https://myperformancelearning.com/blog/ Evidence-led advice on exams, revision and wellbeing from Performance Learning. en-gb https://myperformancelearning.com/a-level-economics-advice-exam-coaching/ https://myperformancelearning.com/a-level-economics-advice-exam-coaching/ Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that a capable A Level student who understands the content but scores poorly usually has an exam skills problem, not a knowledge or effort problem. Marks are lost through misreading questions, weak structure, poor application and unclear evaluation. Exam coaching teaches these skills, which then transfer across every A Level subject. https://myperformancelearning.com/study-skills-habits-gcse-a-level/ https://myperformancelearning.com/study-skills-habits-gcse-a-level/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien The study habits that make the biggest difference for GCSE and A Level students are writing every deadline and plan in one planner or calendar, studying in a distraction-free space, using active learning instead of rereading notes, reflecting for 10 minutes each week, and protecting wellbeing with rest, hobbies and around eight hours’ sleep a night. https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-anxiety-child-panic-advice/ https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-anxiety-child-panic-advice/ Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that exam anxiety triggers a fight-or-flight response that temporarily blocks memory retrieval, so reassurance alone rarely helps. Parents should separate preparation from performance, explain what anxiety does to the body, build calming pre-test routines, reframe blanking as temporary and challenge negative self-talk. For severe or worsening anxiety, exam coaching can help. https://myperformancelearning.com/gcse-revision-christmas-holidays/ https://myperformancelearning.com/gcse-revision-christmas-holidays/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien GCSE revision over the Christmas holidays should feel light and manageable, not exhausting. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes on most days rather than whole revision days, pick two or three priorities, fit sessions around holiday plans and use active methods such as self-testing and past papers. Rest is part of the process, not a reward. https://myperformancelearning.com/what-is-academic-burnout-and-how-to-deal-with-it/ https://myperformancelearning.com/what-is-academic-burnout-and-how-to-deal-with-it/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Academic burnout is a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by sustained pressure to do well, not simply tiredness from homework. Warning signs include constant exhaustion, lost motivation, irritability, slipping grades despite effort and physical symptoms such as headaches or poor sleep. Recovery starts with open conversation, smaller tasks, regular breaks, exercise, proper sleep and reassurance. https://myperformancelearning.com/scared-to-leave-school-teenager-advice/ https://myperformancelearning.com/scared-to-leave-school-teenager-advice/ Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that a 16-year-old who avoids college or apprenticeship applications is usually afraid, not lazy. School feels safe because it is familiar. Parents should ease off the pressure, ask about feelings rather than applications, break the future into small steps, normalise uncertainty and remind their teenager that choices at 16 are rarely permanent. https://myperformancelearning.com/unmotivated-child-school-advice/ https://myperformancelearning.com/unmotivated-child-school-advice/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that a bright child who does the bare minimum is rarely lazy. Coasting still earns a pass, and low effort can protect them from the fear of trying and falling short. Rather than nagging or bribing, parents should spark curiosity, help the child feel genuine pride, praise effort over outcomes and stay calm. https://myperformancelearning.com/when-do-schools-break-up-for-christmas/ https://myperformancelearning.com/when-do-schools-break-up-for-christmas/ Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Most schools in England break up for around two weeks at Christmas, usually finishing a few days before Christmas Day and returning a few days after New Year. Dates are not set nationally: they vary by local authority and sometimes by school, especially academies and free schools, and INSET days can shift them. Always check your council or school calendar. https://myperformancelearning.com/child-refuses-to-go-to-school/ https://myperformancelearning.com/child-refuses-to-go-to-school/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that school refusal is almost always a sign a child feels overwhelmed by something they cannot yet put into words, such as anxiety, friendship problems, falling behind or poor sleep. Parents should create pressure-free chances to talk, ask what mornings feel like, work with the school and celebrate small wins. https://myperformancelearning.com/failed-mock-exams-gcse-a-level/ https://myperformancelearning.com/failed-mock-exams-gcse-a-level/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is to treat mock results as feedback, not fate, and to separate the grade from the child. A defensive teenager is often protecting themselves from shame or judgement. Invite them into the solution with gentle questions, show that support comes in many forms, celebrate small wins and keep pressure low before revisiting exam