Humans forget things. It is inevitable. Whether it is the last three digits of your card number, the first two letters of your car’s numberplate or why you have just walked upstairs, remembering information is one of the daily challenges of life. It is therefore incredibly daunting when we tell our GCSE students that they will need to be able to remember the knowledge and skills for up to 10 subjects to be able to present that information in polished form over a 35-hour exam period at the end of Year 11.
The notion of reading back over a few notes and hoping for the best is an outdated one. If we are going to support our children to be successful scholars, we need to support them to build effective study habits from an early stage. Whilst the culmination of this work remains the end of Year 11, the important part takes place in the five years preceding this moment.
At Carr Hill, we begin the process of forming effective study habits in Year 7. Our students are trained in what effective revision looks like and are provided with a range of homework tasks that allow them to build towards being independent and metacognitive learners.
Supporting Effective Revision Habits
Creating the right environment
A quiet space free from distractions is important for effective studying. If possible, create a dedicated study area or time where your child can focus and work without interruptions. Our school library is open and staffed by our learning managers daily until 4:30pm. Many of our students utilise this space to complete home learning and revision.
Establish a Study Routine:
Consistency is key when it comes to effective study habits. Encourage your child to establish a daily study routine that includes time for homework, coursework, revision, and hobbies. This not only helps manage their workload but also reduces stress and promotes life balance. Research tells us that students that regularly engage with home learning and revision from the start of Year 10 have the potential to outperform their peers by two GCSE grades.
Monitor and Support Their Progress:
Regularly check in on your child’s progress and behaviour in each subject. Reviewing their schoolwork, home learning, lesson grades and any feedback from teachers can help you identify areas where they may need additional support. Encourage them to speak with their teachers if they are struggling or need clarification on any topic. Staff can be contacted directly by both students and parents using Arbor or school email.
Encourage a Balanced Lifestyle: While academic success is important, maintaining a balanced lifestyle is equally crucial. Encourage your child to participate in physical activities, hobbies, and social events to help reduce stress and maintain their well-being. A healthy diet and adequate sleep are also vital components of a successful study routine.
Promote a Positive Mindset: Learning can be challenging, and it’s important to remind your child that setbacks are a natural part of learning. They will inevitably receive some low mock or assessment grades at some point over the next five years. Encourage them to view challenges as opportunities for growth and to approach their studies with a positive, determined attitude. Praise their efforts, not just their achievements, to build resilience and self-confidence.
How do people learn?
Research shows that how students revise is just as important as how long they revise for.
There are now decades of research on how the human brain works. This strong evidence base means that students are in a strong position to know more and remember more over time.
The strategies below are proven to help students remember more and perform better in exams.
- Retrieval Practice – “Getting information out”
Retrieval practice means testing yourself on what you have learned, rather than just re-reading notes. Every time you try to recall information from memory, you strengthen it. Struggling a little to remember helps your brain learn. Even getting answers wrong is useful, as long as you check and correct them afterwards.
How students can use it:
- Use flashcards (paper or online) and say the answer out loud before checking.
- Answer practice questions without notes.
- Write down everything you remember about a topic, then check your notes and fill in gaps.
- Ask a friend or family member to quiz you.
- Complete low-stakes quizzes regularly rather than cramming
- Interleaving – “Mixing it up”
Interleaving means mixing different topics or question types in one revision session, instead of studying just one topic for a long time. It helps students learn when and how to apply the right knowledge, which is exactly what exams require.
How students can use it:
- Revise two or three topics in one session rather than just one.
- Mix different types of exam questions together.
- Rotate subjects across the week (e.g. maths, then history, then science).
- Return to older topics regularly instead of dropping them once “finished”.
- Spaced Practice – “Little and often”
Spaced practice involves revisiting topics over time, rather than revising everything at once.
Spacing revision helps prevent forgetting and builds long-term memory.
How students can use it:
- Create a revision timetable that revisits topics weekly.
- Use flashcards regularly and bring back cards you find difficult.
- Review past topics alongside current learning.
- Avoid last-minute cramming where possible.
Putting It All Together: A Strong Revision Session
A good revision session might look like this:
- Start with retrieval practice (test yourself without notes).
- Mix topics from different lessons or weeks.
- Check answers, correct mistakes, and update notes.
- Return to the topic again later in the week.
