Where do we even start with revision?

Question from a parent of a 15 year old

Question

My daughter’s in Year 11 and she wants to revise for her GCSE mocks but says she doesn’t know how. I’ll admit, I’m no help because I didn’t do well in school myself and have no idea what proper revision looks like. We’ve looked at planners online, but she’s overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to begin. What’s the best way to break it all down into steps for her?

Answer

Getting started with revision can feel so overwhelming for many teens and parents alike, you aren’t alone in this!

A simple, structured plan and testing out different methods to see what works can ease the process and make it less intimidating.

Starting with the most effective revision methods is a good first step. 

According to a luna poll, teens found flashcards to be the most helpful tool, followed by practice papers. Encouraging these strategies can help focus efforts without overcomplicating the process.

Creating a timetable can also provide structure without being rigid. You might want to suggest focusing on one or two subjects per day, prioritising areas they find most challenging. This step-by-step approach helps reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed (which can easily put teens off from continuing their revision).

You could also encourage using online resources or apps, which were rated highly in luna polls – these tools are engaging and often tailored to specific exam boards, making them practical and accessible.

If you need, luna's also got a guide to finding a safe tutor for your teen – tutors can be very helpful in guiding a teen through their studies.

Also give yourself grace during this time – you don’t have to have all the answers! One of luna’s teen ambassadors shared the following:

“The best advice i would give to parents on how to support their child during mocks is if their child is struggling with a specific topic, don’t try and “fix it” for them by explaining it in the way they were taught as a child as it may be different to how their child is being taught in school today which can be confusing and i’ve noticed can result in emotional outbursts. 

Instead, they could try looking up the topic on their own under a reliable current GCSE source such as BBC Bitesize and use this to help their child understand the information. 

I also found it really helpful for my mum/dad to sit in a room with me and not say anything but let me talk to them and almost teach them a specific topic that i was revising (e.g. ww2) and having my parent be patient with me and ask some related questions but not too many, allowed me to memorise that topic much easier and stress free. 

Another amazing thing a parent can do is offer to help read revision card questions to their child to help”

If you're looking for additional guidance on how to best support your teen during this stressful time, consider checking out a guide for parents on exam stress.

Above all else, remind them that revision is about progress, not perfection. Starting small, e.g. one topic or subject per day, can can build momentum – with patience, encouragement, and the right resources, revision can feel far more achievable.

Wishing them the best of luck with their studies – there’s also lots of advice on the luna app for them if you need.

Are you a parent in need of support? Ask luna using this form and our experts will pick 4 to address in our newsletter – which you can sign up to here or by scrolling down.