Is your teen struggling with their exam technique for their GCSEs or A-Levels? Exam technique is a skill that can be learned and practised so that your child can get better marks and grades. In this article we'll talk about 3 exam technique mistakes that we commonly see GCSE and A-Level students making. They are: […] The post 3 Exam Technique Mista…

If you or your child have exams this summer (2022) you may be wondering: “Is it too late for revision to make a difference for this year's GCSEs and A-Levels?” The answer is no. It's never too late to start doing the work, or to start revising. It's also never too early (we'll come to […] The post “Is it too late for revision to make a difference f…

It's a commonly known fact that teenagers like to fit in (whilst also standing out). It's also fairly common for teenagers to feel a bit lost when it comes to their revision. These two things mean that teens who are struggling to know how to revise will very likely copy a friend's study style, if […] The post Why finding your study style is like fi…

Does your child say that they're just not motivated to get on with their revision or do their homework? This is one of the most common problems that I hear from students. They say: “I can't get motivated to study!” Or, “I've got no motivation for my revision.” But, when I probe a little more […] The post Lack of motivation might not be the REAL pro…

GCSE German students often get overwhelmed by all the long words and seemingly confusing rules. It can feel like a daunting task to get your head around the grammar and vocabulary and be able to walk into your exams with confidence. Magdalena Ewan is a qualified German teacher and a full-time German tutor. She’s helped […] The post GCSE German: How…

Are you, or your teen, telling yourselves the lie that you don't have time to learn to study? This is something I hear frequently. “I haven't got time to learn to study, I'm too busy studying!” “I'm too frazzled to help my child learn to study!” I hear you. We're all busy and, in many […] The post Stop telling yourself the lie that you don’t have t…

Revising A-Level politics requires a different approach to any other A-Level subject. And, this year more than ever, it's so important that A-Level politics students stay up to date with what’s going on in the world of politics. I interviewed Zoe Holland, one of my academic coaches and an A-Level politics teacher with 21 years […] The post A-Level …

Year after year I see families coming to us for help with revision quite late into year 11 or year 13. The trouble is, learning to revise effectively without having your foundational study skills in place is like building a house without foundations: everything is likely to topple over at the first sign of trouble. […] The post STOP! Is your teen l…

Over the years I've seen many students who diligently create revision plans in the way most people advocate, but then lose confidence and motivation when their plan goes awry. This has also happened to me. When you really think about it, it's no surprise that these traditional revision plans go wrong. In this article we'll […] The post Why traditio…

Year after year I see GCSE and A-Level students making the same old mistakes with their revision. Here are the top seven… 7 Things GCSE and A-Level Students Commonly Get Wrong With Their Revision 1) Making a Revision Plan that's doomed to fail Some students spend hours meticulously planning their revision. Their plans are weeks […] The post 7 Thing…

Do you want your child to get the top grades? Or, do you want them to get the best grades for them? The vast majority of the parents who choose to work with us at Life More Extraordinary Academic Coaching are looking for help so their children can reach their full academic potential – not […] The post What grades don’t tell us (and how to assess yo…

I'm really excited to invite you to my brand new, fully revamped webinar How to reach your academic potential with less stress and more success. What you'll discover in the webinar… The top 3 mistakes GCSE and A-Level students make when they're preparing for their exams and why they're costing you marks and grades My step-by-step system that has he…

For many parents, when their children are struggling at school the immediate solution that springs to mind is to hire a private tutor. But, what if a tutor isn't the solution to your child's study and revision problems? In this article we'll discuss: The typical problems GCSE and A-Level students experience (and why) How to […] The post Why a tutor…

One of the reasons many students fail to get started with their revision is that they have little/zero confidence: In how to revise – and that it will actually make a difference to their grades About how to do well in exams This lack of self belief stems from two places: Not having had success […] The post The best way to increase revision and exam…

One of the most horrible things about the GCSE and A-Level years for parents is watching your teen fritter away their time, forcing you into the position where you feel you have to nag them to get on with their revision. It's so tough because, even though you're doing it because you care, by nagging […] The post Is nagging about revision ruining yo…

It breaks my heart when I see students pushing themselves to breaking point to do their revision. Life shouldn't be like that for anyone, let alone our young people. Two particular examples stand out. Firstly, a young man emailed me in desperation saying he was studying for twelve hours per day. Secondly, someone who was […] The post Why working ha…

At the start of every year many people are making new year's resolutions. However, there's a very long history of resolutions failing. In The Extraordinaries Club we have a different approach to achieving our goals. This approach focuses around changing behaviours by creating better study habits. Study Habits for Success On our coaching calls in [……

