Parents of Hardworking Teens

Ep. 156

A student was told they need to be filling 5 - 6 pages in order to hit top marks in their Commerce exam essay Q.
Is that good advice?

In this episode I explain:

Why it’s not about the word count or page count, and why it also IS about the word count or page count.
Why it’s quality over quantity and why quality is - in some ways, sometimes determined by quantity or creates a particular quantity.

AND

How your teen can nail this golden combo of top quality content, in the exact right quantity.

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Ep. 155

Going over the word limit in essays, assignments and reports is a common issue I see in knowledgeable, hardworking students.

The biggest problem is the amount of extra work it means they are doing when this happens: Extra writing in the first place, and extra time trying to cut it down before submission.

In this episode I explain the reasons for why this keeps happening for some students (no matter how much they try not to) so we can solve for the root causes.

AND I provide four actionable ways to prevent it in future, so your teen only spends the time and effort that's necessary for any extended task.

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Related episode: Ep. 131 - Plan EVERY Extended Response
Related episode: Ep. 151 - Why Students Resist Planning
Resources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/155
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Ep. 154

Listen in for the top 10 ways that I've found to be the most effective in catapulting students' results AND confidence in a fast yet sustainable way.

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Ep. 153

There's a significant difference between an 'inquiry' research task and a research 'project'.
Treating an inquiry, report or any kind of research task in the upper years of high school like a 'project' will keep your teen stuck at a mark or grade that doesn’t reflect their effort or ability in the topic they're researching.
In this episode I’ll explain:

what the research project trap is,
the two reasons why so many students fall into it,
and
how to have your teen avoid it.

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Resources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/153
Related episode: Ep.61 - What Makes a High Quality Research Q
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Ep. 152

I'm a big fan of making the biggest difference to results and confidence,
in the simplest, most efficient and effective ways.

This example of how to make essays 'more sophisticated' is a great example of this:

One strategy that demonstrates multiple capabilities means your teen can significantly elevate their response to help meet top level descriptors, such as

an EXTENSIVE knowledge to support an argument
a DEEP understanding of subject knowledge

and
- a SOPHISTICATED, sustained argument that answers the Q

... all with their existing subject knowledge,
and without any fancy writing or re-writing of the essay content.

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Resources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/152
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Ep. 151 -

I was initially surprised by this student's reaction to finding out exactly why he 'only' (in his words) got a C grade on a section of his Business assignment.

I expected him to be frustrated at the situation or annoyed at me for showing all the things he hadn't done (and how obvious it looked after).

But that's not what happened at all.

It's good to be reminded of just what a difference discovering the real reasons they're not getting results that match their ability and effort can make to students. It's the very first step in changing that and it's an exciting one!

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Episode 4: Essays That Actually Answer The Question
Episode 9: Just Do Your Best' - And Other Things They Don't Wanna Hear
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Ep. 150

I spend a LOT of time hammering students about making a plan before they start writing any kind of extended response, report analysis, essay, or discussion piece.

There are a lot of instincts we have to override in order to spend time and energy on a plan.

Especially for a timed task, a task we already feel confident in, or at the other end, a task we really don't want to do.

Those instincts tell us it'll take too much time, too much effort to write out a detailed plan. Time and effort that could be spent actually writing the thing. Or they tell us 'we know what we're doing, so we don't need to'.

But those instincts are misguided.

Listen in for the reality of the situation - and the benefits that far outweigh the time and effort cost.

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Ep. 149

What does baking have to do with your teen's study?

These words, are what:

“I’m calm. I’m in the zone. I know how to do this.”

How can we make those the words in your teen's mind when they're queuing up outside the exam hall, given a new analytical essay, or faced with a 2000 word open assignment task?

By installing these 3 key systems in their brain and study toolkit:

Exam Technique
Essays and Extended Responses
Strategic Study Systems

and building them in the order that makes most sense for each student personally given where they're at, what they're going to be working on next and their longer term goals.

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Ep 24: 'The Skill Web'
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Ep. 148

I often have parents and students feed back to me that the skills they pick up from my trainings and programs are also super-helpful in uni, but not having teaching experience at that level, I tend to avoid getting too much into any university study advice!

But... I also know that a lot of hardworking students go on to university study.

So, when Dr Hilary Coleman emailed me, a former school teacher turned senior uni lecturer who now helps students and their parents successfully navigate the transition to university, I figured that having her perspective could be really valuable to link these things together.

So, if your teen has recently started uni, or is planning on or considering uni after high school or college, and you’d love to make the transition as smooth as possible and set your teen up for their best possible academic success at uni, then this episode is for you.

PLUS! Hilary has kindly offered FREE access to her 'The Ultimate University Intro' course for podcast listeners:

Join here: https://www.udemy.com/course/the-ultimate-university-intro-prepare-for-uni/?couponCode=PARENTPOD

And use coupon code: PARENTPOD

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Free course for pod listeners: 'The Ultimate University Intro'(use coupon code: PARENTPOD for FREE access.)
Hilary's Unilateral website: www.unilateral.com.au and YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Unilateral-everythingyouneed
Resources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/148
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Ep. 147

Most students don’t lose marks because they lack knowledge.
They lose marks because they don’t show enough depth.

They’re told to “add more detail”…
So they write more. Repeat more. Ramble more.

And still miss the top marks.

This episode shares why that's happening and what to do about it, so your teen can figure out not just WHAT detail to add but HOW to add the RIGHT detail, in the right way.

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Resources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/147
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Ep. 146

If your teen thinks they need more motivation before they can get stuck into a task, listen in.

There are two things that will create and maintain momentum in your teen's study, WAY better than motivation ever can - whether they're doing exam prep, working on an assignment, or just completing regular homework.

Neither of them are 'motivation'.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The two things that are WAY more effective than motivation for generating progress.
How to know if your teen has them - or not.
How to get 'em if they don't!

Tip! If you find this helpful, you'll also love:

Episode 2: Why Your Teen Sometimes Procrastinates (even though they want to get it done)

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Ep. 145 -

Where uncertainty lurks and hides, gently sabotaging your teens confidence and results: How to find it and how to turn it into clarity and confidence.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The often hidden areas where uncertainty is holding back your teen's confidence and results.
Detailed examples to help you spot them.
Specific skills that eradicate uncertainty, stop the guesswork and create clarity and confidence.

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Episode 2: Why Your Teen Sometimes Procrastinates (even though they want to get it done)
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Ep. 144 -

This recent Science assignment task proves why students should always START out on any assignment task with the thing they usually check LAST, if they want to:

Avoid wasting time and effort on things that won't earn them any marks.
Make the whole assignment smoother and faster to complete.
Give themselves the best opportunity to hit the top criteria.

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Episode 77: Reverse-Engineering Success
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Ep. 143

The tips, insights and examples that may have flown under your radar this year, but I think you and your teen really, REALLY need to know.

Listen in to discover:

How to figure out what's actually important in creative and extended tasks - so your teen knows where to focus their time and effort.
The one question that'll tell you whether or not your teen would benefit from a tutor - so you don't waste your money or your teen's time.
The overlap between skills that creates a double-whammy positive impact to save time and increase results.
Why and how your teen needs to switch from 'writing about' to 'responding to' any exam question.
And much more!

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Episode 118: What's The Point? (No, really - what is it?)
Episode 140: How to Figure Out the Focus of an Assignment
Episode 18: The Truth Behind Creative tasks
Episode 12: Does Your Teen Need a Tutor?
Episode 24: The Skill Web
Episode 114: Don't 'Write About', 'Respond To'
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Ep. 142

I've just marked over 400 pages of student responses this year for the Y12 ATAR external exams.

Listen in for my top 5 takeaways from that experience that I want all students and their parents to know and learn from - so they do more of what gets marks, less of what doesn't and with a whole lot more confidence along the way.

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Ep. 141

Research can be a HUGE time sap for students.

Whether it's researching information for an investigation, sources for an inquiry, or finding data for a report, finding relevant and high quality information, and then sifting and sorting through it all can lead to:

hours spent down rabbit holes
long evenings spend swamped and overwhelmed by info
frustration trying to find studies that may not even exist.

