How to balance studying for multiple subjects during year 11 prelims

1. Focus on past paper questions

At this stage of the game, their most valuable study resources are past paper questions. Doing as many exam questions as they can not only puts their knowledge of the content to the test, it gets them in the groove of sitting the exam for that subject. Meaning when they take it on for real they'll be well prepared.

Their notes and textbooks obviously still have their role to play, so they don't need to go throwing them out just yet - but their priority should be on past papers now.

2. Make exam strategy a priority

This one fits in nicely with the past paper tip. Exam strategy is just as important as knowning the material or writing out sample responses. Taking the time before their exam to nail down what the particular strategy for that exam is going to be key.

Get them to ask themselves. How much time should they spend on each question? Are they planning out their responses to essays before they start writing?

The important thing, though, is that they are making sure they use this time to fine-tune their approach for each exam as it comes. 

3. Encourage your kids to use their non-exam days wisely

During exams your kid is going to be worn out by whatever exam they've had that day. Once you factor in their potential lack of sleep and unusual mealtimes the time they have left over for valuable revision time can look a little thin. 

Weekends or the weekdays that you have no exams are now extra important. Any heavy lifting revision you have planned for the exam period should fall on those days. They will have better brain power and can set themselves up for a nice uninterrupted study routine.

4. Study what they don't know, not what they do

Whether they like it or not, time is a massive factor during the exam period. Getting through the entire course on every subject at the last minute is really difficult. 

Being selective and prioritising the content they don't know, or know the worst, while studying will help them to get through the essentials.

If they're confident about their Romanovs essay but feel like they don't know enough about World War 1 then the focus should be placed there. 

It seems straightforward, but when they're stressed it can be an easy out to just spend time working on what they do know to make themselves feel good going into the exam.