Exams can be tough. For students and parents alike, they’ve led to sleepless nights for many. One of the ways to try and alleviate this stress is revision – the act of refreshing your knowledge, mainly in preparation for an exam. There are many ways that you, as a parent, can help your child to achieve their academic goals, no matter what they are. What can you do to help them though? Read on to find out our top tips on how to help your child revise.
Create a weekly revision timetable
This can help your child organise their revision sessions more effectively and use their time better. Ideally, set specific times each day for revision, and do your best to stick to them. It doesn’t have to be the same time each day, but having part of the day reserved will give your child a better chance of completing their revision.
Timetables can be created using Microsoft Excel, or through free applications like Google Sheets. There are lots of handy templates online too that can make the process easier, you just need to personalise them to your child’s needs.
Prioritise the tricky topics
When revising, it can be tempting to stick to the areas your child is most comfortable with. It’s only natural! However, the areas they find most challenging are normally the ones they need to spend more time on. If you’re not sure about the areas they need to work on, it’s worth asking their teachers for advice on where they need help.
Once you identify the problem areas, work with your child to create a plan in line with your revision timetable. Break them up into smaller tasks in timetable, and do your best to make sure they understand the essentials while it’s still fresh in their mind. If not, you can always come back to them later though!
Identify revision techniques
There are several revision techniques that can help your child to retain information better. These include:
Mind maps: These are diagrams that organise information into chunks, and also help to see the ways different topics link together. You can create them online now too, so you no longer need enormous sheets of paper to make them!
Flashcards: Flashcards are a great way of revising information. They are often used to revise definitions and key facts, but can also be used to create revision games that can make it slightly more interesting! Like with mind maps, you can also make digital versions now too if you don’t have any to hand.
Practice tests/Mock exams: Mock assessments can help to identify areas where revision focus is still needed. Try to do them in enough time to act on the areas your child still needs to work on. They can also help with time management in exam conditions, a skill which needs practice before the main exam.
Optimise their working area
This area should be quiet, have few distractions – like mobile phones! – and plenty of natural light preferably too. Try to make sure your child has the equipment they need for their revision, like textbooks, pens and paper. Digital revision tools are also more readily available now too, so a computer could be a substitute for this.
