I am often asked by parents: "What is the best way for my child to revise Maths?"
My answer is usually: "How do we make sure they are actually learning from the past papers they do?"
Completing a paper, checking the answers and moving on isn't where the real learning happens. It's how the paper is used. With examiner experience, I know the difference between two grades often comes down to exactly this. Three principles stand out.
1️⃣ Mix topics rather than practising one repeatedly
An exam never tells you which chapter a question comes from, so revision shouldn't either. Rohrer, Dedrick and Hartwig found students who mixed topic types in practice outperformed those who blocked by topic on a later test. Topic-by-topic practice still earns its place while a method is brand new; the shift matters once it's already been learned.
2️⃣ Retrieve rather than re-read
Re-reading notes feels productive because everything looks familiar, but familiarity isn't recall. Dunlosky and colleagues' review of ten study techniques rated practice testing high utility and re-reading low. Close the notes, attempt the problem cold, then check.
3️⃣ Learn from the marks, not just the answers
Don't just ask "Did I get it right?" Ask "Why did I gain or lose those marks?" UK mark schemes reward method as well as accuracy, so it's worth checking: was the method right, was the working clear, and where exactly did the mark go?
The goal isn't more hours of revision. It's making the hours already spent count for more. My advice to parents is never "do more past papers." It's "make sure your child is learning from every one they do."
What's the revision habit you see most at home: repetition, or reflection?
If you'd like help structuring your child's Maths revision, feel free to get in touch.
