1. Timed exams / questions
Closer to the exams your child will benefit from completing a number of past exam questions. Help them prepare by creating an environment that resembles the conditions they are likely to experience in the exam hall – minimise external sounds, set up a clear desk and if you can, locate a single clock to encourage your child to time manage under test conditions. Once the allocated time has come to an end, get your child to stop writing as they may be tempted to continue. If they did not finish the exam, get them to reflect on the reasons why. Do they need to do more revision, improve their time management or work on their exam technique?
2. Host a revision day
Revising together can also help, so encourage them to revise with friends if it’s something they enjoy. This gives them a chance to test one another, swap revision notes and revise in different atmospheres.
3. Practise and repetition
If you have the time and it’s something they’d find helpful, give them the chance to recite, repeat and practise what they’ve learnt with you. Even if you don’t know the answers, the opportunity to say out loud what’s in their mind can help clarify whether they have grasped the concepts or whether they are still hazy. Other ways you might be able to help is using quizzes, mind maps, white boards, multiple choice or sound bites to see what they’ve learned.
4. Mind-maps / brain dumps
At the start of a revision session, get your teen to write down everything they can think of related to that subject topic without looking at their textbook or notes. This does not need to be neat and tidy, and can be in note-form as opposed to full sentences. Even if they can’t remember much at all, going through the process of a brain dump will help prime their brain for learning.
5. Act as the student
Another effective revision technique is to encourage your child to speak through their subject knowledge. By taking on the role of the student, ask your child to explain a topic from one of their subjects. Listen carefully and don’t be afraid to ask them a question if you do not fully understand what they are saying. Studies have shown that one of the best ways to revise is by teaching others.