Parents: How to help your child revise for multiple exams simultaneously
by The Adapt team • February 27, 2024 • Revision
GCSE and A Level Exams Can be Incredibly Stressful for Students
As a parent, it can be challenging to help your child revise for multiple exams simultaneously. With so much material to cover and limited time available, it's easy for your child to become overwhelmed and stressed. However, with effective prioritisation, time management, and organisation, your child can revise for multiple exams without feeling overwhelmed. In this blog post, we'll provide you with practical tips on how to help your child revise for multiple exams simultaneously.
1: Prioritisation
Prioritisation is key to effective revision. Encourage your child to identify which exams are the most important and which topics they find the most challenging. This will help them to focus their revision efforts on the areas where they need the most improvement.
1.1 Identifying important exams
Ask your child to identify which exams are the most important. For example, if they're in their final year of school, exams such as A-levels or GCSEs may be the most crucial. Encourage them to focus on these exams first and allocate more time to revision for these subjects.
1.2 Focusing on challenging topics
Encourage your child to focus on the topics they find the most challenging. If they struggle with a particular subject or topic, allocate more time to revise these areas. By focusing on their weak spots, your child can improve their understanding of the subject and feel more confident during the exam.
1.3 Using technology to manage time and tasks
Technology can be a valuable tool for managing revision schedules and tasks. Adapt's online platform provides students with the ability to create personalised revision schedules, set goals, and track their progress. Encourage your child to use this platform to help them stay on top of their revision and monitor their performance over time.
There are also many other useful tools and apps available to help with revision, such as flashcard apps and online quizzes. Encourage your child to explore these resources and find what works best for them.
1.4 Staying flexible
Remember that revision plans may need to be adjusted as your child progresses. Be flexible and encourage your child to make adjustments where necessary. If they find they need more time on a particular topic, help them to adjust their schedule accordingly. By being adaptable, your child can stay on track and feel more in control of their revision.
By helping your child to prioritise, manage their time effectively, and stay organised, they can revise for multiple exams simultaneously with greater ease. By using technology and being flexible, your child can stay motivated and focused, helping them to achieve their full potential.
2: Time Management
Time management is critical when revising for multiple exams. Encourage your child to create a revision schedule and allocate specific times for each subject. This will help them to make the most of their time and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
2.1 Creating a revision schedule
Help your child to create a revision schedule that allocates specific times for each subject. This will help them to prioritise their revision and ensure they cover all the necessary material. Encourage them to allocate more time to the most important exams and the most challenging topics.
2.2 Avoiding procrastination
Procrastination can be a major barrier to effective revision. Encourage your child to avoid distractions such as social media and gaming during their allocated revision time. Encourage them to take regular breaks and use their break time to relax and recharge.
2.3 Using study aids
Encourage your child to use study aids to make the most of their revision time. This can include creating revision notes, using flashcards, or watching online tutorials. These aids can help to reinforce their understanding of the material and make revision more engaging.
2.4 Rewarding hard work
Encouraging your child to set achievable revision goals can be an excellent motivator. Once your child reaches a goal, make sure to acknowledge their hard work and reward them. This can be anything from a favourite snack or a trip to the cinema. By acknowledging their hard work, you're reinforcing the positive behaviour and encouraging them to continue working towards their goals.
2.4 Breaking down big sections
Another useful strategy for effective time management is to break revision sessions into smaller, manageable chunks. Encourage your child to revise for a set period of time, such as 30 or 45 minutes, and then take a short break before starting again. This can help them to stay focused and avoid burnout.
2.4 Being flexible
It's also important to be flexible with the revision schedule. Unexpected events can happen, and your child may need to adjust their plan accordingly. Encourage your child to be adaptable and make changes to their schedule as needed. This can help them to stay on track and avoid becoming overwhelmed. By following these time management strategies, your child can make the most of their revision time and feel more confident heading into their exams.
3: Organisation
Organisation is key to effective revision. Encourage your child to keep their revision materials organised, so they can easily find the information they need. This will help them to save time and reduce stress during revision.
3.1 Organising revision materials
Encourage your child to organise their revision materials, such as notes, textbooks, and past papers. This will help them to find the information they need quickly and avoid wasting time searching for it. Encourage them to keep their materials in a neat and tidy manner to reduce stress.
3.2 Creating a revision checklist
A revision checklist can be a helpful tool to keep your child organised. Encourage them to create a checklist of all the topics they need to cover for each exam. This will help them to keep track of their progress and ensure they cover all the necessary material.
3.3 Using revision apps and tools
In addition to organising physical revision materials, there are also many digital tools and apps that can help your child stay organised during revision. For example, there are various revision apps available that allow your child to create digital flashcards, set reminders, and track their progress. Encourage your child to research and experiment with different revision apps to find the ones that work best for them.
3.4 Setting up a study space
Having a dedicated study space can also help your child stay organised during revision. Encourage your child to set up a designated area for revision that is clean, tidy, and free from distractions. This could be a desk in their bedroom or a quiet corner of the house. Encourage them to keep their study space organised and to remove any unnecessary items that could be a distraction.
3.5 Creating a revision timetable
In addition to creating a revision schedule, your child may also find it helpful to create a revision timetable. A revision timetable outlines the specific topics and materials your child will cover during each revision session. This can help them stay focused and on track, and ensure they cover all the necessary material before the exam.
When creating a revision timetable, encourage your child to be realistic about how much they can cover in each session. It's better to set achievable goals and make steady progress than to try to cover too much material in one session and become overwhelmed.
3.6 Encouraging breaks and downtime
While it's important for your child to stay organised and focused during revision, it's also important for them to take breaks and downtime. Encourage your child to take regular breaks during revision, and to use this time to relax and recharge. This can help them to stay focused and avoid burnout.
Additionally, encourage your child to take time off from revision to pursue their hobbies and interests. This can help them to manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance. It's important for your child to understand that
It's Not Easy, But They Can Do It, And You Can Help
Revising for multiple exams can be a daunting task, but with effective prioritisation, time management, and organisation, your child can succeed. Encourage your child to identify the most important exams and focus on their weak spots. Help them to create a revision schedule and avoid procrastination. Finally, encourage them to keep their revision materials organised and create a revision checklist to keep track of their progress. With these tips, your child can feel more confident and prepared for their exams.