coaching. https://myperformancelearning.com/child-refusing-to-go-to-school-support-for-parents/ https://myperformancelearning.com/child-refusing-to-go-to-school-support-for-parents/ Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien A child refusing to go to school is rarely being stubborn; their behaviour is a form of communication. Common causes are anxiety about not coping, bullying, feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork and poor sleep linked to screens. Parents should talk patiently, contact the school to agree small adjustments and build confidence step by step rather than enabling avoidance. https://myperformancelearning.com/phone-addiction-child-help/ https://myperformancelearning.com/phone-addiction-child-help/ Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that constant phone use is a sign of habits, not a damaged brain, and attention can be rebuilt with patience and structure. Rather than banning the phone, parents should collaborate with their child, agree short phone-free focus periods, replace scrolling with positive activities, set buffer zones such as mealtimes and bedtime, and model balanced use. https://myperformancelearning.com/child-constantly-revising-failing-exams/ https://myperformancelearning.com/child-constantly-revising-failing-exams/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that a hard-working teen who freezes in exams is usually using revision strategies that build familiarity, not recall. Re-reading and highlighting feel productive but do not strengthen the memory pathways needed under pressure. Shorter sessions of active recall, teach-back, better flashcards and past papers, plus separating effort from strategy, help rebuild confidence. https://myperformancelearning.com/curriculum-review-reforming-education-system/ https://myperformancelearning.com/curriculum-review-reforming-education-system/ Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Performance Learning welcomes the Curriculum and Assessment Review led by Professor Becky Francis but argues it does not go far enough. Dr Tej Samani says the biggest missing skill in British education is the ability to learn itself, and that real reform means measuring mindset and motivation, nurturing skills like critical thinking and creativity, and listening to student voice. https://myperformancelearning.com/child-shuts-down-when-ask-about-school/ https://myperformancelearning.com/child-shuts-down-when-ask-about-school/ Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT Dr Tej Samani Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that a teenager who shuts down about school is usually struggling with how they feel, not what they can do. Parents should first make them feel safe to talk: listen before offering solutions, keep a curious tone, choose calm moments, break tasks into small goals, praise effort and prioritise wellbeing. https://myperformancelearning.com/cramming-revision-all-nighters-truth-never-work/ https://myperformancelearning.com/cramming-revision-all-nighters-truth-never-work/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Cramming and all-nighters rarely work. Without sleep, the brain cannot consolidate what you studied into long-term memory, and stress hormones like cortisol make it harder to concentrate and recall facts, so material crammed at 2am often vanishes by 9am. Steady revision over time, seven to nine hours’ sleep, a balanced diet and exercise work better. https://myperformancelearning.com/overwhelmed-gcse-revision/ https://myperformancelearning.com/overwhelmed-gcse-revision/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien If GCSE revision feels overwhelming, pause and take 10 minutes away to reset. Break big goals into small, specific tasks, study somewhere calm and distraction-free, focus on progress rather than perfection, talk to a parent, teacher or friend, and make time to rest. If panic hits on exam day, breathe slowly and start with a question you feel confident about. https://myperformancelearning.com/what-to-do-failed-mock-exam-gcse-a-level/ https://myperformancelearning.com/what-to-do-failed-mock-exam-gcse-a-level/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien If you fail a mock exam, don’t panic: mocks are practice designed to expose gaps while there is still time to fix them. Read the feedback, look for patterns in your mistakes, ask your teacher to go through the paper, then turn it into a specific revision plan. Focus on revising smarter, not harder, and celebrate small improvements. https://myperformancelearning.com/tutoring-different-exam-coaching/ https://myperformancelearning.com/tutoring-different-exam-coaching/ Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Tutoring focuses on explaining subject content, usually one subject at a time. Exam coaching works on the strategy, mindset and habits behind exam success across every subject, including exam technique, time management, confidence, revision planning and handling pressure. A tutor suits a child who needs clearer explanations in one subject; a coach suits a capable child who struggles across subjects. https://myperformancelearning.com/build-revision-timetable/ https://myperformancelearning.com/build-revision-timetable/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien A revision timetable that works is simple, flexible and realistic. Start by blocking out fixed commitments such as school, meals and clubs, then plan revision in 25 to 45-minute chunks with short breaks. Rotate subjects, prioritise tricky topics early, build in downtime and review the plan weekly, because consistency matters more