How to support revision at home over the Easter Holidays

Easter is the time to consolidate all of the learning students have done in the Spring Term, with the course content wrapped up before breaking for the holidays. This doesn’t mean starting from scratch; instead, students need to think about strengthening areas that were weaker in their mock exams and any topics they aren’t as familiar with. It can be a great opportunity for students to get some distance from the classroom and think about focusing their learning in their own way, unique and tailored to them. There is likely to be some level of stress, as there will only be a few weeks after school begins again before they launch themselves into exam season. For many students, the ‘final exam’ is accompanied by a giant ticking clock getting closer and closer to them, but try to remind them that they still have plenty of time: the clock will eventually chime, they just need to be prepared for it. Panic will lead them to burnout, whereas a structured timetable over their holidays will create confidence and lead them to results.

Why your child should prepare BEFORE the holidays

It’s important to make a plan for the Easter holidays before they actually start: as soon as the school bell rings, the sense of relief and excitement for a rest can overtake any desire to study, so try to prepare in advance. When faced with the prospect of working outside of the classroom, students may feel overwhelmed by a lack of structure and won’t know where to start with their revision, and this is where you come in. Here are a few ways you can help your teenager prepare for their Easter Holiday revision:

• Helping them to make the perfect study environment: this can look different from person to person but having a designated study space which contributes to effective and focused learning can make all the difference in the run up to exams. The space should be organised, clean, calm and specifically for them to work, so reading notes on their bed or making flashcards on the sofa might be comfortable but isn’t going to allow them to separate relaxation from studying. Whether it is at a desk in their room, a table in your kitchen, or even in a cafe if they get easily distracted at home, as long as they can concentrate in a bright, quiet and organised environment, their study will be more focused and therefore more effective.
• Agree on a realistic schedule: often, students struggle to study in the holidays because they struggle to know how much they should be revising. For GCSE students, 2-4 focused hours a day is a practical and achievable aim, whereas for A-Level students 3-5 hours (depending on their subjects) is recommended to fit in all of the content they have to know for the exam. These bursts of revision should be spread out through the day, interspersed with proper breaks where they can switch their brain off for a time. It’s also important to recommend they set clear start and finish times, so they know how to structure their day. Try to include a few days of complete rest where possible, as students need to be as well rested as possible before the intensity of the summer term. By making a study schedule that you both agree on, you show your teenager that you are interested in their learning and there to provide support, but also give them the confidence and freedom they need to learn independently. 

Rest and Revision: How to find the balance

Whilst it might be tempting to chain your teenager to their desk, something some students do voluntarily, it’s vital to remember that the holidays are also a time for rest. Scheduling regular breaks within their revision schedule, as well as a day or two completely away from their textbooks, means that their brain has the time to recuperate and recharge. Our brain is like any muscle, it needs to rest after intense use so we can improve our memory retention. The human brain can only maintain peak concentration for approximately 25-30 minutes, so scheduling in a break after a focused burst of revision is not only beneficial for your teenager’s mental health but also key for better and more effective revision. Excessive, unbroken study is likely to lead to mental fatigue and exhaustion, increasing chances of complete burnout. Encouraging your teenager to prioritise breaks within their revision, as well as a healthy sleep schedule and short daily exercises, will help to re-energise their study and motivation, allowing you to take care of their brain whilst they take care of the learning.

Sample of Healthy Revision Day

How you can be involved without taking over

Often, parents struggle to know how much to get involved with revision, especially in the final stretch before exams begin. This is one of the biggest challenges for you at this time, as attempting to help can sometimes lead to tension and conflict at a time when students need to be as calm and relaxed as possible. It's only natural that you want to be involved and help them in this important time in their school career; however, you’re likely to meet more resistance if you try to impose a certain kind of revision plan on them. Instead, try to discuss what their goals are for their own studying and what support, if any, they’d like from you. Allowing them the agency to decide how much input you have as a parent gives students a sense of authority during a period in their lives where they feel less in control. Here are a few ways to suggest you could be involved, without taking over:

• Being their revision partner: sometimes, after consolidating their knowledge, students want to test themselves by having someone else ask them questions or quiz them. This is a perfect way for you to engage with their learning but on their terms.
• Checking in, without nagging: organise a designated time in the day or week to have a check-in with your teenager. This should be a time and space where they can tell you about their revision and how they are feeling, where you listen without judgement and provide guidance where possible, allowing you to understand what they are doing whilst also letting them know that you are there to support them.
• Finding the balance between pressure and reward: sometimes, students work more efficiently and effectively when they have a certain goal or reward in mind. Perhaps agree on a small weekly reward for productive and focused study, giving them an incentive to commit to their revision schedule. This can help to combat the pressure that parents can unknowingly place on their teenagers: making comparisons to their friends or siblings can lead to students focussing on an end-goal rather than the effort they need to put in behind the scenes. Using daily vocal recognition of their efforts encourages them to judge their worth not simply on their results or on achieving the outcome YOU want.  

The Easter Holidays should include exactly that: a holiday. So try to encourage your teenager that small bursts of consistent study is more effective than long periods of intensity, and that they should prioritise calm pre-planned schedules over panicked decisions. By recognising their effort, you can show up for them and show support for them regardless of the outcome. This is the core of what really matters over Easter: rest, consistency and reassurance. By supporting your child and reminding them of these elements, you’ll help them to prepare for the emotional, mental and physical demands of the summer term and build their confidence, ready to sit their exams.