The Student Room Group

I can't revise.. URGENT

i live in a household of six, all my siblings are younger than me and i am expected to revise among them all either in the kitchen or the living room. My parents don't let me revise listening to music and they wont let me revise upstairs in my room - not like i have a desk anyway. currently, my mum is screaming at my youngest sister, my dad is blasting the indian news channel on his phone (indian news channels get so loud), another sister is watching something on tv and my other sister is dancing around... so yeah it gets hectic. and i have no clue what to do. i easily get very angry and the smallest of noises get me super mad.. like sometimes i feel like im going to combust. my parents expect me to always be studying but i just?? can't with all this noise?? and they expect me to go to bed around 10:30pm too so i cant study while everyone is sleeping. they wont let me study at my friends' houses or in a public area because 'you won't learn'. so simply put, my parents have restricted everything and i am unable to revise and i have no idea what to do. i have mocks coming up in two weeks and i want to do better than i did last mock (9777665) because my parents were screaming at me over them hhh. i didnt revise for those because every time i tried i COULDNT cause of the same reasons.

if there is ANYTHING i can do, please let me know :frown:

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Original post by annlaju
i live in a household of six, all my siblings are younger than me and i am expected to revise among them all either in the kitchen or the living room. My parents don't let me revise listening to music and they wont let me revise upstairs in my room - not like i have a desk anyway. currently, my mum is screaming at my youngest sister, my dad is blasting the indian news channel on his phone (indian news channels get so loud), another sister is watching something on tv and my other sister is dancing around... so yeah it gets hectic. and i have no clue what to do. i easily get very angry and the smallest of noises get me super mad.. like sometimes i feel like im going to combust. my parents expect me to always be studying but i just?? can't with all this noise?? and they expect me to go to bed around 10:30pm too so i cant study while everyone is sleeping. they wont let me study at my friends' houses or in a public area because 'you won't learn'. so simply put, my parents have restricted everything and i am unable to revise and i have no idea what to do. i have mocks coming up in two weeks and i want to do better than i did last mock (9777665) because my parents were screaming at me over them hhh. i didnt revise for those because every time i tried i COULDNT cause of the same reasons.

if there is ANYTHING i can do, please let me know :frown:


Earplugs? You do need somewhere quiet and they should understand that. My school gives guidance to parents on how to support students during GCSEs - does your school not do a similar thing?

Some things I found online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/helping_with_exams/

https://educationblog.oup.com/secondary/supporting-your-child-through-gcses
"Creating a study ‘space’ is a really positive thing to do away from all distractions if at all possible. I know this is very difficult in some families but a small, quiet area where your child can take ownership of their learning should bear fruit in the future. Then, make sure your child has everything they need notebooks, revision books, pens, paper, post- it notes, index cards etc. Perhaps buy folders that allow them to divide and organise their work into sections, so their work is easy to access."
Reply 2
I have a similar problem so I just stay afterschool everyday with some friends so I can catch up and revise. Does your school offer this opportunity for you because if they do, use it to your advantage. Good luck in your mocks and I wish the best for you!
A revision method I used which saved me in Sociology was turning things such as case studies into something stupid and easier to remember. For instance there was a study by a guy called Bowling to learn so I drew this sassy bowling ball with a speech bubble. Something like this or making the content you need to learn into song lyrics can be helpful (because we all know we can remember songs so fast but not what we need for tests rip)

Take care, and the best of luck to you with your mocks
Reply 4
Original post by Muttley79
Earplugs? You do need somewhere quiet and they should understand that. My school gives guidance to parents on how to support students during GCSEs - does your school not do a similar thing?

Some things I found online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/helping_with_exams/

https://educationblog.oup.com/secondary/supporting-your-child-through-gcses
"Creating a study ‘space’ is a really positive thing to do away from all distractions if at all possible. I know this is very difficult in some families but a small, quiet area where your child can take ownership of their learning should bear fruit in the future. Then, make sure your child has everything they need notebooks, revision books, pens, paper, post- it notes, index cards etc. Perhaps buy folders that allow them to divide and organise their work into sections, so their work is easy to access."

yeah we had that a few days ago and i highlighted this to my parents but they said 'well they said a lot of other stuff too, first do them' but in order to do them, i need my own space? theyre just so unreasonable :/
Reply 5
Original post by zoe260
I have a similar problem so I just stay afterschool everyday with some friends so I can catch up and revise. Does your school offer this opportunity for you because if they do, use it to your advantage. Good luck in your mocks and I wish the best for you!

yes actually! they do offer it but a lot of students just sit there to stay away from their family and don't revise at all. it tends to get very noisy so i cant revise there as it distracts me. i stayed there through mock season and just ended up doing nothing. my friend asked her english teacher if we can stay in her classroom and she has agreed to but it still has its disadvantages - my friend, her friends and teir english teacher are really close so they end up talking about how tired of like they are together. it IS better than what the school offers but i've only been there once. i'm going to start carrying to next week.

thank you and good luck to you too!
Reply 6
Original post by cieracree
A revision method I used which saved me in Sociology was turning things such as case studies into something stupid and easier to remember. For instance there was a study by a guy called Bowling to learn so I drew this sassy bowling ball with a speech bubble. Something like this or making the content you need to learn into song lyrics can be helpful (because we all know we can remember songs so fast but not what we need for tests rip)

Take care, and the best of luck to you with your mocks

thank you!! good luck to you too, i'll use this definitely.
Reply 7
I hate seeing stories like this, they don't sound like proper parents.

