Posts filed under Essays

August 11, 2017

The power of un-packing!

We all have loooong to-do lists these days.

This means that we are often so consumed with thinking about ‘what’s next’ that we rarely stop to UNPACK – to reflect on or dissect what we have already completed and the results we got from it.

And when we don’t do this, we can be missing out on so much ‘gold’ in terms of feedback that can really help us ‘nail’ a lot of the upcoming items on our to-do lists!

Watch this week’s video to help your teen grab their nuggets of gold, by asking themselves 2 critical questions to quickly get useful information about how to create success for themselves.

Posted in Essays, Exams, Goal setting, Homework, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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August 4, 2017

What one Y12 student said so much better than me!

I’d love to share a fantastic conversation I had this week with a Year 12 student – Jake, because he phrased a sentence in a way that I couldn’t say better myself.

Check out this week’s blog video to find out what he said!

P.S. I mention a special ‘early-bird’ offer for my upcoming exam mastery workshop – Just CLICK HERE to check it out 🙂 (Don’t put it off if you are keen – Early bird offer expires in one week!)

Posted in Exams, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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July 28, 2017

Write the intro last!

Sometimes it can be really hard for students to get started on a larger task – an essay, a report, an extended response. They aren’t sure exactly what to write or how to begin…

Usually these tasks start with an Introduction.

And you know what?…. This is the problem!

Watch the video to find out WHY and the very simple (but hardly ever actioned!) solution 🙂

Posted in Essays, Homework, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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July 21, 2017

Grab the “low-hanging fruit”

One thing I always tell students who find it hard to complete exams or tasks in the time they’ve got is to ‘grab the low-hanging fruit’…

By that I mean – make sure you grab all the quick and easy marks.

Check out this week’s blog video to find out where they lie and how your teen can be sure to grab them in their next exam!

P.s. If your teen struggles to perform at their potential in exams then you’ll definitely want to CLICK HERE to register for my free ‘Exam Special’ Parent info webinar.

Looking forward to see you there soon!

Posted in Exams, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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July 14, 2017

5 Ways being under time pressure in exams affects students’ results

When we are feeling stressed and under time pressure, as many students are in an exam, our brains don’t process or operate as well as they do when we’re calm and fully focused. This means that often students lose marks that they could and should be getting.

BUT being aware of the problems that arise as a result of this means that students can override that stress and pressure to some extent by giving themselves constant conscious reminders to look for and do certain things.

Here are 5 awareness points your teen needs to know so they can override the negative effects of time-pressure in their exams.

Posted in Exams, Goal setting, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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July 7, 2017

Does your teen need a tutor?

I was recently talking with a parent of one of my 10WGT graduates on the subject of tutors.

I’ve done a lot of subject-based tutoring in my time, and I still do a little now.

But this discussion, for me, all came down to one thing – and I think the decision comes down to this one thing for every student and their parents.

Something I refer to as finding the ‘leakiest hole’ and identifying the most effective way to fix it.

I explain all in this week’s blog video…

P.S. I mention in the video my free ‘Exam Special’ Parent info webinar! CLICK HERE if you’d like to register – I’d love to have you join me!

Posted in Essays, Exams, Homework, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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June 30, 2017

What got you HERE won’t get you THERE

This is true for most students as they move up through the years, from the middle years into the senior phase and through to uni.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that students have to work harder and harder every year, but it does sum up why students need to develop an awareness of how the demands level-up through the years.

I explain what these demands are and precisely why ‘what got them here, won’t get them there’ in this week’s video – check it out!

Posted in Goal setting, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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June 24, 2017

Useful beliefs

Let’s face it, positive thinking isn’t always easy….. Especially for students if they’re feeling swamped by homework and assignments or revision. Maybe they’ve just had a disappointing result from a piece of work.

I recently came across an alternative way of looking at this idea of positive thinking. I don’t much like the school of thought that says: “If we just believe that good things will happen, then they somehow magically will”!

If you know me by now, I’m not much into fluffy stuff – I prefer actionable and tangible so this week let me share with you my ideas and thoughts on useful beliefs that may help your teen deal with disappointing results or problems that might arise at school.

Posted in Essays, Exams, Goal setting, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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June 16, 2017

The perspective triangle

The student, the teacher and the examiner or assessor.

They all have a different perspective.

They are all focused on different elements and are looking for different things.

This is why it is so important that your teen is able to SHOW they KNOW…

Posted in Essays, Exams, Homework, Mindset, Results, Techniques & Strategies
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June 9, 2017

Great (hidden!) expectations

“Well in Y7 and 8 he was getting B’s, but as he moved through year 9 and now in Y10 he’s getting Cs and even a couple of Ds”…

This is not unusual and can feel like a bit of a mystery both to parents and to students. It can be a little worrying and disappointing.

So I want to share with you ONE of the reasons some students find their grades drop as they move into the higher year groups, even when their effort levels have stayed the same.