Advice from students who have done their GCSEs.

Some 6th form students at Sackville School did extensive reseach into why some Y11 pupils had achieved better results than others. Their research is available on the net. Here I have downloaded their key recommendations. I believe they will be of help to pupils and their parents.


Recommendations
After studying the results of the structured questionnaires and the in-depth interviews
we have attempted to analyse and isolate the main reasons for underachievement at GCSE. We have decided to make recommendations under three different categories: Students, Teachers and Parents.
Students
(1) Revision
(2) Recommendations
(a) It is impossible for two years of learning to be crammed into the short period of time before the examination. We recommend you start revision early. It is said by teachers all the time but it cannot be stressed enough.
(b) The condition in which revision is done has a major influence on its effectiveness. The room needs to be quiet and reasonably cold. Do not even think about revising on your bed, revision gets boring and you will fall asleep.
(c)
(c) Produce a revision time-table and then keep to it.
(d) Preferred revision technique is something that varies from person to person but it important that you ask questions of the material that you are studying.
(e) Reading through your notes is not a very effective way of revising. Check that the methods that you are using are helping you remember and understand the subject material.
(2) Homework
Problem Over 31% of the boys interviewed believed that a lack of homework was a significant reason for GCSE underachievement. At the same time students who obtained good grades often claimed that doing the homework that was set was a significant factor in their success.
Recommendations
(a) Always do the homework that has been set. It will be impossible for you to cover the whole syllabus without doing this homework.
(b) Try to resist peer pressure not to do your homework. Remember, many of those involved in applying pressure on you will be doing more homework than they say they are doing.
(3) Teaching Methods
Problem Many students were unhappy with the way they were being taught. Over 33% of students thought that the teaching methods used by their teachers was a significant reason for their underachievement.
Recommendations
(a) Teachers, like students, respond well to positive feedback. If the teacher uses a method that is effective, let him or her know.
(b) Teachers often use traditional, didactic methods, because they feel that it gives them more classroom control. Do not reinforce this idea by taking advantage when alternative methods are used.
(c) Methods of teaching that involve classroom discussion are more difficult to organise and control. Help to encourage your teacher to use these methods by keeping to the rules ("one person speaking at a time", etc.)
(d) Speak to your teacher individually after the lesson. Get them to explain things you do not understand in the lesson.
(4) Student-Teacher Relationship
Problem Some students underachieve because they do not get on with their teachers. It is a widespread problem and does affect learning and consequently GCSE exam grades.

Recommendations
(a) All students should be aware of their responsibilities in achieving a good relationship with their teacher.
(b) Do not allow peer group pressure to damage your relationship with the teacher. You have more chance of doing well in your exams if you have a friendly relationship with your teacher.
(c) Arrange a meeting with your teacher if you feel you are having a bad relationship. Find out if you are doing something that is upsetting your teacher. Once you discover the problem it might be possible to change this behaviour.
(d) If all else fails, explore the possibility of being moved into another group.
(5) Pupil Behaviour
Problem A total of 30% of those interviewed said they underachieved because some of the pupils were badly behaved.
Recommendation
(a) Talk to the people who are disrupting the lesson. Apply peer pressure in an effort to persuade them to behave in the appropriate manner.
(b) If you believe that your learning is being hindered by badly behaved pupils in
the class then talk to your teacher about how this problem can be solved. If this does not work see the Head of Department and ask to be moved or have the troublemakers moved out. .
Parents
Problem Some students felt they were being pushed too hard by their parents. In many cases they reacted by rebelling and consequently reduced the amount of time they spent revising for the GCSE exams.

Recommendation

(a) Students experience a great deal of stress during the period leading up to the GCSE examinations. If your children feel they are being pushed too hard there is a danger that they will rebel and as a result will be unwilling to do any purposeful revision.

(b) Talk to your children about ways of reducing the stress they are feeling.

(c) Make sure your child has good conditions in which to revise.

(d) Students are often unsure about the amount of revision that they need to do. Parents can provide a fresh and experienced mind to the problem.

(e) One student said "after twenty minutes revision stops being revision and becomes a staring game." Make sure that your child takes regular breaks.

(f) A certain amount of social life is essential during the revision period. Negotiate with you child a reasonable amount of time for social activities.