Can't you just leave anyway to go to a friends? Sounds like you have no life at home anyway so they can hardly make it worse.

Or call up someone about the noise and say it was a neighbour?
(edited 5 years ago)
Reply 8
revise at school afterschool or at a local library or at a friends house .
or tell your parents about this.
Original post by annlaju
yeah we had that a few days ago and i highlighted this to my parents but they said 'well they said a lot of other stuff too, first do them' but in order to do them, i need my own space? theyre just so unreasonable :/


Was there an evening for PARENTS rather than a talk to students? If not then show then the stuff online - there is plenty including PPTs from such evenings.
Reply 10
Original post by Bio 7
I hate seeing stories like this, they don't sound like proper parents.

Can't you just leave anyway to go to a friends? Sounds like you have no life at home anyway so they can hardly make it worse.

Or call up someone about the noise and say it was a neighbour?

oh man,, they'd kill me if they ever found out :/
Reply 11
Original post by minsjin
revise at school afterschool or at a local library or at a friends house .
or tell your parents about this.

i already stay after school although it isn't very beneficial as most students stay there to socialise and avoid there parents. and like i mentioned, my parents are aware of this but they don't do anything about it but constantly force me to get the highest scores.
Reply 12
Original post by Muttley79
Was there an evening for PARENTS rather than a talk to students? If not then show then the stuff online - there is plenty including PPTs from such evenings.

it was for parents, my dad attended and i kept on pointing out about the fact that they said 'QUIET SPACE' but both my parents said that 'i should focus on revising first'/'you're ignoring everything else they say'
Either speak to them and explain that it’s an unhealthy environment and you really need to be revising - If for any reason you can’t do that, if it might cause more fights - Revise afterschool, or in the library, go to a cafe etc - There’s loads of places around that you can study!
Original post by annlaju
it was for parents, my dad attended and i kept on pointing out about the fact that they said 'QUIET SPACE' but both my parents said that 'i should focus on revising first'/'you're ignoring everything else they say'


Talk to your tutor - was there a handout? If not then show then the links I posted. You cannot revise if you don't have somewhere to do it!
Reply 15
local libraries can be great mine has plenty of desks, wifi and plug sockets and its almost silent most days.

I think your easiest option is ear plugs go on Amazon and look for some, I find the silicon ones are the best but look at the reviews an make sure you get the best ones for your situation.

Try sitting down and talking to both of your parents without the distraction of other siblings. If this isn't possible maybe write them a letter voicing your concerns and how they could help improve the situation for you.

can I ask why they won't let you study in your room?
Reply 16
Original post by Muttley79
Talk to your tutor - was there a handout? If not then show then the links I posted. You cannot revise if you don't have somewhere to do it!

there was a handout, yes, it's what i showed my mum who didn't attend... didn't help. i'll check the links out.
Why are you not allowed to study in your room? I would go to a local library and just study there as it’s quiet. If your parents have a problem with that then you need to explain to them that the environment at home is too loud for you to study in. You could maybe talk to your guidance teacher and explain your situation at home and they might be able to give you some advice and/or speak to your parents about it too.
Reply 18
Original post by Admera
local libraries can be great mine has plenty of desks, wifi and plug sockets and its almost silent most days.

I think your easiest option is ear plugs go on Amazon and look for some, I find the silicon ones are the best but look at the reviews an make sure you get the best ones for your situation.

Try sitting down and talking to both of your parents without the distraction of other siblings. If this isn't possible maybe write them a letter voicing your concerns and how they could help improve the situation for you.

can I ask why they won't let you in your room?

thank you! i'll check the ear plugs out.

and as for why they won't let me study in my room... basically they don't trust me to study there. that's it, no other reason. they want me to be in a place where they can see what i'm doing. it doesn't really help because i only manage to get homework done - no revision.
Original post by annlaju
thank you! i'll check the ear plugs out.

and as for why they won't let me study in my room... basically they don't trust me to study there. that's it, no other reason. they want me to be in a place where they can see what i'm doing. it doesn't really help because i only manage to get homework done - no revision.


My school offers lots of lunchtime and after school revision classes - maybe find out what is going to be on offer?

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