Nicola Allen is the Managing Director of Educake. As a parent of three teenagers, she has experienced first-hand the challenges schools face. This experience deepened her commitment to creating solutions that truly support both teachers and students.
When we think about exams like GCSEs, we often focus on the stress and pressure that students face. After all, they’re the ones sitting in the exam hall, right? But as any parent who has been through this knows, this journey is just as challenging for us. It’s not just their struggle – it’s ours too.
As a parent of three, I thought I’d already faced the hardest parts of parenting. Toddler tantrums, sleepless nights, and the infamous “terrible twos” seemed like insurmountable mountains at the time. When my kids were finally tucked into bed after those chaotic days, I’d sit back, feeling like I’d conquered the world. Little did I know that parenting through exam season would rival even those tough early years.
The reality hit me during lockdown, which, like for many others, was a transformative time. Suddenly I was working from home, home-schooling three kids, and juggling an entirely new way of life. My daughter was in Year 3, my middle son in Year 7, and my eldest in Year 9. The daily chaos was relentless, but little did I know that this period would prepare me for an even greater challenge – helping my eldest son navigate his GCSEs in 2022.
Fast forward two years, and the stakes had risen dramatically. After the disruption of the pandemic, these GCSEs were the first proper exams since 2019. My son, now in Year 11, was far from engaged with school. His teachers constantly reiterated his potential but paired it with the familiar refrain: “he has ability but lacks focus.” It was frustrating to hear, but even more disheartening to see him so disillusioned. Detentions piled up, and homework became a battleground.
I knew something had to change, but where do you start when your child is stuck in a cycle of apathy? For us, the answer came in small, manageable steps – and with the help of the right tools.
Small wins with Educake
I’m fortunate to work for Educake, an online learning platform, but even more fortunate that it became the lifeline my son and I needed. The key was to shift his mindset. Instead of bombarding him with overwhelming demands to “study harder,” I encouraged him to spend just ten minutes a day revising.
Here’s how we approached it:
- Start small
Ten minutes doesn’t feel like a big ask. I’d tell him, “Just look at the purple section on Educake. It tells you what you know and what you don’t know.” This simple approach made revision less intimidating and more manageable. - Use study guides and quizzes
We focused on a single study guide at a time, followed by a short quiz. If he got something wrong, he’d jot down the correct answer on a quick revision card. It wasn’t about cramming or perfection; it was about steady progress. - Leverage the revision wizard
On days when he felt particularly unmotivated, the revision wizard became our secret weapon. It automatically suggested topics he needed to review, eliminating the guesswork and reducing his resistance to studying.
By breaking revision into bite-sized chunks, he started to see improvement. It wasn’t immediate or dramatic, but it was enough to keep him going. Over time, those ten-minute sessions added up, and the results spoke for themselves: he achieved solid fives in science – something we both felt proud of.
Lessons learned and moving forward
Looking back, I’ve realised that exam success isn’t just about memorising formulas or cramming facts. It’s about finding an approach that works for the individual and building their confidence step by step. The small victories along the way are what truly matter, and they can lead to surprisingly big results.
The journey isn’t just about academic performance, though. It’s about fostering resilience, showing that effort pays off, and helping them take ownership of their learning. Those revision sessions became more than a path to better grades – they became a way for my son to rediscover his own potential.
And let’s not forget the value of patience and perspective. It’s easy to get caught up in the high stakes of exams, but stepping back and focusing on steady progress can make a world of difference. Whether it’s ten minutes of focused revision or simply being there to listen, these moments shape not just academic success but personal growth.
For anyone supporting a student through exams, remember progress doesn’t have to come in leaps and bounds. Celebrate the small wins, adapt the process to their needs, and remind them that every effort counts. The journey might not always be smooth, but with encouragement and the right tools, success is within reach.