Listen in to discover three steps that will help your teen find better quality information, faster, and have them actually understand what they find!

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Smarter, Faster Research Workshop: *Get better information, in half the time
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Ep. 140: How to Figure Out The Focus of an Assignment www.rocksolidstudy.com/140
Ep. 114: Don't 'Write About', 'Respond To' www.rocksolidstudy.com/114
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Ep. 140

The focus of an assignment or project is not always what it first appears to be.

Take this example:

Design a Photo Story about a particular topic related to food security.

It would make sense for a student to put a lot of time, effort and focus into the photos part of this assignment.

However, this is not the focus of the assignment.
It's not where the student should be putting their focus.
As proven by the fact that NOT ONE of the mark scheme criteria even mentioned 'photos' (or images, pictures or anything else like that).

And that mark scheme, rubric or success criteria is precisely how your teen can figure this out for themselves.

Listen in to discover:

What the marker training taught me about the task being set vs. the skills being tested.
What's actually important in creative and open tasks (hint: it's NOT coming up with an interesting or unique idea!)
Why your teen shouldn't 'hedge their bets' when they're unsure about something - with mark scheme proof!
The overlap between skills that creates a double-whammy impact (positive or negative).
And much more!

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Ep. 118: What's the Point? (No, really - what is it?) www.rocksolidstudy.com/118
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Ep. 139

The third thing that totally changed how I see study, exams and assessment:

My experience as a NAPLAN Writing Test marker (and non-English specialist teacher).

Listen in to discover:

What the marker training taught me about the task being set vs. the skills being tested.
What's actually important in creative and open tasks (hint: it's NOT coming up with an interesting or unique idea!)
Why your teen shouldn't 'hedge their bets' when they're unsure about something - with mark scheme proof!
The overlap between skills that creates a double-whammy impact (positive or negative).
And much more!

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Ep. 137: [Part 1] 3 Things That Totally Changed How I See Study and Exams: www.rocksolidstudy.com/137
Ep. 138: [Part 2] "Miss... This is GOLD" www.rocksolidstudy.com/138
Ep. 24: The Skill Web
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Ep. 138

Discover the unexpected reaction of one student when I shared the insights and training in exam technique, mark schemes and rubric criteria, with one particular class.

This was the moment I realised hardworking students really do want the stuff that is boring yet useful, dry yet impactful, tough to decipher yet critical to success in assessments.

They just don’t ask for it, because they don’t realise they’re missing it.

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Ep. 137: 3 Things That Totally Changed How I See Study and Exams: www.rocksolidstudy.com/137
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Ep. 137

These are the 3 moments that started and then led me deep into the world of exams, exam marking, assessment and the discovery that subject knowledge alone isn't the key to academic success.

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Ep. 136

Discover the critical thing your teen needs to know about any text they’re studying or analysing in English.

Whether it’s for an analytical essay on a novel or they’re preparing for an unseen text analysis, this episode is all about exactly what it is that they need to know about any text in order to make their response clear and high quality as well as smoother and easier to plan, construct and write.

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Ep. 135

One of the biggest hurdles, unintentional time wasters, and causes of lost marks is: lack of clarity on a task, essay question or assignment.

In this episode I share specific ways I check on students' clarity on various aspects of a task, from the genre-specific features they need to be using and showcasing, to what the specific purpose is behind their work.

Listen in to hear the real life examples and how you can take them and action them with your teen.

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Episode 118: What's the Point? (No, really. What is it?)
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Ep. 134

If your teen's losing marks in exams due to small slips or silly mistakes under time pressure, then listen in to a real student story where we needed to dig deeper to identify the exact issues stopping them from getting the marks they could in their maths exams - and how your teen can do this too, for any subject.

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Get the full Exam Mastery Workshop recording, workbook and bonus resources at https://www.gradetransformation.com/EMW
Episode 17: How to Stop Losing Marks in Maths Exams
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Ep. 133

There are three groups of skills that generate the two outcomes almost all students and their parents want.

Discover what they are, why they create a double-whammy outcome and how your teen can master them!

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Ep. 132

Discover the trap that many students fall into and what they need to do instead.

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Episode 114 - ‘Don't Write About - Respond To’.
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Ep. 131

Students really dislike the planning stage of essays and extended responses.

I get it.
It feels like an extra chunk of work, when they really just want to get going with the writing.

But that would be a mistake.

Here are 3 reasons why your teen should plan EVERY extended response - whether it’s a 10 mark exam question, 2000 word essay or research inquiry or report style assignment...
so they create:
- a higher quality response
- that is easier and faster to write!

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Ep. 130

→ Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. ___
It doesn’t matter how motivated you are, if don’t know what you’re doing or how you're going to do it, it's gonna be very difficult to make progress.

Overwhelm and distraction are feelings and emotions. But they are often caused by the situation at hand. And if that situation involves confusion or uncertainty about a task, then no amount of 'positive thoughts' will fix the root issue.
When we can solve for the confusion and uncertainty, and have the skills to know what to do and how to do it, then the doubt and hesitation is replaced with a clear path forward and we're usually then much more willing to start down it.

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Ep. 129

→ Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. ___
Unique is not necessarily better. In fact often, it can be worse. If it means that it’s more tricky to meet the criteria or find the information needed.

Unique is not considered as more clever by marking criteria.

And yes, I’m even talking in creative tasks.

Now, yes, something like an artwork or an artistic performance may do better if it has some originality or unique ideas.

BUT - and this is a big but - only if it meets all of the other criteria as well!

→ Get the full episode transcript and syllabus excerpt here: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/129

→ Get Brutal Study Truth #1 (More is NOT More) at: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/127

and Brutal Study Truth #2 (Markers Don't Care) at: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/128

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Visual Art grade descriptors: SCSA Visual Art grade descriptors
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Ep. 128

This sounds brutal, but actually it is a HUGE source of relief for many students.

If your teen has ever felt like they had to
- come up with some sort of unique perspective on a current social issue,
or
- make a special connection between themselves and a topic they’re investigating,
or
- have an interesting opinion or personal take-away on the Shakespeare text they’re studying,
and (if they’re anything like me) struggle, panic or just have no idea… then you’re going to love this episode!

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Syllabus Prescription example: NESA English Modules
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Ep. 127

→ Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. ___
→ Get the full episode transcript and 'Return on Effort' Graph here: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/127It's no good letting students carry on thinking or studying in certain ways if it means they
- end up working harder than they need to,
- missing out on marks they could be getting
or
- just find study, exams and assessment more stressful, uncertain or frustrating than it needs to be.

Even if it requires some harsh reality checks!

So let’s dive into Brutal Study Truth Number 1: More is NOT More.

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Ep. 126

→ Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. ___
→ Get the 'Evidence for the Exam Success Shortcut' resource and full episode transcript here: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/126
___

There are explicit teaching / direct instruction ways to teach subject content, and discovery / inquiry-based ways to teach subject content.

This also goes for the skills students need in order to effectively apply this subject knowledge, in the way the question demands and mark scheme requires.

However, I very rarely see any of this...
- how exams actually WORK - how they’re written and marked,
- HOW to actually analyse in an essay, in the right amount of detail,
- HOW to hit the top criteria, in the most succinct and effective way,
- HOW to actually dissect and then respond to the exact wording of any exam question,
- HOW to achieve more of the success descriptors,
... being explicitly or directly taught and trained.

And so students are left to 'discovery-learn' it all for themselves.
They’re guessing, trial and error-ing their way there, which, far from building confidence or resilience, for most, is denting and depleting it.

If we’re assessing students using these methods, then then getting direct teaching and explicit training in the skills, strategies and concepts is the number one shortcut to tackling them and performing in them confidently and successfully.

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Ep. 125

Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. ___

If your teen is constantly doing their best, and sometimes you’re concerned about them burning out
OR
if your teen is NOT putting in their best and you’re concerned about that - then this episode is for you.

I believe your teen is taking a 'risk'when they put their best effort (and a ton of time) into a task.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The 3 things they're risking
What happens when that risk pays off AND what happens when it doesn’t
and
How to reduce the level of effort-risk, so that they’re INVESTING their time and effort, rather than gambling with it.

