Revision Interesting
There’s nothing worse than dreading a boring revision session. That’s why we recommend mixing up the revision techniques used, so it feels a bit more interesting for teens and a better use of their time. For example, re-reading and highlighting notes can be very uninspiring and demotivating, especially knowing they’ve got months of it to endure. Instead, get your teens to make colourful and informative posters or flashcards they can keep coming back to over the coming months. You could also get them to use helpful revision websites to also keep their sessions varied- here’s some of our favourites.
4. Remind Teens Of The Benefits Of Studying Early
Finally, there’s no better way to help kick start your teens’ GCSE revision early than by reminding them of all the benefits of doing so. Not only will they feel less stressed, anxious and worried as their exams get closer, it also means they don’t have to rush through or cram topics the week before- they can take their time. By doing this, it also gives teens the ability to identify any weaker subjects, meaning they have the opportunity to put in more time revising so they can really master the trickier exam material.
For more exam and revision tips and techniques, check out some of our other helpful blog posts. We’ve got it all covered from dealing with exam anxiety to how to retain more information when revising.
The Benefits Of Starting Exam Revision Early
The Ultimate Guide To GCSE Revision
Feeling Nervous About Your GCSEs Or A Levels? Tips To Overcome Exam Anxiety!
8 Habits For Students To Achieve Academic Success
Techniques To Improve Your Productivity
