How to Help Your Teen With GCSE English at Home

Supporting GCSE English at home is a bit of a balancing act. Sometimes it feels like you’re doing too much, sometimes not enough.

Maybe you’re a parent who’s quietly worried about “interfering” or a student who’d rather do anything than write another practice essay.

I’ve helped students with their English for over 25 years and, honestly, there’s no single right way… but I do have some suggestions that might help.

How to Help Your Teen With GCSE English At Home

Make Reading Less of a Chore

Let’s start with reading. The word alone can make some students groan... but reading for GCSE English isn’t just about ploughing through set texts. It’s about understanding, questioning and, sometimes, just noticing things.

Try mixing it up. Yes, reading the exam texts matters, but so does reading a news article, a film review or even a blog post. If you’re a parent, ask your child what they’re reading. Not as a test, but out of real curiosity. “Did anything surprise you?” “Was there anything you didn’t quite understand?” Sometimes, these questions spark the best conversations and, at others, you get an eye roll and a shrug. That’s fine too.

For students, try and annotate the text as you read through it by underlining or highlighting words you don’t know and / or jotting down a quick note in the margin. You don’t need to analyse every page. Sometimes, just pausing to ask, “Why did the writer choose this word?” is enough.

If you really can’t face reading the text one evening, (Shakespeare, I’m looking at you!) try an audiobook or read it aloud together. It might sound a bit awkward but it helps, especially with plays such as “Macbeth,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “An Inspector Calls” which were designed to be performed.

The same goes for poetry. If you view the words as song lyrics, instead of just dry, old-fashioned words on a page, it can really help you understand the message. Trust me, it works - I’ve seen many students suddenly “get” a poem when they hear it spoken aloud.

Writing: Start Messy, Edit Later

Writing is where nerves creep in as blank pages can be, well, intimidating.

Here’s the thing: few people write a perfect answer first time. Actually, I don’t think anyone does.

Begin with a rough draft and, remember, it doesn’t have to make sense. You could just start writing a list of bullet points, sentence fragments, language devices or even half-formed ideas. If you’re stuck, try saying your answer out loud first or set a timer for five minutes and just write down whatever comes to mind about the question. No stopping, no editing.

Parents: try and resist the urge to correct every mistake. Instead, ask your teen, “What are you trying to say here?” or “How would you explain this to a friend?” Sometimes, just having someone to talk things over with, will help your child untangle their thoughts.

Once you’ve got something on the page, then you can shape it. Look for one thing to improve, such as adding a quote or making a point clearer, but don't try to fix everything at once. Focus on progress, not perfection.

Techniques & Strategies for Revision

As a parent, you will be doing your best to help your teen with GCSE English revision but you might find that you and your teen have different opinions on what works best. Colour-coded notes, mind maps, flashcards, revision timetables... the list goes on. Some swear by them, others find them pointless. The truth? Use whatever works for you.

If you’re a student, experiment. Maybe you remember things better when you draw mind maps or diagrams or record yourself on camera explaining a theme and then watching it back. Don’t feel you have to do what everyone else is doing: if something doesn’t work, try something else.

Break your revision into small chunks. Study a topic for 20 minutes, have a quick break and then try another 20 minutes. It’s easier (and more productive) to focus in short bursts than to try and sit staring at a textbook for 3 hours.

Don’t just re-read notes, test yourself. Cover up your mind maps or bullet points and see what you can recall. You could also try explaining a key concept to someone else (even your pet) to check that you have understood the main points.

Parents: You could offer to help by asking your teenager to explain key points to you or even if they want you to test them...but don't be surprised (or offended) if they don't take you up on it. Keep it low-pressure.

Exam Practice

Once a week, try answering a question in exam conditions. Set a timer, write your response and, if possible, discuss what you've written with a friend, parent or teacher. Try and work out what went well and what felt tricky. You could also vary your revision methods but mixing in discussions, revision videos on BBC Bitesize or YouTube or untimed writing practice.

Look at mark schemes and examiner reports. They might look complex and can be a bit confusing but they'll help you to identify what examiners are looking for.

Pick out a few phrases, such as “clear argument”  or “well-chosen evidence” and aim for those in your next answer.

If you’re a parent, remember that encouragement matters more than criticism. Acknowledging your teenager’s effort, however small it may seem, will not go unnoticed and hearing you say,“You worked hard on that” may just be the motivation your teenager needs.

When Things Don’t Go To Plan

There will be days when nothing works: revision feels pointless, writing feels impossible and reading is a slog. That’s normal.

Take a break. Go for a walk, watch a film, spend time with friends and family etc. Sometimes, stepping away is the best strategy.

Most importantly, don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Some students need more time, some need much less and progress isn’t always visible. Trust that your effort will add up, even on the days it doesn’t feel like it.

Final Thoughts

Supporting GCSE English at home is about patience, trial and error... and a bit of faith in the process. If you’re a student, keep experimenting until you find out what works and, if you’re a parent, rest assured that your encouragement and willingness to muddle through this with your teen really does make a difference.

Sometimes, a fresh idea or an outside perspective is all it takes to get things back on track again.

Could You Use a Little Extra Help With GCSE English?

If you’d like a bit more support, such as some fresh study tips, handy revision shortcuts or just the occasional nudge in the right direction, why not follow me on Facebook and Instagram?

For additional support and resources, why not sign up to the EHS newsletter?

It only takes a minute and you’ll get advice and exclusive discounts delivered straight to your inbox.

About the Author

I’m Catherine, a private tutor, former secondary school English teacher and the founder of English Home Studies.

With over 25 years of teaching experience, I specialise in personalised 1:1 English tuition for students aged 9 to 16 (Year 5 to Year 11) through my EHS Masterclass programme.

Alongside tailored lessons, I create high quality digital and printable revision guides and activity packs to support students’ progress at home.

If you’d like to learn more about my qualifications, read parent and student reviews, or discover how the EHS Masterclass can help your child excel, please explore the rest of my website.