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Ep. 9: 'Just Do Your Best' - And other things they don't want to hear
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Ep. 124

Click to get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. ___So many students THINK they're studying hard, when actually they're just staying busy and FEELING productive.

This is a recipe for disappointment when the results just don't seem to match their hopes or expectations,
and potentially - if that disappointment means they then believe they need to study even harder - burn out, disillusion, or defeat.

In this episode you will learn:

The oxymoron that will save your teen from wasted time and effort.
How to turn energy-sapping 'activity' into effective active learning.
The productivity illusion that creates a false sense of security.
When it might be better to take a break - and how this can actually contribute positively to your teen's life balance AND results.

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Article: The Myth of Passive Learning, by Blake Harvard
Ep. 52: Active Vs. Passive Revision
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Ep. 123

If you’ve been considering hiring a tutor for your teen, or they already have one, but things aren’t changing as much or as quickly as you’d hoped,
OR
you’ve decided not to get one, but want to know what else you could do to support your teen instead,
then listen in to this episode to make sure you consider the 3 things that will help you determine:

how effective a tutor will be for your teen,
how to select a tutor that’s going to produce the best outcomes for your teen personally
and
how to know when it’s best to save your money and skip the tutor altogether.

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Ep. 30: If it's Not Difficult, it's Not Doing Anything!
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Ep. 122.

feel confident and in control,
know exactly what’s expected,
and
achieve the results that match their effort.
Without the guesswork or just hoping that they figure it all out along the way!

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'Nail Your New Year Group' Webinar replay (available til 3rd Feb, 2025): www.gradetransformation.com/new
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Ep. 121
___
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades. ___

Yes, the subject content will be at a higher level.

Yes, they'll probably get a bit more homework.

But these aren't the things I see holding students back as they progress through the year groups.

Listen in to discover what REALLY up-levels with each new year group in high school - in particular three unseen, hidden challenges that I see catch out so many students.
(Don’t let it happen to you and your teen!)
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Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
Episode 6: If Your Teen's Grades Dropped For No Reason
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Ep. 120 -

Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

We're all familiar with the 80-20 rule.
E.g.
- We wear 20% of our clothes, 80% of the time.
- 20% of our actions create 80% of our results.

Here's my take
(based on 14 years of external exam marking, coursework moderation, referree marking - and teaching!)
on how the 80/20 rule applies to your teen and their results in exams and assessments.

Listen in to discover the ONE very practical thing you can do with your teen if they’ve just had or are about to have any exams or assessment results back.
This one exercise (which takes only 5 - 10 mins) will give you critical information to help them get more marks, more easily in every future exam or assessment.

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Ep. 119

Heads up!
Register NOW for the LIVE Crack The Exam Code 2024 webinar!
https://www.gradetransformation.com/code

Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about external exams, including:
- how they work,
- how they’re written and marked
and
- how your teen can turn them to their advantage.

These are all things I had very little idea about until I became an external exam marker!

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Episode 63: The Game
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Ep. 118 -

Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

If your teen has ever questioned ‘what’s even the point of this task?’, or exclaimed ‘why am I having to do this?’... I want to let you know: those are actually some very strategic and smart questions!

In fact, if they’re not already questioning that, then they should be.

Because the reason - the point of the assignment, essay, research project, design task, or whatever it is - is a significant clue to what the marker wants and how to tackle the task in a strategic and successful way.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

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Episode 64: Shortcuts to a Stunning Short Story
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Ep. 117 -

Listen in on a conversation I had on the Happy Families podcast with Justin Coulson and his wife, Kylie a while ago where we talked about:

• Study stress
• What causes all of the stress
• How stress isn't about having too much to do, it's about how to get it all done
• Motivation & wellbeing
• Life balance
• Tips to help teens get through their exams
• The obession with 'the number' at the end of year 12
• Time management vs scheduled outcomes
• Command words
• Unmotivated teens

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Happy Families Podcast on Spotify: Happy Families, ep. 334
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Ep. 116 -

Here's why I think exams should become your teen's GREATEST STRENGTH
(and what I'm doing to help make that a reality!):

1) Exams are the biggest source of stress and cause of anxiety in most teen's school life.
- If they can nail exams, their stress levels will be lower (and your household will be happier!) ;)

2) Exams usually count for the biggest % of an overall mark or grade.
- If they can nail exams, their results will go up. Significantly.

3) If they can 'do it' in exams, they can 'do it' in everything.
- Every other assessment, homework task, class project will be clearer, quicker and higher quality.

Listen in to discover the 3 reasons why focusing on making exams your teen's strength will not only:

improve their marks
and
reduce their stress during exams,
but will also
elevate their confidence and performance across EVERY aspect of their study.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Have Katie speak at your teen's school! Direct the school to the following web page: www.rocksolidstudy.com/schools
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
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Get your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Up-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 115
Listen in on a conversation I had on the Mama Mia podcast a while ago where we talked about:
how to tackle big tasks
the key to studying smarter
and the three hurdles facing procrastinators.

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Mama Mia Podcast: This Glorious Mess
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Ep. 114
A better way for your teen to approach and think about completing tasks or answering questions, so they achieve more of those high level criteria and do it in a focused, clear and succinct way.

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Ep. 113
Real life student case study:
There was something subtly holding one student back from certainty and success in her Maths assignment.
Listen to discover how we figured out what she’ll do differently next time (in not just Maths, but in ANY and EVERY assignment)
- AND -
how you can apply this with your teen in ANY of their tasks and assessments.

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Ep. 112
I love a good plan.
But, when you think about it, it's actually pretty likely that a practical plan of action won't totally go to plan, every step of the way.
Unexpected things will come up.
So, what happens if we EXPECT things to come up?
If we plan for those things, and know what we'll do if or when they do?
We stay on track and complete the plan. That's what :)

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Ep. 111
It's when we're under time pressure that we're most likely to fall back into old habits.

But not this student!

In this episode I share a real life skilled and strategic student case study where they INTENTIONALLY left out the introduction of their extended response in an exam, didn’t get time to go back and write it, and what that meant for their result.
Listen in to this episode, because it may NOT be what you think!

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Episode 103: How Year 7 Success Sabotages Senior Study
Episode 110: Universal Skills
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Ep. 110

We dive into how and why the skills, techniques and strategies that I talk about here every week, and train students in, are universal when it comes to your teen’s subjects, tasks and year groups.
This means they can use a strategy in different ways for multiple tasks, and therefore get multiple benefits, multiple opportunities to practise and hone it, and multiple benefits and rewards!

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Ep. 109
Talking to me about her son, a parent recently told me this:

"He’s smart in terms of subject knowledge, but I think he could improve in working smarter and being smart about his study."

I see this situation a lot and thought it might be interesting - and hopefully helpful - to talk a bit about the word 'smart'. Being smart, feeling smart.

Because - what does ‘smart’ really mean?
Does it mean clever in a knowledge type way - knowing lots of facts? Like, ‘wow’ they’re so smart. As in so knowledgeable about a subject or topic.
Or does it mean smart in terms of being very practical?
Or smart with people and dealing with situations?
Or able to problem solve or be strategic - being able to see the most efficient or effective way to do something?
Or maybe there’s a better word for all of this than 'smart'?

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Episode 63: The Game
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Ep. 108
Did ANYONE love group work at school?
Nope. Me neither.

I've still not mastered it and don't have any magic or secret solutions, but I'll attempt to share:

the reasons it can feel like a nightmare,
some ways to try to help your teen in their mindset,
suggestions on the practicalities so your teen doesn’t end up doing the work for everyone AND gets the grade they personally deserve no matter the contribution or work of others.

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Episode 78: When They 'Hate' or Struggle With a Subject
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Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 107
This episode is SO much for YOU, dear Very Important Parent!
And, well, it's actually all about you. Rather than being about your teen and their study.
It’s about the impact that having your teen sorted with their study can have on you as their parent or carer, your home and family and your relationship.

So what are these 'side' benefits? And how do they show up?

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Episode 29: Two Words I Never Say (Anymore)
Episode 106: Symbols of Study Success
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Ep. 106
When we talk about study success, we tend to instantly think about grades, results and report cards.
But we all know that it’s not really about the numbers and letters.

It's about what opportunities they lead to and the confidence they create.

