If you’re looking at your child’s revision timetable as a maze of topic specific areas which are detailed to an inch of their life, with notes around every single area of the house but you don’t know how to help – then fear not! Read our list of subject pointers for each particular area this week on how to help them successfully revise.
It’s very easy for a child to feel overwhelmed by the exams that loom ever nearer throughout the Easter holidays and into the summer term. However, the skill lies in tackling revision through successfully identifying the techniques needed for each subject area. It should not be defined by hours spent reading or to simply tick any boxes. Exams are there to challenge, so revision should comprise an obvious element of testing knowledge.
Take English revision for example. Yes there will be literature that your child will be expected to know every possible detail of and technical device used by the author, but what exactly does the exam aim to test?
It aims to test technique in the ability to express, define and argue points and provide evidence for this. It is no good simply learning the novel by heart. Practice here is crucial, ask your Tutor to provide several past papers, work through them and get them marked as soon as possible. This way, your Tutor will be able to highlight any areas that need work early on. GCSE and A Level English is all about learning how to communicate clearly, analyse and question any text which naturally feeds an inquisitive, creative mind.
Here are some main revision pointers for your child:
- Learn to quote within a sentence. The adds a level of fluidity to an essay which examiners like as it identifies a more experienced writing style.
- Practice, practice and practice a bit more! Look at a variety of texts, review them and question the techniques used. Think about the audience the text is written for and how this influences the stylistic devices used.
- Read complex articles, for example the broadsheets. Aimed more for A level studies but still relevant, the more a student reads complex sentences the better as they can start to recognise the tone and structure of each article. By doing so they will know how to incorporate these techniques in their own writing.
Keep an eye on our blog for more revision tips.