When it comes to most exam subjects, most teens seem consider that revision is mostly about retaining facts and figures. For many , therefore, revising English Literature boils down to creating a bank of quotes. All too often, preparing for English Language is an afterthought. The go to position being: “I speak English; what’s to […]
As parents we’re often confronted with situations where our teens will tell us: “I don’t know how to” or “I’m just no good at remembering this”. From our own experiences too, we might have found that we’ll recall some things very easily even from school; the rhyme about Henry VIII’s wives. But other things seem […]
We know what we need to do to be better at something. Just work a little smarter, procrastinate a little less, start a little earlier, stop checking the phone so much. It’s clear. It makes sense. And it’s for our own benefit. So why then can it be so difficult to make these seemingly simple […]
Students taking GCSE, AS and A Level exams in 2021 sitting will now have an additional 3 weeks to prepare. This follows today’s announcement to delay the exam period in England. Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has confirmed that exams will go ahead next year. There will also be “contingencies for all possible scenarios”. The Prime […]
We all have different ways of coping with – if not managing – stress. Perhaps it’s the variety of situations we’ve experienced that make us more or less adept to managing pressure. But our young people have had limited opportunity to experience or deal with the kinds of pressure they now find themselves under. So, […]
The Scottish Parliament has cancelled National 5 exams – broadly the GCSE equivalent – for 2021. Instead grades will be awarded on the basis of assessments throughout the year informing teacher assessed grades. It’s entirely possible that the rest of the UK could follow suit. That is something that experts are suggesting should happen. However, […]
This year’s GCSE and A-Level students are suffering with a double whammy. They’re facing into future looking questions while also worried about catching up. That’s an awful situation to be in but does that mean it has to be a hopeless one? In this podcast episode The Study Buddy’s founder, Nathan McGurl is talking to […]
Sometimes it can seem like teens get pushed through a cookie cutter template. But it’s important to remember they are all individuals. Each young person is unique and will approach things in a different way. We seem to have comfortably adopted a view that ‘normal’ exists – albeit within certain parameters. And this is how […]
We’ve all been in a situation where we have something that we need to do, but can’t quite bring ourselves to get on with it. Whether it’s cleaning the car, tackling the under-stairs cupboard or sorting out insurance renewals, there are some things that are difficult to get enthusiastic about. And that’s so often the […]
Exam boards are updating their specifications to the changes in the English Literature GCSE exams, we’ve summarised the changes. UPDATE: AQA has changed it’s position and made the Poetry Anthology optional (along with 20th Century Drama and 19th Century Prose). Unseen poetry remains compulsory with Shakespeare. At the beginning of August Ofqual confirmed a number […]