Sometimes it's more about your teen living up to and realising their potential.

And sometimes, it’s purely about making study a smooth, enjoyable and positive experience.
Not to create any specific grades, but to take away the stress and give them back more time for life outside of study.

So, listen in for 5 ways that students see, experience and enjoy success when they have the skills, strategies and techniques to create it. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Have your teen create their ultimate study success in the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Up-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)
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Ep. 105 -
Assignments, assessments and projects - what are they really about and wanting from your teen?
Because I can tell you now, their DT design assignment is not really about the item they’re designing.
And that historical artefact project is not really about the historical artefacts.
And the elements that I see a lot of students getting caught up in and spending a lot of time and effort deliberating on, aren’t the critical or important elements.

So what ARE these extended or creative tasks actually about, and how can understanding this change the way you support your hardworking teen?
Listen in to find out!

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Episode 64: Shortcuts to a Stunning Short Story
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Ep. 104 -
Rant warning!

I see various educational posters stuck up on classroom walls and study skills handouts folded in the back of students’ exercise books.
But they're almost NEVER being explicitly and intentionally taught the concepts, or trained in the skills and strategies printed on them.

In my opinion, this can actually be more detrimental than not having them at all.
Because students now think that they DO know and understand them and can effectively use or action them, when actually they are simply 'familiar' with them (rather than skilled IN them).

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Episode 72: Why A-Grade Exemplars Aren't All That
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Ep. 103 -
What impresses your teen's teachers and gets gold stars and glowing comments in Y7 and 8 is NOT the same as what gets top grades and great results in Senior assessments.

What's considered 'awesome' changes from 'going over and above' to 'being clear and concise'.

This means that what your teen puts time and effort into, also needs to changeas your teen moves up through the year groups.

Tune in to discover:
- what this evolution of demand, work ethic and desired output looks like,
- the ways your teen can evolve their focus, effort and energy spent on different aspects of their study,
and
- ensure it's effective, efficient and rewarded at EVERY stage.

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BONUS EPISODE!
Available for a LIMITED TIME only:
Listen in to the Live Webinar delivered on 11th June 2024.

For the full recording with visuals and examples go to:
https://www.gradetransformation.com/webinarreplay

And for the special invitation for the 10 Week Grade Transformation + Bonuses
https://www.gradetransformation.com/yes

Both the offer and replay will be taken down at 9pm AEST, Mon 17th June.

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Ep. 102 -

If your teen has had the experience of:
- doing great one minute, or maybe one term,
- but then not so great the next,
- and it’s not because they just didn’t study, or put in any effort,
then join me as I explain what might well be going on to cause their inconsistent results AND what to do about it.

If you found this episode helpful, you might also like: Episode 6: If Your Teen's Grades Dropped For No Reason. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Webinar: Exam Success Secrets - What Exams Demand of Your Teen - But Schools Don't Teach. ~ Tuesday 11th June, 2024 at 7.30pm AEST > Register for free at https://www.gradetransformation.com/exams
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Ep. 101 -

Exams are not just testing subject knowledge.
So, if your teen has good subject knowledge, but isn’t quite nailing it in exams, then they likely need to work on their exam technique.

Here are FIVE reasons why exam technique - the ability to work out exactly what the question is asking and how to respond - should be on your teen’s ‘must master this’ list this term.

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Episode 3: What Exams Are REALLY Testing
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Ep. 100 -

Special episode!

How to help your teen become a Rock Solid Student, who’s happy, smart and successful in their study - BINGO game-show style!

Get your free bingo card resource HERE > www.rocksolidstudy.com/100

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Epsiode 1: The Study Success Formula
Episode 73: Not All Stress is Bad
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Is it possible to balance academic ambition, hard work and pressure with wellbeing and a healthy life balance?
I believe so.
In fact, I believe they are interconnected in a positive way, as opposed to one being at the expense of the other.

Understandably and importantly, there are more societal messages taking a 'softer' approach to results, academic pressure and work in general.

But, in trying to protect teens from stress and the potential negative consequences on their mental health, we might also be inadvertently risking them missing out on the resilience, confidence and pride that also come from pursuing their academic goals, experiencing periods of hard work, pressure and manageable stress.

If you found this episode helpful, you might also like:
Episode 34: Hardworking Vs. Overworking

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Ep. 98 -
Being 'busy' with ineffective study activity is not just a problem because it saps your teen's time and energy. It also creates a false sense of security about how much effort, time and study they've put in, and therefore what result they might expect from it.

Listen in for three ways your teen might be looking or feeling 'busy' with things that are contributing little to nothing to their outcomes and results.

If you found this episode helpful, you might also like:
Episode 69: Perfect Vs. Productive

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Ep. 97 -
It took four years of full time teaching - including a National Teaching Award, Head of Department role, Head of Faculty leadership and more - before I finally saw 'the gap' that exists in education and, in particular, exams and assessment.
There was one specific event that shone a spotlight on it.
And it wasn't in the classroom or even within the school.

Listen in to find out what it was and how 'the gap' might be showing up in your teen's study.

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Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
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Ep. 96
This is a story from a consult I had recently with a student who’d just completed the 10WGT and they happened to mention something super-cool that happened, that I don’t think they realised was as big a deal as it is.

Because the feedback they got from their teacher that turned from an initial criticism to a 'reluctant' compliment, I think is in fact the ULTIMATE compliment.
The ultimate proof of success and the ultimate in strategic study and performance in assessments.

Listen in to find out what it was and how your teen can do it too.

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Episode 56: 'Clear' is NOT Basic, 'Succinct' IS Sophisticated
Episode 95: How to Get the Most Useful Draft Feedback
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Ep. 95 -
Feedback on a draft is an excellent opportunity to up-level and learn about how to achieve higher level criteria.
But I've seen LOTS of instances where students feel annoyed, confused or deflated by the feedback they receive (or sometimes lack of it).
Has your teen ever been frustrated by the feedback they've received on a draft assignment or coursework?
There are some things that may be out of their control (or that need addressing further with the teacher or school), but there are also a lot of things that they can do to ensure they get the most useful, valuable and actionable feedback possible.

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Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
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Ep. 94 -

I've said it a thousand times: Exams are not just testing your teen's subject knowledge.
This recent senior formal Maths exam I was supervising proves it!

There are six elements of exam technique and one of them was explicitly highlighted during the preliminary verbal set up for students given by the school's Head of Department for Mathematics.

Listen in to hear exactly what he told the students and what this means for your teen in their everyday study and in their exams.

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Episode 5: More Free Time - WithOUT Sacrificing Grades
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Ep. 93 -
Exams, assignments, essays... every piece of internal assessment and coursework goes through rigorous and specific stages in being written, developed and finalised, whether it's through the school or an exam board.

Why does this matter to you and your teen?
Because knowing how and where the task is coming from is SUPER-useful when it comes to your teen completing it smoothly, confidently and successfully.

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Episode 60: How to Choose a GREAT Topic in an Open Task
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Ep. 92 -
How to find and then solve for the issue, missing piece or weakness that - when fixed - will create the BIGGEST improvement for your teen and their study, results and confidence.

Listen in to discover:

The most common weak link for many students
Why it's letting down the rest of their study

AND * How to fix it!

PLUS! If you find this episode helpful, you might also like:
Episode 1: The Study Success Formula

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Ep. 91 -
'More confidence' is by far the most common thing parents tell me they want for their teen in their study.

So, why are so many students lacking confidence when it comes to essays, exams and assignments?

Listen in to discover:

The 3 parts of the confidence spiral and how they can build up or knock down your teen's study confidence
5 things to look for that'll tell you if they're lacking confidence

AND * How to increase confidence and turn 'uncertainty' into clarity.

PLUS! If you find this episode helpful, you might also like:
Episode 45: Building Confidence

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Ep. 90 -
'If we don't try, we can't fail' is what our survival brain tells us.
In other words, not trying feels ‘safer’ emotionally and mentally, than trying and 'failing'.

However, in reality, that's not the case.
Not trying is guaranteeing we won't achieve the outcome.
We tell ourselves that because we didn't try, we haven't failed.
We haven't wasted any time or effort in trying.

