How to Help Your Child Revise for English: A Parent’s Guide to Success

Supporting your child through English revision can feel daunting—especially if you're unsure where to start. Whether they’re preparing for GCSEs or school assessments, your encouragement and structure can make a huge difference. This guide offers practical, parent-friendly strategies to help your child revise effectively and confidently.

 1. Understand What They’re Studying

Start by finding out:

·         Which exam board they’re using (e.g., AQA, Edexcel, OCR)

·         The texts they’re studying (novels, plays, poetry)

·         The types of questions they’ll face (essay writing, comprehension, comparison)

Tip: CGP produce excellent English revision guides for language and all literature set texts.  They are a great place to start early!

2. Encourage Active Revision

Help your child move beyond just reading:

·         Use mind maps to explore themes and characters

·         Create flashcards for key quotes and literary techniques

·         Encourage them to teach you what they’ve learned—it’s a great way to reinforce knowledge.  If they can’t explain it clearly, they don’t know it well enough yet!

3. Support Essay Practice

Essay writing is a key skill in English exams. You can help by:

1.      Setting a timer for practice essays and gently encouraging them to keep going.

2.      Reading their work and asking questions like, “What’s your main point here?” or “How does this quote support your argument?”

3.      Encouraging them to plan before writing – be a sounding board and ask them ‘why?’ to help them explain their answers

4.      Don’t worry if you’re not an English expert—just showing interest helps!

4. Make Texts Come Alive

If your child is studying a novel or play:

·         Watch film adaptations together

·         Listen to audiobooks during car rides or downtime

·         Discuss characters and themes casually—over dinner or during car journeys

This makes revision feel less like a chore and more like a conversation.

 5. Help Them Learn Literary Techniques

Even if you’re not familiar with terms like “enjambment” or “dramatic irony,” you can:

·         Quiz them using flashcards

·         Ask them to explain techniques in their own words

·         Use online resources or YouTube videos together

6. Promote Healthy Study Habits

Support your child by:

·         Creating a quiet, distraction-free space to revise (can they leave their phone outside?)

·         Encouraging regular breaks (try the Pomodoro technique: 25 mins work, 5 mins rest)

·         Making sure they get enough sleep, down-time, eat well, and stay hydrated

7. Build a Realistic Revision Schedule

Help them:

·         Break revision into manageable chunks

·         Mix subjects to keep things fresh

·         Include time for relaxation and hobbies

A balanced schedule reduces stress and boosts productivity.

Final Thoughts for Parents

You don’t need to be an English teacher to support your child’s revision. By showing interest, creating structure, and encouraging healthy habits, you’re giving them the tools to succeed. Your support—emotional and practical—can make all the difference.

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