The biggest help you can give is structure
Supporting revision at home starts with a plan. Sit down together and build a realistic revision timetable that spreads subjects across the weeks, with regular breaks and time to rest.
Teachers continue with subject revision and general study skills in school for the rest of the year. Over the holidays, Year 11 and Year 13 students need to keep revising at home, particularly if their mock results did not match their targets. Good time management takes much of the stress out of this, because your child can see there is enough time if they use it steadily.
What to reach for
Active revision beats re-reading notes
Encourage your child to mix a few of these methods. Each one asks them to recall and reorganise the material, which keeps revision varied and helps it stick.
summary notes that boil a topic down to its key points
mind maps that link ideas together visually
revision clocks that break a topic into timed segments
flashcards, on paper or using a tool such as Quizlet, for quick self-testing
Steady habits help far more than long, anxious hours
Confidence comes from preparation and from feeling well. Protect your child's sleep, keep meals and breaks regular, and keep the atmosphere at home calm and encouraging.
If mock results fell short of a target, the most useful message is a calm one: keep revising, there is time to improve.
Parents as partners
Adam Kilner, Deputy Head Academic, welcomes parents as partners in revision and looks forward to celebrating the exam results with families in the summer. If you have comments or questions about supporting your child at home, please email him at akilner@kingsleydevon.com.
Frequently asked questions
How can I help my child revise?
Help your child build a realistic revision timetable with regular breaks, encourage active techniques such as summary notes, mind maps and flashcards, and protect their sleep. A calm, encouraging atmosphere at home matters as much as the plan. Year 11 and Year 13 students should keep revising through the holidays, particularly if their mock results did not match their targets.
What revision techniques actually work?
Active methods work best because they make your child recall and reorganise the material. Summary notes boil a topic down to its key points, mind maps link ideas visually, revision clocks break a topic into timed segments, and flashcards, on paper or in a tool such as Quizlet, allow quick self-testing. Mixing a few keeps revision varied and helps things stick.
How do I support wellbeing during exams?
Protect sleep, keep meals and breaks regular, and keep the atmosphere at home calm and encouraging. If mock results fell short of a target, the most useful message is a calm one: keep revising, there is time to improve.
Where can I find past papers?
Past papers and mark schemes are free on the exam board websites. The links above go straight to the past-paper finders for AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR. Your child's teachers can tell you which exam board each subject follows, and subject resources are also on Firefly, the school's learning portal.
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