Revision Guides: Why I don’t like them and what you should do instead
If you’ve asked me for recommendations about which revision guides to buy, you’ll probably have been surprised by my answer. You see, I don’t recommend revision guides for two reasons: It’s ten years since I was teaching in the classroom so any knowledge I would have based on actually use of revision guides is a […]
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Independent Study Skills: Why GCSE and A Level students are so bad at them, and what to do about it
Independent study skills are vital if students are to reach their full academic potential in their GCSEs and A Levels. But, most students have really poor independent study skills. They don’t know how to manage their time or energy, what to do when they get bored, or how to revise effectively. This means that many […]
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How to revise when you’re anxious about something
Sometimes life throws stressful situations at you, even when you’re already working towards your exams. Whether your anxiety has gone through the roof because of a global pandemic, or something that’s going on in your personal life, this article has important advice about how to revise when you’re anxious about something over and above your […]
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Coronavirus and your GCSEs and A Levels
The Coronavirus outbreak in the UK is getting more serious by the day. At the same time, anxieties are growing about how measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus might impact the exams your son or daughter has been working towards for months on end. This blog post is designed to […]
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The 3 Ms of Successful Revision
“How do you do successful revision?” That’s the key question that parents and students alike ask me. What they really want to know is: What kind of revision will lead to the best exam results possible? What kind of revision will feel like it’s productive and effective while you’re doing it, so that you stay […]
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How much revision should you do a day?
I’m frequently asked how much revision you should you do a day. Parents and students alike are looking for concrete numbers when they ask this question. However, the answer very much depends on the student concerned. In this article I’m going to give you: The ideal numbers for how many hours you should revise a […]
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How to revise GCSE Science – a step by step guide
Not sure how to revise GCSE science? If so, you’re not alone. To many students, the amount of content in physics, chemistry and, particularly biology, can seem very overwhelming, and that’s before you get to answering those pesky exam questions. In this blog post I’m going to give you some top-drawer advice about how to […]
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10 Ways to Put the Sparkle Back into Your Studies
If you’re feeling a bit bored and jaded by your studies there are lots of different ways that you can put the spark back into them so that you approach them with energy, inspiration and enthusiasm. Keep reading for my ten ideas that are sure to put the sparkle back into your studies. 10 Ways […]
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A step change in mental health – and achievement
Can your child improve their mental health at the same time as improving their grades? Yes! Today, I’m going to share two stories of student members of The Extraordinaries Club who have done just this. Improved mental health and going up two grades First, I’m going to tell you about a year 11 student. When […]
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Blasé to brilliant: Nichola and her son’s year 11 story
Is it possible to go from grades like 2s and 3s in year 10 mocks to passing all your GCSEs and getting into your chosen sixth form? Yes it is! In this post, I’m going to share with you Nichola’s story of how she and The Extraordinaries Club helped her son to succeed in his […]
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