We take time – and filling it – for granted. But using it well isn’t something that happens by accident and it isn’t always something that comes naturally. The good news is that it is a simple skill to learn. And that can quickly become second nature. Although The...
Notes on Revision from The Study Buddy
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How to schedule time for your revision
We take time – and filling it – for granted. But using it well isn’t something that happens by accident and it isn’t always something that comes naturally. Follow our three simple steps to planning time effectively
Older thoughts and advice
Managing stress levels when it comes to GCSE revision
Exams are a well known source of of stress. But it's not just the immediate run up to them that causes anxiety. Revision can be a daunting prospects for our teens too. It is not a surprise that GCSEs, A Level and degree final exams can cause a considerable amount of...
I’m starting to panic about Year 11 and GCSEs
It's not uncommon for some students to feel anxious about the start of their final GCSE year. Here's what we advise. First things first, you've got this. And there's no end of people who are more than willing to lend a hand and support you (whether that's teachers,...
What if your child didn’t get the 2022 GCSE grades they wanted?
Today (25/08/2022) is GCSE results' day in England and Wales. Hundreds of thousands of students have been anxiously waiting to find out what they got. Many will be over the moon and their grades exceeded their expectations. I don't just mean all 9s. These things are...
Preparing for the GCSE Journey
You can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from those of us who’ve now come to the end of the exam period road. Now, all we have to do is wait for the results. But amongst us there are year 10 parents, the next cohort of GCSE studying families, considering the...
On what happens after the GCSE exams
The end of exams brings with it an almost palpable lifting of a weight. The hard work has been done – or not – and now all you have to do is wait. And I say “all” like it’s easy in itself. For some this waiting period can be a little fraught too. So what are the best...
On apprenticeships as an alternative to university- “Get The Jump”
There’s a broad presumption that after school there’s A levels and then onto university for a degree. A lot of young people just seem to get swept along on this fast-flowing river of higher education. But with increasing options and alternatives, are we doing enough...
On answering common questions in the run up to GCSE exams
It’s not long now until the exams. It’s a time when nerves can get frayed, and tensions run high. This is the stage of revision that is most marked by the rhetorical questions like my personal favourite: Shouldn’t you be revising? Wouldn’t it be great if there were...
On revision techniques that work with Kate Jones
“I’ve been revising for ages” is often something that battle weary parents will have heard when asking how it’s going. As if lapsed time, spent near an open book or with a YouTube video playing a good use of time. But to be fair, it’s not just the procrastinators and...
On finding a sense of normality – when things are anything but
Keeping up with the Jones’ was always used as an expression about consumerism, upgrading the washing machine, getting a fancier car, holidaying to the Costa Del Sol – if my Essex childhood was ever in any doubt, this is proof positive! At some point it seemed that...
On supporting anxious and overworking teens with Dr Dominique Thompson
The run-up to exams is an anxious time for all teens – and their parents. A certain amount of stress is not only normal, it can also be a good thing. It shows that the outcome is important. However, some young people feel that pressure to perform much more than...
On creating a revision revolution at home with Helen Howell
There’s a widely recognised link between how well teens do in their exams – and in school generally – and the kind of interest and support they get at home over around their education. At least that’s how I justify any fleeting moments of overbearing nagging to my...
It’s Time to Spring into Revision Action for GCSEs
Sow the seeds of success by revising now so that they can be in full bloom by the time exam season begins. <could help the puntastic opening!!> As we mark the first day of spring (Sun 20th March 2022), there are just under two months to the start of GCSE and A...