The simple answer? Now.
In terms of memory alone, it’s best to start revising for GCSEs as soon as you can.
(If your child hasn’t even started KS4, you can probably relax though.)
Why?
Let’s start with the basics. Revision means re-visiting stuff they’ve already learned. You can’t revise something you don’t know anything about. You can however revisit things you have learned, so you don’t forget them.
There’s a whole post I could write on the mechanics of memory, but here’s the overview:
The more you revisit something, the more important your brain thinks it is.
You know how you find yourself driving to a certain place on autopilot? Or how you don’t have to look up the recipe for meals you cook every week? That.
How?
Revision can be as simple as writing up some key notes for something they’ve learned that day, or adding a topic to a mindmap linking different aspects of a subject together. It could mean re-reading notes, or it could mean recording themselves summarising key points.
They could also search for past paper questions related to a particular area, or try to explain a concept they’ve learned to someone else.
Whatever your child finds works best for them is usually the best way to go.
The key is to start. Start anywhere, with anything, but start revising.
But what if I’ve got a procrastinator on my hands?
I know that there are certain aspects of my job / day that I don’t really enjoy. (Ironing, anyone?)
If I can procrastinate my way out of them, I’m gonna do it. And I’m (usually) a responsible adult.
Teenagers are FAR less in control of their impulses than we are – see my post on why there’s no cure for being a teenager – so it’s often easier to put off revision than to get on with it.
Bite-size chunks are a great way to get them started revising. “10 minutes, then I’m done” is much easier to get started than “I’ve got 2 hours of revision to do…”.
Habits are powerful things
One of my daily routines is that when I get up, I’ll shower, then brush my teeth. Sounds obvious, but on the occasions where maybe I’m going to Pilates (which I really should do more often), I’ll chuck on my workout clothes, brush my teeth and go. When I get home afterwards and shower, I’ll often find myself brushing my teeth again without thinking about it. It’s just that automatic!
Build a great habit.
“When I …{insert daily action here}…, then I’ll write up the notes from my lessons today.”
My advice would be for them to do this when they first get home from school, but if you’re not home to police it, you might prefer it to be straight after dinner instead.
The trick is to associate the actions. Whenever they get home from school, they’ll do it. That way, getting home from school triggers the habit.
They’ll need to figure out a system that they like for keeping their notes, whether that’s flashcards, a notebook, trello (online note & organisation system), or something completely different. Then just get them to start. The first card or note is always the hardest.
Want to find out more about using routines to help them study? Check out our podcast episode with best-selling author of Routine Machine, John Lamerton.
Dealing with overwhelm:
GCSEs are a LOT to deal with. So much of it is memory-based now that it can feel incredibly overwhelming to start thinking about revision.
Your teenager may really be totally laid back about the whole thing, but they also might be using that outer attitude to cover up for the fact that they’re just really scared to start revising.
Some warning signs:
- Overuse of coloured highlighters to create the world’s prettiest revision flashcards (because it can take aaaaaaaaages to do one, thus avoiding the rest!).
- Changing the subject when revision is brought up.
- The “stop nagging me – I’ll do it when I’m ready!” door-slam.
A good way to diagnose whether you really need to have a chat about dealing with overwhelm, or whether you just have a lazy teen is to insist they do 5 minutes work. Just 5.
You’d be surprised at how much can be done in 5 minutes, and actually, once they’ve started, many will do more than 5. Starting was the scary part. (Full disclosure – this is how I get started on all my big scary jobs too!)
Those who won’t even consider the 5 minutes are probably in need of a plan to beat the feeling of just having too much to do to even start.
I think the best way to explain the feeling is to tell you a story.
My daughter is possibly the least tidy person I know. It drives me C.R.A.Z.Y.
A few years ago, we extended the house a bit and now have a big den/playroom for the kids. She could wreck it in a single afternoon.
I’d be really really busy with work, and I’d be thinking ‘she really ought to be the one to tidy it – after all, she made the mess, and she has to learn…!’.
But…
Then I’d get to that point where I couldn’t even look at the room. It’d make my palms sweat just thinking about the state it was in.
There was stuff everywhere. Parts of board games were strewn across the room, dressing-up outfits left where they’d been taken off, and wait… is that… a banana peel???? AAAAARGH!
I couldn’t leave it any more.
But the thought of starting? Ugh.
“This is going to take all morning. It’s my day off, is this really how I want to spend it??” said the little voice in my head.
That was the overwhelm talking.
Once I’d clambered through and picked up the big stuff, it didn’t look quite as scary.
After I’d collected all the dressing-up clothes into their box, I could see the floor again!
With about 5 minutes effort, it suddenly looked much more manageable.
See where I’m going with this?
Why plans RULE.
Coming up with a plan – mapping out the work that needs to be done, and when it’s going to get done – is often really helpful in making revision look less scary.
I’m in the middle of planning a new course right now, and the sheer number of things to do was making me want to curl up on the sofa and watch Netflix all day in denial. I couldn’t figure out where to start, so I almost didn’t.
Luckily, I got some great advice, and grabbed my trusty whiteboard. I mapped out the 10 weeks until launch as a calendar, and then put all the jobs I knew I needed to do onto it. It turned it from a giant unending to-do list to a manageable set of jobs to do each day. Phew!
They can do the exact same thing for planning out revision.
Plan it out.
We’ve built a Revision Plan Generator to make this bit SUPER-EASY. There’s a free version that’ll let you create a printable plan for the whole year in 5-10 minutes.
We know that the better the plan, the easier it makes revision, so we’ve also put together a mini-course for your child that’ll talk them through creating a great plan, testing to make sure it works for them, and then adding in all the details that make the difference.
We’ve even included checklists for every subject so that they can track their progress. ?
The more they can tick off now, the less frantic and overwhelming Y11 will be.
That said, they need a break too, so here’s our guide to setting out a revision plan:
- Plan out time for themselves. Friends, hobbies, holidays, rest-days – plan them in first. Got a TV show they love? Schedule it in.
- Mark on exam dates. If their science exam is last, it wouldn’t make sense to revise it first. Include mocks! They can be closer than you realise…
- Make it specific. Don’t revise ‘maths’, revise ‘fractions’. Instead of revising ‘Science’, revise ‘photosynthesis’. It helps!
- Don’t let them beat themselves up over getting a little bit behind – none of us are perfect. The plan needs to be a little flexible! So long as they start revising, they’re doing ok.