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GCSE Revision Aids

Daddy

Dear all, 

My son, is first year GCSE student at a mainstream secondary comprehensive school. He has autism. The school arranged a presentation for parents, to make them aware of the main curriculum, exam mock  papers, revision tips  and  intended to raise awareness so child can be supported at home. Not surprising, it lacked information for parents on a considerable number of SEN students the school has, while SENCO was present if parents wanted to discuss anything.  The school also provided an estimated minimum grade for parents. 

Revision tips included recommended revision aid books, practicing past papers, flash cards, developing a timetable for revision. 

With my son, his estimated minimum grades were 3 (he is foundation level for all of his subjects and he is doing a few level 1/2 subjects as well). My aim is for him to aim for Grade 5, which would be an amazing achievement for him. 

I went on-line to check if there were revision aids for SEN, and there are non. All revision aids appear to be written for neurotypical students and none for neurodivergent students, I can buy revision flash cards, but he may find them overwhelming, but I guess I won't know if I try. 

Motivation is a big challenge with my son, but when he puts his mind to it, he can fulfill any task. He attends after school homework club, and likes to chill at home. I am trying to explain the concept of revision with him, and practicing past papers. I would be prepared to pay tuition for him (online or face to face), if I could find the right one who has experience with working with SEN children. 

For parents who have been through the GCSE journey, is there any tips you can recommend for revision? Are you aware of any revision aids and resources for neurodivergent children? Perhaps blank flash cards for him ti write his own (but I am unsure if that will work, as he may just copy without thinking about what he is writing). Is there any approach that has worked for your child's revision? 

I have discussed this with my daughter who is doing her A-levels, and what approach would work. She is busy with her studies with final year A-levels, and both myself & wife work full-time, so time in the evenings can be challenging (as I am doing a Masters at work), but I would be prepared to explore new approaches and make sacrifices  so  that he can fulfill his full potential. 

I am struggling with this, as this is my first experience with a neurodivergent child. Just want to hear from other parents what worked for them with revision techniques and any resources that can help. 

Thank you in advance .

Regards

Wajid (dad)

Parents

  • I always found that if I was interested in something I did well at it, but when I wasn't very interested it was a struggle to learn, so if you can get him interested in the subjects he is working on maybe via how they relate to a special interest he has that might help.

    When I was doing some Chemistry, Biology and Psychology at college (one each year and just for fun) at 'A Level' equivalent I found that having a range of different books on the subject in question helped as in most cases the same topic would be explained differently in each book, sometimes making it easier to remember, although as I was only doing the courses because I was interested I found it easier to remembered most of the detail without too much trouble.

    Have you looked at BBC Bitesize as I found that useful for learning/revision before I started the Chemistry as I had forgotten most of what I did at school and jumping straight in at 'A Level' was quite a steep learning curve.

    There are also videos at GCSE level on youtube although some of them are a bit boring - our lecturer in Biology liked "The Amoeba Sisters" and they do GCSE level Biology as well as 'A Level' Biology videos.

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  • I always found that if I was interested in something I did well at it, but when I wasn't very interested it was a struggle to learn, so if you can get him interested in the subjects he is working on maybe via how they relate to a special interest he has that might help.

    When I was doing some Chemistry, Biology and Psychology at college (one each year and just for fun) at 'A Level' equivalent I found that having a range of different books on the subject in question helped as in most cases the same topic would be explained differently in each book, sometimes making it easier to remember, although as I was only doing the courses because I was interested I found it easier to remembered most of the detail without too much trouble.

    Have you looked at BBC Bitesize as I found that useful for learning/revision before I started the Chemistry as I had forgotten most of what I did at school and jumping straight in at 'A Level' was quite a steep learning curve.

    There are also videos at GCSE level on youtube although some of them are a bit boring - our lecturer in Biology liked "The Amoeba Sisters" and they do GCSE level Biology as well as 'A Level' Biology videos.

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