It's always been important for GCSE Religious Studies students to understand the specification. But the exam boards have made changes to GCSE RE courses in recent years, making it even more vital to get to know the new specification thoroughly. In the lead up to the How to Revise GCSE RE Masterclass with Chris Eyre, […] The post How to ace GCSE RE …

So many parents tell me that their teenagers struggle with how to stay motivated to study. Motivation tactics like using biscuits as a reward can incentivise your teen to revise in the short term, but is it the best way to encourage your teen to achieve? I talked to motivation expert Sharath Jeevan to get […] The post How to stay motivated to study…

Very few GCSE and A-Level students are taught how to revise by their schools. And, judging by the responses to a recent question on our Facebook page, those who are given some information about how to revise are confused. They're getting seemingly conflicting advice and it grinds them to a halt because without certainty about […] The post Revision …

Your teen walks downstairs from their room and you ask, “How's the revision going?”. 60 seconds later, they’re so wound up that they’ve turned around and stormed straight back to their room. The house is shuddering with the vibration of slammed doors and shouted retorts (both yours and theirs). Does that sound familiar? So many […] The post How to …

Studying A-Level Geography is truly fascinating. However, it's a very content-heavy subject with a lot of case study material to remember, which can overwhelm some students. I interviewed David Rendle, a former Geography teacher with 25 years of experience and an A-Level examiner, to get some insight into how A-Level Geography students can set […] …

Has your child fallen victim to a Frankenstein exam? If so, they might need help putting themselves, and their exams mindset, back together. In this article you'll find out: What a Frankenstein exam is What's the problem with Frankenstein exams? Why students get disappointing grades in Frankenstein exams How to put your child's study and […] The po…

We all know that climate change is a really important issue and there’s so much information out there about how we can live more sustainably. But how can you bring that eco-friendly lifestyle into your child’s school life and help them become a more environmentally sustainable student? I had a chat with Jen Gale, a […] The post Sustainable(ish) Stu…

I have to say I'm a bit nervous about writing this blog post. But, prompted by some recent very vulnerable (and brave) admissions by parent members of The Extraordinaries Club and interactions with parents of the students we work with over a number of years I feel moved to ask this: Are your good intentions […] The post Are your good intentions sto…

Do mock exams really matter? Afterall, they're mocks, not the real thing. In this blog we're going to consider whether GCSE and A-Level mocks really matter and, ultimately, how seriously you should take them as a parent or a student. Do mocks really matter? What's the point of mocks? Mocks are held for several reasons. 1. […] The post Do mocks real…

Bill Morrison, the latest person to join our Academic Coaching team, understands, from his own experience, that academia and education do not always follow a straightforward path. This blog is a summary of my conversation with Bill, which you can listen to using the podcast player above or by searching for The School Success Formula […] The post In…

A-Level Sociology is a relatively new subject but it’s becoming even more popular than traditional subjects like history and geography. So what exactly does being a successful A-Level Sociology student involve? How can you set yourself up to bank some good grades that will enable you to reach your goals beyond A-Levels? I interviewed Zoe […] The po…

If you’re taking Religious Studies as an A Level subject you need two main strengths: An ability to retain large amounts of information; and, Skill in evaluating and explaining your arguments effectively. In this article taken from my interview with expert Religious Studies A-Level teacher and examiner, Chris Eyre, we share some important tips on […

When you're supporting your child to achieve their full potential at school it's really helpful to understand the shape and dynamics of the academic year. It's really all about long-term time-management – knowing what they should be doing and focusing on in each season of the school year. In this episode of The School Success […] The post [Re-Relea…

Annette and Erin were some of our founding members of The Extraordinaries Club, from the end of year 10 to year 13, and recently agreed to take part in interview with me. This blog is a summary of my conversation with them about the lessons they learnt about the Club, themselves and what they took […] The post “Better than school” – Annette and Eri…

As we head back to school, hot on the heels of the two most difficult academic years ever experienced, it's worth taking a moment to make sure your mind is the right place to succeed. Let's review the situation we find ourselves in and think about how we can mentally prepare ourselves for the school […] The post Back to School Mindset reset appeare…

The step up from GCSE to A-Level study is a tricky one, and something that's under-estimated by students and their parents alike. This means that every year we see students coming to us in the latter part of year 12, over the summer holiday and the beginning of year 13 who have got themselves into […] The post 3 Top Tips For New Year 12s to Start t…