But is it really 'wasted'? Zero use?
And actually, not trying, could simply be considered choosing to fail.
Which when you really think about it, is perhaps the most disappointing thing of all.

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Episode 35:Questions That Create Success
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Ep. 89 -
Why is it hard for your teen to change the way they study - even if that way is far from ideal?

Like always going over the word limit and then having almost as much time again culling.

Like leaving things to the last minute and being in a stress and panic and up late at night trying to finish.

Like copying out heaps of study notes, or doing tons and tons of research, knowing that it’s taking a load of time and probably isn’t the most effective way to do things - but still doing it anyway.

If your teen is doing any of these things, or something else that you can see isn’t the best way to do things, but just can’t seem to change, there will be a reason why.
And figuring out that reason is the first step.

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Rock Solid Study Student Case Studies: Success Stories
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Ep. 88 -

Eddie Woo has been dubbed 'the Maths Teacher every student wishes they had in High School' and his 'WooTube' channel, jam-packed with real high school Maths lessons, has over a million subscribers.

So, if Maths is your teen’s favourite subject - and especially if it ISN’T - this episode is for you.

YOU WILL LEARN:

Why it's never too late for your teen to get into Maths.
The way Maths is actually like story-telling and a great movie.
How you can help your teen with their Maths homework, even if you can't answer any of the questions yourself.
The mistake Eddie sees committed students making in their Maths exam prep.
And more!

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Find Eddie Woo at https://misterwootube.com/
Eddie's YouTube Channel: Maths lessons + more!
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 87 -
This episode comes from an 'Ask Me Anything' Live Q&A, where we covered:

Since when did English turn into Politics?

Is this really studying or just 'pleasing the teachers'?

How do you make revision notes brief without losing important information?

Live break down of a real English essay question.

And more!

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Full list of what's taught and included in the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program: Program Content
Episode 83: The Lie of There's No Right or Wrong Answer
Episode 63: The Game
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
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Have your teen trained by me: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 86 -
Hurdles and stuck points can be turned into positive progress.
Here's how:

Identify the hurdles and then the solutions to overcome them become the 'How-To'.
The stuck points actually become the steps to completing a task or any project, rather than an added burden or frustration.
They ARE part of the process.

This episode includes an exclusive free resource!
Download and use the '6 Steps To Getting Un-Stuck' at
https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/86
to turn the frustrations or difficulties that arise when your teen gets stuck on something in their study, into steps towards progress and accomplishment.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

6 Steps to Getting Un-Stuck : Get your FREE copy HERE.
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
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Have your teen trained by me: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 85 -

Taking notes in an efficient and effective way is key to good research, learning and revision.

Here are 4 things you DON'T want your teen doing when they're taking or making notes.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 30: If It's Not Difficult, It's Not Doing Anything
Episode 52: Active Revision
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 84 -
When we want to create an outcome or result that someone else has already achieved, it can be a great idea to copy, model or emulate what they did to get there.

However, not everything that happens on the way to achieving a goal is actually contributing positively to the desired outcome.
Is a result or outcome achieved because of or despite certain circumstances or actions along the way?
And what actions or habits are currently helping or hindering your teen's progress?

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 78: If Your Teen Hates or Struggles With a Subject
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Have your teen trained by me: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 83 -
"There's no right or wrong answers!" declared by the teacher as if it's a good thing.
As if that's helpful.
Argh - I hated hearing that as a student and, to be honest, still hearing that today as a teacher and examiner who does know how to deal with those types of questions, it’s still not helpful. It doesn’t give any direction or guidance.

And actually - there clearly IS a right answer. Otherwise everyone would be getting 20 out of 20 for those big essay questions, and that definitely isn’t happening.

Listen in to discover:
- how your teen can figure out what at least one of the right answers is,
- the official proof of why this is the case
and
- how they can compose a clear and focused response.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 18: The Truth Behind Creative Tasks
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Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 82 -

Here are my three bold predictions of what assessment and exam questions will and won't look like for your teen this year, and what I hope are some helpful insights to have them approach them with more confidence and less confusion.

You will learn:

What no question will ever ask - even though lots of students try to answer it!
What proportion of mark schemes are directly related to subject content - and what else is on them that your teen needs to focus on just as much.
The Chief Examiner feedback that repeats EVERY year - and how your teen can use it to learn from others' mistakes.
And much more!

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Ability Vs Capacity: Parents of Hardworking Teens Podcast - Ep. 81
Hardworking Vs Overworking: Parents of Hardworking Teens Podcast - Ep. 34
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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We use the word 'potential' a lot when it comes to students and their performance.
But how do we bridge that gap between your teen's current ability and their potential?

Here's how I see it:
Ability is what your teen IS achieving right now.

Capacity is what they could be achieving right now,
with their existing subject knowledge,
IF they had the tweaks, insights and skills to MAXIMISE that knowledge.

Capacity is what they could be producing,
not with a ton of extra work, knowledge and intelligence,
but if we just removed 'the kinks of the hose', or 'took off the handbrake' that's holding them back as they push hard on their accelerator.

It's what they have now, already inside of them, just OPTIMISED at full capacity.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.
"Getting better results, and taking less time": Tara and Kevin's case study video
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
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Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

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Ep. 80
What could your teen consider doing less of next year in their study to create success, rather than always thinking about doing more?
This is definitely something I need to consider too - as I’m naturally a 'more is more' person, so if your teen also has the tendency to think they need to do more and more in their study in order to get more marks, but is already working really hard, then maybe it's time to consider how to be more strategic, by doing less of certain things.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 34: Hardworking Vs. Overworking
Episode 71: What Are You Doing Differently?
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

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Ep. 79
Who wants to waste time or effort treating the symptoms of a a problem when we could eradicate the cause? Understanding the issues (symptoms) and figuring out the root problems (causes) of your teen's study struggles - and then solving those root causes - is how we create lasting change and BIG improvements.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by Katie in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: (for 10WGT grads only) Work with Katie personally to apply the skills and strategies from the 10WGT accurately and effectively, and then amplify them to take things to the Next Level.

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Ep. 78 -
Here's how my response has changed over the years when a student says“I’m just no good at this.” (Whatever ‘THIS’ is.)
Or “I hate _____” - a subject, a type of task, like an essay or a speech, or maybe a text they’re reading.

The thing is, it's not realistic to think that they're going to love or be good at everything.
So, I no longer try to convince them that it's actually great or useful.
And instead, I tend to acknowledge and hear their feelings,
and show them how to 'embrace the suck'! FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by Katie in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

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Ep. 77 -

I’ve reverse-engineered almost everything I share and teach so that instead of ‘guessing forwards’...

I’ve taken what I KNOW is required,
worked back to figure out what students need to do
and then
figured out steps and systems so they can do it for themselves.

In this episode, I’m sharing what I do to reverse-engineer tasks and skills, how I do it and why, so that you know where my info is coming from, and maybe have your teen reverse-engineering their next assessment.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

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Ep. 76 -

Who of us doesn’t want to spend more time on things we enjoy, find fulfilling or that contribute positively to things we want for our lives?

It's not a problem spending time on something that may not bring us a 'productive' outcome if we're using that time for pure enjoyment.
But, if we're using it doing something we don't want to be doing, thinking that it will create an outcome we want - which is not actually the case - then we'll likely want to change that.

Gaining knowledge and awareness of these things, and then intentionally choosing how we use and spend our time, means we're more likely to create outcomes that align with our own personal goals AND have us experience more enjoyment in our lives.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 69: Perfect Vs. Productive
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 75 -
Uncertainty in the exam hall sounds like your teen's brain either screaming out or just quietly muttering things like:

What does the question really mean?
What is it actually asking?
What do they want in the response?
How much detail should I go into?
What will get marks and what WON’T get marks?

So, let’s talk about how to turn that uncertainty into confidence - and results.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 73: Not All Stress is Bad
Episode 74: Fear of the Unknown
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 74 -
One common cause of exam stress is the 'fear of the unknown'.

Not knowing what topics will come up.
Not knowing what questions will be asked.
Having to prepare for something unseen.

