Guides for parents
Plain-English answers to the GCSE questions schools rarely explain — written parent to parent.
GCSE mock exams explained: what they are and how to use them
A parent's plain guide to GCSE mock exams — what they're for, when they happen, whether they count, and how to turn the results into a revision plan that actually helps.
How to answer 6-mark questions in GCSE exams
A parent's guide to GCSE 6-mark questions — why linked reasoning beats a list of facts, how levels of response marking works, and the simple structure that reaches the top band.
How to help with GCSE revision without the rows
A parent's honest guide to GCSE revision at home — what the research says about pressure, why avoidance usually isn't laziness, and a shared-control structure that actually works.
GCSE mark schemes explained: how examiners actually award marks
A plain-English guide to GCSE mark schemes — points-based vs levels-of-response marking, how examiners are trained for consistency, and how students can use mark schemes to improve their answers.
How to answer evaluate questions in GCSE exams
A step-by-step guide to GCSE evaluate questions — how to structure both sides of an argument, write a genuine judgement, and what makes the difference between Level 2 and Level 3.
AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1 vs Paper 2: what's actually on each?
A parent's plain-English guide to the two AQA Physics papers — which topics are on each, how long they last, the equation sheet rules for 2026, and how to point revision at the right paper.
Foundation vs Higher tier GCSEs: what the choice really means
A parent's plain-English guide to GCSE tiers — which subjects have them, what grades each tier can reach, the grade 3 safety net, and how to think about the decision without panic.
The summer before Year 11: helping your child get GCSE-ready without wrecking the holiday
A parent's plain-English guide to the summer before Year 11 — how much revision actually helps over the holidays, what to focus on, and how to set your child up for the GCSE year without burning them out before it begins.
GCSE command words: what 'describe', 'explain' and 'evaluate' actually want
A parent's plain-English guide to GCSE command words — the instruction words at the start of every exam question, what each one means, and how to stop your child losing marks on content they actually know.
Combined Science vs Triple Science: which should my child take?
A parent's plain-English guide to the difference between GCSE Combined and Triple Science — how many GCSEs each is worth, the exam differences, and how to help your child choose.