How to help your child with their revision - five proven strategies

Apr 1, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Jul 22

We want our children to do well in exams, and effective revision plays a crucial role. While you can’t revise for your child, there are lots of ways you can help them revise for themselves. Here are some ideas.

1. 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 learned 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’ve grasped the concepts or are still hazy. Other ways you might help include using quizzes, mind maps, whiteboards, multiple choice or sound bites to see what they’ve learned.

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. Timed exams and 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’re likely to experience in the exam hall: minimise external sounds, set up a clear desk and, if you can, place a single clock so your child manages their time under test conditions. Once the allocated time is up, get your child to stop writing, as they may be tempted to continue. If they didn’t finish, get them to reflect on why. Do they need to do more revision, improve their time management, or work on their exam technique?

4. Act as the student

Another effective revision technique is to encourage your child to talk 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 a question if you don’t fully understand what they’re saying. Studies have shown that one of the best ways to revise is by teaching others.

5. Mind maps and brain dumps

At the start of a revision session, get your teen to write down everything they can think of related to that topic, without looking at their textbook or notes. This doesn’t need to be neat and tidy, and can be in note form rather than full sentences. Even if they can’t remember much at all, going through the process of a brain dump helps prime their brain for learning.