The Student Room Group

Help gcse

Im in yr 10 and will be going into yr 11 in September.. just got my first mocks result back..
i got a 5 in English lit and lang , a 5 in Spanish, a 5 in geman , a 5 in combined science, a 4 in maths and a 6 in geography….
I struggle with my mental health and it really impacts me and i am not a productive person and self discipline feels painful and motivation is never there ….so i left revision to the night before my exams… and honestly apart from Spanish and English i made minimal effort- maths did zero revision because i couldn’t bring myself to care about my future because i didn’t want one… geography did barely any revision and had missed half my lessons… English i did revision the weekend before my exam as both English papers were on a Monday…
Now the pastoral team were proud of me….im not…i feel i should of made a effort with revision but honestly everything feels too difficult even fun stuff… with the summer approaching I want to do revision through so im a bit more prepared for November mocks which are very important but my depressed brain seriously cant be bothered to do anything… and i dont know how to spend my summer in general

Any advice?

Reply 1

Talk to friends, family & teachers - they're there to support you. Your mental health comes above school. If there's a reason why you're not attending most of your lessons, then you should try to sort that out as well; paying attention in lessons can significantly reduce stress, the extra revision you need to do and so improve your grades a lot!

Even 20 minutes of revision a day starting now can have a big impact on your results. Don't compare yourself to others as that's not helpful.
Sometimes making a rough revision timetable can help. There's lots of advice and youtube videos online that can help with this. Include lots of breaks & rewards to motivate you to continue.
If you struggle to start revision, then it might be easier to make a checklist of like 3 things you want to do that day and a set-up one as well, crossing them out as you complete them. Tell yourself that you're going to commit five minutes to revising a e.g. maths subtopic - starting is often the hardest part! Once you're going, you'll find that it's actually not too bad, so you can continue :smile:
You might want to set lots of small, specific goals to motivate you as well - look up SMART targets.

But don't worry too much as these are mocks and not the real things. Yes, you should revise like they're your actual exams, but don't revise & stress so much that you're burnt out by winter/spring/summer. Do a bit of revision & prepare revision materials sure, but take some time to relax and do hobbies you like - it's a summer after all!

Reply 2

Original post by Depressed686
Im in yr 10 and will be going into yr 11 in September.. just got my first mocks result back..
i got a 5 in English lit and lang , a 5 in Spanish, a 5 in geman , a 5 in combined science, a 4 in maths and a 6 in geography….
I struggle with my mental health and it really impacts me and i am not a productive person and self discipline feels painful and motivation is never there ….so i left revision to the night before my exams… and honestly apart from Spanish and English i made minimal effort- maths did zero revision because i couldn’t bring myself to care about my future because i didn’t want one… geography did barely any revision and had missed half my lessons… English i did revision the weekend before my exam as both English papers were on a Monday…
Now the pastoral team were proud of me….im not…i feel i should of made a effort with revision but honestly everything feels too difficult even fun stuff… with the summer approaching I want to do revision through so im a bit more prepared for November mocks which are very important but my depressed brain seriously cant be bothered to do anything… and i dont know how to spend my summer in general
Any advice?

I think it might be helpful to take time and do things you enjoy doing. All this pressure on yourself isn't doing your mental health any good. There's way more to life than exams and school education, I think you should try to take a step back and do what you do with a controlled mindset. Exams are what you make of them and the same goes for your grades. If you want to improve, then talk to teachers and friends to help you improve your grades, but if you think the pressure isn't worth it, then you don't need to contend with the stress of it all.

We all need an environment where we can flourish, so you need to find yours. Find what best represents you and lean hard towards that. If you can do this then motivation will be far greater and you'll feel like you can conquer any challenge that comes your way. I struggled in school with a medical condition, I was held back a year, I had learning difficulties, struggled to make friends and was very low in confidence. I know what it feels like to feel unmotivated, but I know that the answer is that you have to relax and do the things you want to do, gain the support you feel you need, and of course-move into an environment that best represents you.

I hope you find everything you need and that your motivation improves tenfold.