than perfection. https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-preparation-health-sleep-diet-exercise/ https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-preparation-health-sleep-diet-exercise/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Sleep, diet and exercise directly affect how well the brain works in exams. Sleep strengthens memory of what has been revised, a balanced diet with slow-release carbohydrates and water keeps energy and concentration steady, and regular movement improves memory, focus and mood while reducing stress. Treating these habits as part of the revision plan helps students perform better. https://myperformancelearning.com/gcse-coaching-parents-guide/ https://myperformancelearning.com/gcse-coaching-parents-guide/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien GCSE coaching helps students build learning strategies, study skills and exam techniques they can use across multiple subjects, while also managing stress and building confidence. Unlike tutoring, which fills gaps in subject knowledge, coaching teaches memory, time management and exam strategies and works on motivation and resilience. It suits students of all abilities. https://myperformancelearning.com/build-study-skills-grades-school/ https://myperformancelearning.com/build-study-skills-grades-school/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Study skills boost exam results and carry into university, apprenticeships and careers. Performance Learning highlights seven: learning how to learn, time management, organisation, confidence, motivation, handling exam stress, and critical thinking and problem solving. Building them through small, consistent habits, with exam coaching for tailored guidance, helps students feel less overwhelmed and more capable. https://myperformancelearning.com/mock-exams-tips-motivation/ https://myperformancelearning.com/mock-exams-tips-motivation/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien To stay motivated during mock exams, set realistic goals that focus on effort and progress, balance study with rest, and find the motivators that work for you. Treat feedback as a roadmap by turning lost marks into your next study plan, and keep perspective: mocks show where you are now, with months left to improve. https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-masterclasses-gcse-a-level-what-to-expect/ https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-masterclasses-gcse-a-level-what-to-expect/ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien An exam masterclass is a structured, interactive group session that teaches proven exam strategies while building confidence and reducing stress. Performance Learning’s masterclasses are two-hour live sessions on Zoom led by Dr Tej Samani. They focus on technique, not subject knowledge: breaking down questions, managing time, avoiding common mistakes and building lasting motivation. https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-stress-coaching/ https://myperformancelearning.com/exam-stress-coaching/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Exam coaching helps students overcome exam stress by working on three areas: mindset, strategy and wellbeing. Coaches help students reframe fear of failure and focus on progress, break revision into clear, manageable steps, and build habits such as good sleep, exercise and regular breaks. Parents often receive guidance too, so preparation becomes a team effort. https://myperformancelearning.com/focus-on-school-tej-samani/ https://myperformancelearning.com/focus-on-school-tej-samani/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Attention, memory and motivation can be built like muscles, says Dr Tej Samani, so the answer to screens is training rather than banning. Parents can build “focus stamina” through single-tasking, make memory playful with stories and songs, break tasks into small, celebrated wins, and teach real-world skills, confidence and empathy. https://myperformancelearning.com/what-is-exam-coaching/ https://myperformancelearning.com/what-is-exam-coaching/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien Exam coaching is support that supplements revision by focusing on how a student learns rather than what they learn. It teaches exam technique, study skills such as active recall and revision planning, time management and how to stay calm under pressure. Unlike tutoring, which fills subject knowledge gaps, coaching builds the mindset and habits to perform across all subjects. https://myperformancelearning.com/how-to-prepare-for-gcses/ https://myperformancelearning.com/how-to-prepare-for-gcses/ Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien To prepare for GCSEs, start revising at the beginning of the school year with short, regular sessions. Build a realistic, flexible timetable by working back from your exam dates, use active techniques such as flashcards and past papers, keep your resources organised, protect your sleep, diet and exercise, practise under timed conditions and ask for support early. https://myperformancelearning.com/back-to-school-guide/ https://myperformancelearning.com/back-to-school-guide/ Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Josie O'Brien To make a strong start to the school year, Performance Learning recommends setting up a tidy study space, easing back into earlier bedtimes and a predictable morning routine, and setting small, realistic goals. Students should lean on teachers, parents and friends, balance study with rest and fun, build habits early and look ahead to exam season.