There’s no shortage of advice when it comes to preparing students for their GCSE and A-level exams. The importance of sleep, strategic breaks, good nutrition, and, of course, the abundance of revision resources available are all widely discussed. While these are valuable, the sheer volume of guidance can sometimes turn into a chaotic swirl of well-meaning but overwhelming messages.
One of the most ‘effective’ motivators I ever encountered was a parent offering a significant financial reward for each top grade achieved by their child. Sadly, that’s not a viable strategy for most families - and certainly not something that fits within school policy! So, instead, here are my top five tried-and-tested tips for supporting students in a way that keeps them focused, motivated, and, most importantly, sane.
1. Keep It Simple
Students don’t need a barrage of new revision strategies every lesson. Bombarding them with endless advice, websites, and techniques can leave them feeling more stressed than supported. Instead, streamline your approach: stick to a ‘Top 3’ or ‘Top 5’ recommended strategies and resources, and reinforce these consistently. Where possible, align with messages from heads of year and senior leaders—conflicting guidance from different teachers can add to their anxiety.
2. Model Effective Revision Techniques
Telling students to ‘revise effectively’ is one thing—showing them how is far more powerful. Use a visualiser to demonstrate how to build a manageable study timetable around their existing commitments. Break it down into realistic sessions, ensuring they allow time for meals, sleep, and the occasional break. Also model how to turn a revision video into a mind map that they can learn, as well as how to answer exam questions.
3. Be Realistic About Their Time
Your subject is just one of many they are juggling. Expecting students to devote excessive hours to just science can backfire—overwhelm leads to avoidance. Encourage them to spread their revision sensibly across all subjects and reassure them that quality matters more than sheer quantity.
4. Recommend Free Resources
Not every student can afford paid-for revision guides or online courses, so it’s crucial to highlight excellent free resources. Whether it’s BBC Bitesize, Seneca Learning, Cognito resources or the treasure trove of materials available on school platforms, making science revision accessible for all helps level the playing field.
5. Make Time for Individual Conversations
A quick one-to-one chat can make all the difference. Whether it’s a quiet word during lesson time or a casual conversation while on duty, checking in with students personally helps you gauge how they’re really feeling. These moments provide insight into who might need extra encouragement or intervention and help them feel genuinely supported.
The Bonus Tip: Involve Parents & Carers
Exam stress isn’t just felt by students—parents and carers can feel disconnected from the process too, and worry about whether their child is completing enough (or too much) study. Encouraging students to put their revision timetables somewhere visible (like the fridge) helps families understand what’s planned and offer support at the right times. Parents can also play a role in active revision by testing students with flashcards, and if a student can confidently explain a concept to a non-expert, they truly understand it!
Further tips will be shared as we approach the exam season. For now, good luck with supporting your young people as best you can - with good regard for your own mental health and work-life balance. It's a stressful time for everyone involved, so do follow the advice about breaks, nutrition and sleep yourself!