Did you miss our Open House on 17th August 2021? We invited people to come along who were interested in working with us in the 2021-2 academic year to:Find out how you can work with usUnderstand which way of working with us would be best for you (or whether it's the right time for you at […] The post Open House – August 2021: Find out about how you…

Are you thinking about signing up for 1:1 Academic Coaching with Life More Extraordinary? It's important to us that you get the most out of this experience – and making sure this happens starts before you even sign up for a preliminary call to discuss how we can help you. In this blog you'll find […] The post How to get the most out of Academic Coa…

Would it surprise you to know that I don't just look at GCSE and A-Level grades as being a reflection of academic ability? To me, they're not just a measure of how ‘clever' someone is. Instead, GCSE and A-Level grades tell a story, boiled down into a letter or a number, of two years of […] The post The real achievement behind GCSE and A-Level resul…

Many of my clients tell me how calm and soothing I am, so it might surprise you to know that I've been struggling with anxiety since spring 2018. I've done various things over the last three years to tackle the anxiety, but I've made bigger strides in 2021 than previously. After a member of The […] The post What I’ve done to help my anxiety in 2021…

With the summer holidays fast approaching, parents have been asking me what their young people should be doing in the summer holidays. In this post, I'll be sharing the things students in years 7-13 should be doing in the summer holidays to give you some clarity and reassurance. What should you do in the summer […] The post What should you do in th…

What's the right mindset when you're applying to Oxbridge? With only about 20% of Cambridge applicants and 16% of Oxford applicants getting a place, it's important that you go into the process with a healthy attitude so that you can get the most out of the experience, whatever the outcome. In this article you'll discover: […] The post The right min…

If your child is applying for a vocational university course, it's important that they understand what they need to do differently in their UCAS personal statement compared to students applying for academic subjects. In this article you'll learn: What the difference is between vocational and academic university courses What's different about applic…

Year after year I see university applicants making the same 3 personal statement mistakes. These mistakes cost them lots of time, and would deprive them of offers at universities if they weren't put right. Read on to find out what they are – so that you can avoid making them. 3 Personal Statement Mistakes to […] The post 3 Personal Statement Mistak…

“What's the point of learning Pythagoras' Theorem? I'm never going to use it in real life.” That's what one of the members of The Extraordinaries Club was moaning to his mum. If you're the parent of a teen studying for exams, you may well have heard the same complaint about any number of things they […] The post “What’s the point of learning Pythag…

Is your child studying A-Level Physics? It can be an intimidating subject for some because of its heavy mathematical elements, but in practice, the subject encourages a whole range of other skills. These skills, alongside the mathematical modules, make it a great qualification to lead into university. Here I share some tips on how to […] The post H…

It's not easy to succeed at GCSE and A-Level. I think we all know this intellectually, but many people seem to resist the reality of what it really takes. In this article, I'm going to share three hard truths about what it really takes to succeed at GCSE and A-Level. It's up to you whether […] The post 3 Hard Truths About What It Takes to Succeed a…

GCSEs are hard. A-Levels are hard. But what's the alternative? The alternative is even harder. That's what we're thinking about today. Choose your hard The other day, my head coach, Helen, sent me a meme that said: Marriage is hard, Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard, Being fit is hard. Choose your […] The post Choose your hard appe…

In the English and Welsh education system, most schools hold year 12 exams in the summer term, halfway through students' A-Level courses. In my experience as an academic coach, year 12 exams can often be a rude awakening for A-Level students – showing them where they haven't paid enough attention over the last year. In […] The post Year 12 exams: T…

Is your child in year 10? Are you wondering about their end of year exams? In this article, you can find out everything you need to know about year 10 exams including answers to the following questions: Are year 10 exams important? What are year 10 mocks exams? How seriously should you take year 10 […] The post Year 10 exams: Everything you need to…

A-level history has a fantastic reputation for developing students' analytical and critical skills which is a great preparation for university. However, many students struggle to demonstrate these skills in their exams, even though they put hours into their revision. In this article you'll find a summary of my conversation with Zoe Holland, a histo…

Exam season is one of the most stressful times most GCSE and A-Level students have ever experienced in their short lives. It's also a very stressful time for the mums and dads guiding them through it. In this article, I'm going to share with you three ways to deal with the stress in the here […] The post How to release exam stress – 7 things you ca…

The other day I was asked this great question on a Revision Kickstarter workshop: “How do you know if you're making progress in your revision?” Basically, how do you know if your revision is working? This is such an important question as your child will probably spend many hours on revision, and they need to […] The post How do you know if your rev…