Reply 3

Original post by Super Sprinkles
Talk to friends, family & teachers - they're there to support you. Your mental health comes above school. If there's a reason why you're not attending most of your lessons, then you should try to sort that out as well; paying attention in lessons can significantly reduce stress, the extra revision you need to do and so improve your grades a lot!
Even 20 minutes of revision a day starting now can have a big impact on your results. Don't compare yourself to others as that's not helpful.
Sometimes making a rough revision timetable can help. There's lots of advice and youtube videos online that can help with this. Include lots of breaks & rewards to motivate you to continue.
If you struggle to start revision, then it might be easier to make a checklist of like 3 things you want to do that day and a set-up one as well, crossing them out as you complete them. Tell yourself that you're going to commit five minutes to revising a e.g. maths subtopic - starting is often the hardest part! Once you're going, you'll find that it's actually not too bad, so you can continue :smile:
You might want to set lots of small, specific goals to motivate you as well - look up SMART targets.
But don't worry too much as these are mocks and not the real things. Yes, you should revise like they're your actual exams, but don't revise & stress so much that you're burnt out by winter/spring/summer. Do a bit of revision & prepare revision materials sure, but take some time to relax and do hobbies you like - it's a summer after all!

Thank you so much

Reply 4

I don’t want to sound silly or lazy but I really can’t be bothered to do anything not even the fun stuff and when it comes to exams either i procrastinate completely till last minute and do a bit of revision or spiral i to distress and get no revision done or i simply dont care about my life and think i dont want a future im not having a future but once im in the exam / mock/ asssesment i regret not revising and then feel like a weak lazy failure

Reply 5

Firstly, it's really brave of you to share what you're going through. Handling school alongside personal challenges like mental health can make things incredibly tough. It sounds like you're really self-aware and that's a great first step. Remember, it’s okay to reach out for help and talk to someone about how you’re feeling, whether it’s a friend, family member, or counselor.
Regarding your revision, it might help to break things down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This can make studying seem less daunting and more doable. Setting up a simple, flexible routine could also help in bringing some structure without overwhelming you.
As for resources, practicing with topic tests and past papers can be a really effective way to prepare. Websites like Save My Exams, The Physics and Maths Tutor, and Tyrion Papers offer a lot of great material that can help you target your weak areas and get comfortable with the exam format. These resources allow you to focus on specific topics and get immediate feedback, which might make your study sessions feel more rewarding and less tedious.
Try to set small, achievable goals for each study session. Maybe today, you could solve one past paper or spend 30 minutes on a topic test. Gradually increase this as you feel more comfortable, but remember, it's okay to take breaks and go at a pace that feels right for you.
Lastly, try to do a bit of what you enjoy each day, whether it’s reading, gaming, walking, or something else that can help clear your mind and relieve stress.
Hang in there, and good luck with your revision and taking care of yourself this summer!

Reply 6

Original post by Depressed686
Im in yr 10 and will be going into yr 11 in September.. just got my first mocks result back..
i got a 5 in English lit and lang , a 5 in Spanish, a 5 in geman , a 5 in combined science, a 4 in maths and a 6 in geography….
I struggle with my mental health and it really impacts me and i am not a productive person and self discipline feels painful and motivation is never there ….so i left revision to the night before my exams… and honestly apart from Spanish and English i made minimal effort- maths did zero revision because i couldn’t bring myself to care about my future because i didn’t want one… geography did barely any revision and had missed half my lessons… English i did revision the weekend before my exam as both English papers were on a Monday…
Now the pastoral team were proud of me….im not…i feel i should of made a effort with revision but honestly everything feels too difficult even fun stuff… with the summer approaching I want to do revision through so im a bit more prepared for November mocks which are very important but my depressed brain seriously cant be bothered to do anything… and i dont know how to spend my summer in general
Any advice?


hey, I was in a really similar place this time last year and i can just say - take a break this summer, really gcses may seem scary but it’s not too stressful! from september/october u will need to work harder and mocks might be daunting but just know they aren’t the final thing!! i strongly just recommend preparing yourself mentally this summer and if you feel like doing work - just read some books!! (it helps if it’s related to ur gcse texts or even those exact texts/ books from the same author)

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