Revision and Highers with AS and ADD

Post Reply New Topic

Help!!
I am really struggling to cope with the whole school thing this year. Last year when I did my standard grades everything seemed easy enough and i understood most of it, I did revise for my subjects before tests and only ever failed one (maths which I'm really bad at!) but this year it is so much harder!! I am expected to revise stuff for each subject every night as well as having substantial sized homework pieces to do! But it's sooo hard! I need my evenings to de-stress, indulge in special interests and go mad. I've not had one whole evening after school to myself for three weeks. My ADD doesn't cope well with revision and its never going to go in if my mind is on something I'd rather be doing! I dint know how to revise subjects or how to keep track of the multitude of information I am supposed to have learned. We have done the equivalent of six months of standard grade work in two weeks and I can't cope. I always feel like there is something I'm not doing but half the time there isn't even something to think about. My mum is constantly getting on at me for spending too much time on my iPod, she can't see it is basically my world combined into a rectangular computer. She also doesn't seem to understand how hard revision is for me!! Nor how my brain is (or isn't) functioning.
What can I do to help with this enormous problem?

Hi Pixie,

First off - you're doing well to recognise at this early stage that you are struggling to cope, and by looking for help.

I'm 45, and the exam system has changed a bit since I was at school, and it's changing again with Curriculum for Excellence, so I don't know much about how it all works now. I do remember though that in some subjects there was a big jump from O Grade to Higher work, and the teachers also recognised that.

For you, now, you need to seek support at your school. Do you have an additional support plan? Do you receive help and guidance from your school's Support for Learning department?

My son started High School in August, so I'm just now starting to find my way, as a parent of a child with Asperger's, round the way his school works. Because he has Asperger's and has been having some problems, the Learning Support Team are keeping an eye on him and I've been invited to a Review Meeting next week.

Is the same kind of monitoring and review system in place for you?

Whether it is or not, I suggest that you speak to your Guidance teacher or a Learning Support person as soon as possible. Ask to meet with them, and maybe write down in advance how you are struggling - as you've done here.

My son's school has homework clubs for different year groups and also the Learning Support Base can be used as a quiet place to go and chill or do homework. Perhaps you could do some homework or revision while you are at school, giving you a clear space for some down-time at home.

Right now, be aware that you are doing very well to recognise that you are having problems and need assistance. Help and support are there, and you have time on your side to work out strategies and techniques for study and revision. What seems now like an enormous problem can be broken down into manageable chunks for which, with help, you'll be able to find solutions.

You're doing well - don't panic.

Triple post!

Triple post!