Exam Stress Grows as Teens Struggle to Stay Off Phones During Revision
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EIGHT IN TEN PARENTS ARE CURRENTLY AT THEIR WITS END – CLAIMING THEIR TEEN CAN REVISE FOR JUST 14 MINUTES BEFORE PICKING UP THEIR MOBILE PHONE
As millions of children prepare for key examinations this week, a new report reveals today’s children are UNABLE to focus on revision, according to their parents.
A staggering 86 percent of the parents polled, insist their child is not doing nearly enough to achieve the grades they need.
And with the average parent falling out with their offspring as many FOUR times a day about the subject of revision, 83 percent feel at their wits end with frustration.
And according to the teens who took part in the study, they are able to focus on revision for just 14 minutes at a time, before picking up their phone,
Struggling to take all the information in was the top revision block (50 percent), which is no surprise considering 39 percent admit they are constantly distracted by Snapchat and TikTok.
Just ELEVEN percent of the 15 – 18-year-olds surveyed feel confident about upcoming examinations.
While 51 percent confess that hitting the books leaves them feeling overwhelmed, and 41 percent saying it left them feeling frustrated,
One in three (33 percent) feel constantly tired, while 29 percent say they feel bored when faced with a mountain of work, while 21 percent say they have better things to do.
According to the survey, Maths is the biggest revision headache, according to youngsters (60 percent), followed by chemistry (30 percent), physics (30 percent).
As a result, two thirds (61 percent) of the 15- to 18-year-olds polled wish they were better at revising.
A third (34 percent) of the students polled believe that it would be easier to revise if all their tech was taken away, while 32 percent think a schedule of revision would help.
The top excuses for not hitting the books, according to teens, include headaches, tiredness, stomach aches and dead laptop batteries.
Spencer Coles, CEO at leading sixth-form college group Mander Portman Woodward (MPW), who commissioned the survey, said:
“It’s clear from the research that teens are struggling with revision and will do anything to avoid it. What’s particularly telling is that students themselves recognise they need help with a third saying that removing technology would help them focus, while others are looking for structured schedules and support.
“The findings show how revision creates real stress for young people, explaining these creative excuses. But what’s equally concerning are the seemingly productive revision strategies many students resort to – updating timetables, rewriting notes verbatim, creating overly complex mind maps, and simply reading through notes repeatedly. These activities make students feel like they are busy and generate impressive stacks of paper, but they’re essentially passive approaches that create an illusion of productivity.
“Time spent with revision materials isn’t necessarily an indicator of effectiveness. Many students are putting in hours of work without seeing proportional results because they’re using strategies that feel productive but don’t actually help information stick. Yet with so many saying that they wished they were better at revising, this isn’t about lack of motivation but finding the right method. When students receive guidance tailored to their individual learning styles, they tend to develop both the skills and confidence necessary for exam success.”
REVISION DO’S AND DON’TS – ADVICE FOR PARENTS .. (IMAGE OF SPENCER HERE https://we.tl/t-692dNhHcj7
Revision and exam expert Spencer Coles, has been helping students achieve top grades at GCSE and A Levels for over a decade.
Spencer’s advice on how parents can best help their teens during the exam season.