Although a moderate level of stress is healthy - and even beneficial... see the previous episode! - if you're looking to reduce your teen's stress level, addressing the root causes of this 'fear of the unknown' might be a way to do just that.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 52: Active Revision
Episode 73: Not All Stress is Bad
Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook
Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram
Have your teen trained by me in the 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 73 -

Stress often comes from uncertainty, a lack of control or feeling like we can’t get done what needs to be done.

These issues are all in play when it comes to exams.

However, it's important to remember:
Stress is normal and has its benefits.

Stress hormones are released to help us cope.
In the 'right' amounts, these actually increase our focus, our energy, our alertness.

The exact things we need in the exam hall.

This episode is about helping your teen operate within the healthy and yes, actually beneficial, amounts of exam stress.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Follow Rock Solid Study and find the Open Q&A recording on Facebook
Harvard Business Review: Are You Too Stressed to Be Productive? Or Not Stressed Enough?
(including the Yerkes-Dodson Law of performance graph)
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 72 -
Students often think that if they 'could just see an A-grade exemplar' they'd be able to emulate and produce at that level themselves.
I agree that the land of top marks can sometimes feel kinda mysterious (which is what I strive to uncover and simplify for students!) and so seeing a real life example can help.
But seeing a model answer or example only gives half the story (or even less).
In this episode, we dive into how exemplars can help and how they don’t help when your teen’s trying to achieve similar results for themselves.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 35: Questions That Create Success
Follow us on Facebook
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The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 71 -
"If nothing changes, nothing changes."
If your teen would like something about their study to change - maybe it's their results, maybe its how long assignments are taking, maybe it's something else - then this might be a good time to ask “What Are You Doing Differently?”.

Listen in for an example of how one student made changes that had them go from results in the 40s to the 80s for one of her subjects.
Plus, ideas for what your teen could change in their study this term.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Case study video with Maxine and Natalie: Her teacher asked 'What are you doing differently?
Rock Solid Study Facebook page
Rock Solid Study Instagram page
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 70 -
Special episode!
Audio reading of the Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

Get the PDF copy for FREE at:
www.gradetransformation.com

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
Episode 63: 'The Game' - Playing The Game of Academics
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get your PDF copy of the Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 69 -
I often see students aiming for perfection when perfection is not needed, and moreover, is actually hindering them and their performance.

On the other hand, I also see students (sometimes the exact same student!) not paying enough attention to getting as close to perfect as possible, when actually that’s what they do need to be doing.

This is the battle between perfection vs productivity.
Listen in to find out which one is required - and when - for best possible results and optimal return on effort.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Monthly FB Live Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 68 -
It's almost inevitable that at some point your teen will get a result that is, to them, disappointing.
Maybe they put in lots of time and effort...
Maybe they thought they'd given correct, or good, answers...
But the result isn't what they expected or hoped for.

After hundreds of conversations over the years, helping students come to terms with and create positive outcomes from a disappointing result, I've found two critical aspects in conversations that may help your teen connect with and then constructively move forward and upwards from a result they felt disappointed with.

Listen to find out what they are and how I use them.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 13: Assessment Post-Mortems
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 67 -

I sometimes see students 'hedging their bets' in exams and assessments because they aren't:

- certain what the question is really asking;
- sure how the marks are going to be allocated or what’s really required for the top criteria;
- confident in the subject content.

So they give more than is asked for in their answer, in the hope that at least some of it will get them some marks.

However, this is rarely a good strategy and in this episode, I explain why.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 66: Minimise Decisions in the Exam Hall
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 66 -
In this episode I share an example of exam prep decisions that I recommend students make AHEAD of the exam, rather than in the exam hall.
Plus, I'll explain how this ties into being efficient as well as effective during exam prep, practice and revision.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 60: How to Choose a GREAT Topic in Open Tasks
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 65 -
Has your teen ever received the feedback or red-pen comment of
'add more detail' ?

I'm sharing:

what ‘add more detail’ really means
(and what it DOESN'T mean!)
what teachers are actually after when they say it.

Plus, I give you:

the two-letter word that will help your teen quickly and easily 'add more detail' in their writing

whether it’s an essay, assignment, research inquiry task, speech or even in something more creative like a story or design.
two ways to use that two-letter word and provide examples of how this sounds when it's put into action

so your teen 'triggers' more marks on the scheme and moves up the levels of response.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The full Facebook Live video with Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 64 -
If you were like me as a student and thought that writing a short story, was all about the storyline, then listen in.
This week, I explain why the story itself is actually one of the least important factors when it comes to the marking of the task.
Plus, I’ll share with you 4 shortcuts you can use to help your teen write a stunning short story, creative writing piece or narrative.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.
The Naplan Writing Test: Narrative Marking Guide https://www.nap.edu.au/_resources/2010_Marking_Guide.pdf
QCS Y12 WritingTest Mark Schemehttps://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/qcs_retro_18_3.pdf

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Ep. 63 -
Your teen is playing a game right now in their study and exams, whether they signed up for it or not.
The game is all about responding to demands.
- How well can they do it, with the knowledge they have.

I want your teen to enjoy playing the game and ideally, WIN at the game - if they want to.
Therefore the game I'm playing is to give you, your teen and their teachers the 'how to play' sheet, by delivering the insider info, skills and tactics to help them win AND make it fun.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 62
Help your teen identify and prioritise the best thing for them to work on, at a particular time, and then to do it in the optimal way.
This week, I'll help you in supporting your teen to become more strategic in their study, so they get more bang for their buck, with higher results and less hours slaving over their assignments, homework and revision.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
Episode 41: Hope is NOT a Strategy
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 61
So, your teen’s picked a topic for their latest research assignment, investigation or inquiry task, now they have to come up with a Research Question.
Today we’re going to talk about what makes a great Research Question.
How should they word it?
And how should they craft it so that their response ticks as many of the top criteria as possible?

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
Episode 41: Hope is NOT a Strategy
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 60
When your teen has some free choice on what to study for their next investigation project, inquiry task or presentation, it's not just about picking a topic that they love or that sounds interesting.

There are three key considerations that will help them select a topic that means they can meet the requirements of the task and the demands of the marking criteria at the grade they're aiming to achieve.

Enter... the Triple A Topic Chooser system!
FREE RESOURCE LINK BELOW!
A way to reverse engineer their choice so they can complete the task with maximum success (and hopefully, enjoyment along the way).

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Get the 'Triple A Topic Chooser' Resource: Free Download (+ Coaching Call Excerpts!)
Video clip: Two excerpts of me coaching students on choosing the best topic for their assignment
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 59

Just setting a goal doesn't give the HOW to achieve it.

And just saying 'I'll study harder' isn't strategic enough to ensure your teen hits the goal, or does it in the most efficient or effective way.

The 3 steps of setting a 'HOW Goal' mean your teen not only knows exactly what outcome they're setting out to achieve, but they also:

have the exact 'how-to' path to get there in the most direct way,
chunk it down into manageable pieces
and
know how to deal with any set-backs that may (or will!) arise.

The key is to focus on making the HOW the goal.
Doing 'the things' IS the goal, so that the outcome takes care of itself.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 2: Why Your Teen Procrastinates (even though they want to get it done)
Episode 53:Motivation Mindset Hack
Episode 54: Staying Focused When Studying
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 58.
Have you ever heard a celebrity, or even your teen's school, proclaim that their 'results don't matter'?
Maybe you've said it to your teen.
Maybe they've said it to you.

I'd love for this statement, which honestly feels pretty extreme, to stop being banded around every year.
And I'd love for students, parents and anyone else who wants to care about results, to feel like they have the permission to care about them and go after them.
I get that we don't want students pinning everything on their grades or exam results,
but do we need to go straight to the other end of the spectrum, just to balance it out?

Because in the big scheme of life, I totally agree - their results DON'T matter.
But sometimes for some students, in some ways... (which when joined together make a LOT ofways)... they DO.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 57 -
Here's a way that your teen can INCREASE their marks by writing LESS:

By shortening the quotes that they reference in essays and assignments, in order to show that they can be discerning in their selection of evidence.

Listen in to discover how this shows up in marking criteria and how you can help your teen do this in their own assessments.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 56: 'Clear' is NOT Basic, 'Succinct' IS Sophisticated
HSC Advanced English exam paper - Examination Feedback: 2022: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/resource-finder/hsc-exam-papers/2022/english-advanced-2022-hsc-exam-pack
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 56 -
How can your teen write with sophistication, but without being verbose?

How do they give detail, whilst also being succinct?

Is it better for your teen's writing to be clear but more basic, or all professional and fancy-sounding?

And how can they get the perfect combination of detailed AND concise, withOUT the waffle?

In this episode, I'm dishing the details on why
-'Clear' is NOT the same as 'Basic'
and
'- Succinct' does NOT mean 'Simple'
when it comes to your teen's writing!

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

HSC Advanced English exam paper - Examination Feedback: 2022: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/resource-finder/hsc-exam-papers/2022/english-advanced-2022-hsc-exam-pack
Behind the scenes and bonus tips: Rock Solid Study Facebook page
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 55
I love task 'reflections', also called ‘critical reflections’.
I know that to many students, a critical reflection can just feel like an added piece of work bolted onto the main assessment and therefore they might be tempted to just dash it off.
But these small but mighty critical reflections are a golden opportunity to boost marks not just in the reflection itself, but also in the major assignment piece that your teen is having to reflect on.
Listen in to hear how.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 54
It's harder than ever to stay focused and on task.

With notifications flashing up on screen, phones pulling us away from the task at hand and a thousand other things at our fingertips that are more exciting than the thing we're supposed to be doing.

If you have a teen who wants to reduce their susceptibility to distractions and stay more focused on each of their study tasks, then this is the episode for you.

Listen in to find out my advice on helping your teen resist the lure of the phone or the temptation to open a new tab on the laptop when they should be studying >>> so they get tasks done faster, to a higher standard and have more time and freedom for other things (that they can fully enjoy, rather than half-enjoy because they're multi-tasking).

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 5: More Free Time (WithOUT Sacrificing Grades)
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 53
This motivation mindset hack is a small but mighty reverse psychology trick that can be super-helpful when your teen has a task that they just don’t want to do.
It'll help them turn it into something they DO want to do, so they finally get it done - minus the moaning!

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Episode 2: Why Your Teen Procrastinates (even though they want to get it done).
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 52
If your teen has ever:
- gone blank or 'frozen' in an exam,
or
-wished they could better memorise information,

OR
if you've seen them revising BUT...
- doing it in ways that are taking for.ev.er
(like writing out pages upon pages of notes, or stacks and stacks of revision cards)
or
- in a way that just isn’t really very effective
(like just watching tutorial videos or 'reading over' their notes)
---then they're likely using 'passive' revision techniques in their exam prep.

This is not good.
Because this type of revision is usually time-consuming and ineffective.

Help your teen use more active revision techniques so they have the information they're working so hard to memorise go in, stay in and flow easily from brain to paper in the exam hall.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Parent webinar: Exam Technique - How your teen can excel in their exam prep and performance.
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 51

There's ONE question that no exam has EVER asked (and never will).

WHY are we talking about a question your teen will never be asked?
Because so many students still try to answer it.
Argh!

Listen in to make sure your teen doesn't fall into this trap!

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

LIVE Parent webinar - Tue 30th May: The Exam Success Framework: What's required for ULTIMATE EXAM PERFORMANCE (and what isn't!).
Episode 50: The 6 Elements of Exam Technique
HSC 2022 Biology: Exam Paper and Marking Guide
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 50
Exam technique is what turns your teen's knowledge into marks.

From marking tens of thousands of exam papers, I've distilled the overall skill of exam technique into 6 elements:
Q - Quality of written communication
U - Using resources provided explicitly
E - Examples and case studies
S - Structure
T - Time
C - Command words

In this episode you'll discover why they’re important and how each of them can increase your teen’s results with their existing level of subject knowledge.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Exam Technique: Tips and Tricks from a York University lecturer(you'll see a LOT of overlap here with what I teach and preach!)
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 49
We know that 'teaching to the test' is not a good thing.
It's sometimes likened to 'giving a man a fish'.
A quick fix, with little to no long term benefit.

In this episode we explore more about why this is and what to do instead to increase the likelihood of success in exams, tests and assessments.

In this episode you will learn:
- what exactly 'teaching to the test' looks like.
- why it doesn't produce any long term benefits (beyond getting a mark on a report card).
- how it's different to 'TRAINING FOR the test' and why 'training for' is a more successful way to play the game of academic assessment (and win!).

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 3: What Exams are REALLY Testing
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 48
Is your teen cycling on the long, hard path to reach their study goals? (Because they don't know any other way.)

What if they were handed the keys to a car that means they can get to places they never realised they could reach?

Those are Phases one and two.

The next is to learn to drive the car. That's Phase 3.

And then they have an option to become a master of 'driving'.
To take to the racetrack.
To make everything fast yet accurate.
To achieve controlled precision.
To be confident and in control, no matter what course or race they're faced with.

The fourth phase of mastery - and the reality of this in their study - is having practiced, proven systems for success, so they tackle any task they're set confidently, efficiently, accurately and do it all 'automatically' throughout their classwork, homework, assignments and exams.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open 1-5th May, 2023 (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Get my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 47
What's required for the top criteria in extended response exam questions, essays and assignments?

In this Quick Tips episode taken from my recent Facebook Live Q&A + Bonus Tips session, you will learn:

The difference between what's deemed 'Effective' and what's considered 'Skillful' according to marking criteria for assignments,

PLUS - the nitty-gritty of what 'Skillful' actually requires in your teen's writing.

How to create a 'sustained' and 'strong' extended response or essay.
What QWC is and how to achieve a high mark for it.

>>> See the full replay, including my 30 mins of in-depth answers to the excellent Q's that were asked by a range of parents and students.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Waitlist (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Monthly Facebook Live Open Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
Jump on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 46 Whether your teen's aiming for top marks in English, or hates reading and just wants to 'get through English', this episode if for you.

Gemma Toms is our English-Focus Coach, Shakespeare ninja, literature lover and examination extraordinaire.
As well as being an in-demand high school teacher in the UK, she's also an external examiner, lead marker, senior examiner, moderator AND she even works as a professional editor, too (just for fun)!

Here's WHAT YOU'LL LEARN from my conversation with Gemma:

What your teen should do BEFORE they start reading any substantial text they're set (and the two things they should know before they dive in).
Better ways to develop a deep understanding of a novel or play (rather than re-reading it).
How to encourage a reluctant reader.
How to choose the BEST evidence when planning or writing an analytical essay.
What to do (and NOT do) in top responses when aiming to achieve top criteria.
Tips for proofreading and critiquing your teen's writing if they ask you to read over it.
Small edits that will make a BIG difference to final marks in creative or original writing.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Waitlist (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Monthly Facebook Live Open Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
Jump on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 45
Confidence is a feeling created by thoughts like 'I can do this' or 'I'm good at this sort of thing' or 'I'll be able to figure it out'.

Confidence varies over time and also between different situations.

It can be dented or it can be built and when it comes to your teen's study, some of the best ways I've found to build their confidence is by giving them:
- the knowledge and skills to create success (evidence that they CAN indeed do it!) AND
- do it in a way where they have control and know HOW they created that success.
So they can do it AGAIN.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Monthly Facebook Live Open Q&A: Rock Solid Study Facebook Page
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Waitlist (Enrolment open to 10WGT graduates only)
Get on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 44
There's a lot of talk and media spotlight on artificial intelligence at the moment.

I’m pragmatic about things. I don’t think that the education system and exams and assessment are changing any time soon. Not within my lifetime and therefore not within your teen’s education.
I’m working with the system we’ve got to make education as successful, positive and enjoyable as possible for students.
I want to equip parents and students with the skills to be able to create their best possible success in a way that is sustainable for them.

And with that said, these are my current observations and thoughts on how I see A.I. impacting education at the moment.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: (For 10WGT graduate students only)
Get on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 43
What are some of the best skills and tips to set your teen up for success as they start high school?
I'm not talking about the basics like organising their pencil case or laying out their uniform the night before.

Listen in for my top three study habits I recommend setting up in the early years of high school, the overall purpose of instilling them AND what to do if your teen’s further along but doesn’t have these in place yet.

YOU WILL LEARN:

Why awareness is the most important 'competence' and how to build it.
Exactly why I recommend the 10WGT for Y9 - 12 / Y10 - 13 and the certain situations where it might be appropriate to start earlier.
How to make sure your teen isn't studying longer or harder than they need to, without dampening their spirit or work ethic.
What's important to know and do in order to get maximum return on their effort.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 5: More Free Time WithOUT Sacrificing Grades
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: (For 10WGT graduate students only)
Get on my email list and receive my Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 42
Does your teen wish they had more time?
More time to prep for their exams.
More time to hang with friends.
More time for whatever they want in life.

Do you wish they had more time so they have a better life balance?
Or, so they could do the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program to become more efficient and effective in their study so they spend LESS time studying and get MORE marks along the way? ;)
(Or maybe just put away their laundry?!)

In this episode
YOU WILL DISCOVER:

5 ways your teen can create more time in their week.
How faster can also mean higher quality and more marks.
Why 'having too much to do' is NOT the cause of stress - and what IS.
The skills and actions that will have your teen feeling calm and in control of their study.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 2: Why Your Teen Procrastinates (even though they WANT to get it done).
Episode 5: More Free Time, WITHOUT Sacrificing Grades
Episode 24: The Skill Web
10WGT: The 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to graduates of the 10WGT only.
Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 41
Today we’re talking strategies.
I’m going to tell you some of my top study strategies that I train students in AND the strategy that I see many students using (and that they and their parents are in fact sometimes relying on), that isn’t a strategy at all.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 29: The Two Words I NEVER Say (Anymore)
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching (for 10WGT graduate students only): Join the waitlist
Get on my email Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 40
Exams and tests where students have a prompt to respond to, either a text statement or an image, and have to produce an extended piece of original writing
(like the NAPLAN Writing Test, the GAT Writing Task and Module C of HSC Advanced English)
often have students agonising over things that, in terms of the mark scheme, don't matter.
Writing tests are simply vehicles for your teen to show their writing skill and level.
The actual topic or story-line they choose is not important overall.

Join me behind the scenes of these types of exams and tests to discover:- what is most important in them,
- the specific TEN criteria your teen will be marked on, one way of another,
and
- why your teen should select an idea that allows them to showcase all ten elements to the highest level. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 18: The Truth Behind Creative Tasks
NAPLAN Narrative Writing Marking Guide
NAPLAN Persuasive Writing Marking Guide
(Both from: https://www.nap.edu.au/resources)
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching (for 10WGT graduate students only): Join the waitlist
Get on my email Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 39
Get the most out of parents' evenings.
Here are three questions you can ask your teen’s teachers that’ll help you get tangible take-aways and feel like you actually know what’s going on, without feeling like you’re grilling the teacher.
(Or maybe you’d love to grill the teacher, in which case these will also work. Just ask them with your best 'stern face') ;) FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Get your FREE Resource! >>> Get the Most Out of Parent's Evenings:
Useful questions to ask (+ Bonus Tips!) that'll give you tangible take-aways (and leave you feeling like you actually know what's going on).
Episode 19: Q&A ~ Doing 'Extra Study' + Making Your Teen a Better Writer
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching (for 10WGT graduate students only): Join the waitlist
Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 38
If the skills of 'application' - dissecting questions, responding to specific commands, note-taking, active revision and more - are so critical to students' success, why aren’t they being taught in schools?

AND - a less common question, but one I got recently - why aren’t there more teachers or tutors or tutoring companies out there delivering this stuff?

Listen in to discover my answers and find out more about how I came to be delivering this training and coaching.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching (for 10WGT graduate students only): Join the waitlist
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 37
Is it really as easy as just getting the skills of application on board in order to achieve study success?
Do we really want your teen's study to be easy?
(Answer: Yes AND no) ;)
Listen in to hear what I believe SHOULD be easy (and how to make it so!), so that your teen can focus on challenging themselves in the right ways with the right things, so they work at and achieve their true potential, without it being harder than it needs to be.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
Episode 7: Reducing Exam Stress
Episode 13: Assessment Post-Mortems
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: for 10WGT graduate students only
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 36.
Whether your teen is feeling unmotivated across the board in their study, or maybe they’re just having a bit of a temporary slump, or perhaps they struggle to get motivated for certain subjects, then there will likely be ideas in here that will be helpful.
It can be helpful to take the focus from them being unmotivated as a personal character trait when it comes to study, to thinking about why they are feeling unmotivated.
Therefore, this isn't so much about how to GET them motivated in the moment, but rather taking a long term view on getting to the root of WHY they're not motivated, and then finding ways to solve that.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

Episode 2: Why Your Teen Sometimes Procrastinates (even though they want to get it done)
Episode 13: Assessment Post-Mortems
Episode 35: Questions That Create Success
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: for 10WGT graduate students only
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 35
Why did they get that result?
Like really, really why?
What specifically, on their page, had the marker tick that criteria?
These and more questions that your teen can ask about their study, will create more success in future, when they answer them in detail.
We’ll talk about why most students don’t do this and the misguided reason behind it, and discuss the benefits that are waiting for your teen when they do.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching (for 10WGT graduate students only): Join the waitlist
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 34
The difference between hardworking and overworking and how to ensure your teen can work hard without doing more than is required, so they achieve great things and still have a great life balance.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

Episode 30: If it's Not Difficult, it's Not Doing Anything
Free Parent Webinar: Your Teen's New Year Group - How to Have Them Nail it!
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 33
As a student I always thought two things changed when you moved up a year level: the difficulty of the subject content, and the type of task you had to write. E.g. essay instead of a project, exam instead of a test.

But as a teacher, exam marker and assessment moderator, I know now that these aren’t the only things that up-level.
And it’s the hidden, more subtle changes that catch students out.

Listen in to discover how these hidden new demands show up and the essential skills that'll help your teen meet them so they succeed this year and every year beyond.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

Episode 1: The Study Success Formula
Episode 6: If Your Teen's Grades Dropped For No Reason
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 32
Here are seven things I see a lot of struggling students doing, that are keeping them stressed, keeping them working longer and harder than is necessary and stopping them from achieving the results they’re truly capable of.

If your teen is struggling to get the results they want, or getting top results but doing it the hard way, then take a listen and see if it's because they're doing any of these... FEATURED ON THE SHOW

Episode 30: If it's Not Difficult, it's Not Doing Anything
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

View Details

Ep. 31
An easy and effective way for you to help your teen create practical strategies to achieve their goals this year.

Just ask these three simple questions to help them highlight good things they're already doing and identify potential improvements - all in a super-tangible way.

Extension task ;)
- Make sure they know 'WHY' for each answer, so they have logical reasoning and a clear link to the outcome they want.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

Episode 22: How to Support Your Teen (and Survive) During Exams - with Michelle Mitchell.
The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

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Ep. 30
If your teen ever finds their study (especially exam revision or test prep) challenging,
the good news is, they're likely 'doing it right'.
As long as the challenge is coming from the content rather than any feelings of overwhelm or stress, that is.

Because I often see students busy 'studying',
but...
being 'busy' does not necessarily create progress.
Increasing the amount of activity, does not necessarily increase results.

For your teen to get most return on effort, they need to be doing things that will make the biggest difference.

This means doing
- the right type of activities
- at the right level of challenge.

Therefore, if it doesn't feel 'difficult' in some way,
then the truth is, it's probably not really doing much to advance them or their results.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

10WGT: The 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Free Parent Guide:
3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments - and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

View Details

Ep. 29
I want to share with you two words I used to say all the time to students, and you’ve likely said them to your teen too.
But, I’ve very intentionally stopped saying them over the past few years (or at least tried to - they do slip out every once in a while).
Listen in to find out what they are and - more importantly - why I never say them anymore.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW

The 10WGT: 10 Week Grade Transformation Program
Next Level Coaching: Open to 10WGT graduates only
Free Parent Guide: 3 Huge Mistakes (Even Smart!) Students Make in Exams and Assignments -and how to fix them immediately so your teen confidently achieves their best ever grades.

View Details

Ep. 28

Parents of Hardworking Teens: Recent Episodes

Katie Jones