Exam Maths Skills
Short lessons for ages 14–16: Number, Algebra, Proportion and finance, Geometry, Statistics. Fresh practice every time, marked instantly, with a check-up at the end of each unit.
Parents’ guide · ages 14–18 · Exam years
Supporting your 14–18 year old with study and exams
In the exam years, teenagers carry most of the responsibility for their learning, and they need you as a steady coach rather than a teacher. Help them plan, protect their sleep and wellbeing, celebrate effort and keep exams in perspective. Your calm matters more than you might think.
What children typically learn
Every child develops at their own pace. Use this as a rough map, not a checklist.
- Studying fewer subjects in more depth and preparing for national exams.
- Planning revision over weeks and months and using active study methods.
- Writing extended answers and essays under time pressure.
- Thinking about next steps: courses, apprenticeships, work or further study.
- Balancing study with friendships, part-time jobs, sport and rest.
Everyday activities that help
Most take five to ten minutes and need nothing special.
Build a revision timetable together
Count back from the exams, share the subjects out and leave free evenings. Let your teen own the plan.
Practise past questions
Timed practice and marking against the mark scheme beat rereading. Offer a quiet space and a snack.
Protect sleep
Teens need around 8–10 hours. Agree a wind-down time with phones charging outside the bedroom.
Phone-free focus blocks
Suggest 25–45 minute blocks with the phone in another room, then a real break.
Explore the future
Visit open days, look at course requirements together and talk to people who do jobs your teen is curious about.
When to talk to the teacher or a doctor
These are not signs that something is wrong — they are good reasons to ask. Early conversations help.
- Exam stress stops your teen sleeping, eating or seeing friends for more than a short time.
- They talk about feeling hopeless or worthless, or about harming themselves — seek help the same day.
- Panic attacks, constant worry or avoiding school become a pattern.
- They struggle to keep up despite working hard and may need exam arrangements — ask the school early.
- You notice signs of substance use or big changes in their friendships and behaviour.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your child’s health or development, contact your doctor, health visitor or school.
Practise together
Worksheets and games for this age
Print them or play on screen with instant marking.
Programmes for this age
Science calculations 14–16
GCSE-style science calculations for ages 14–16: physics equations with rearranging and unit prefixes, chemistry from relative formula mass and moles to concentration, yield and atom economy, and biology maths such as magnification, percentage change and genetic ratios. Every answer has its unit and a worked solution.
Logic & Codes
Short lessons for ages 11–16: Sequences and odd ones out, Expert puzzles. Fresh practice every time, marked instantly, with a check-up at the end of each unit.
Collections for this age
Articles for this age
How to Revise for Exams: Techniques That Actually Work (Ages 13–18)
Active recall, spaced repetition, interleaving, practice papers and sleep, explained with real examples so teens can revise smarter instead of just longer.
How to Make a Revision Timetable You'll Actually Stick To
A step-by-step guide for teens to building a revision timetable, with an example week, how to adjust it when things slip, and how to avoid burning out.
How to Use Flashcards Properly: The Leitner System and Better Cards
How to make flashcards that test real understanding, run the Leitner box system, space your reviews and choose between paper and apps, for ages 9 to 18.
Homeschool Schedule for Beginners: Sample Days and Weeks by Age
Realistic homeschool schedules for ages 4–14, with sample days, a weekly rhythm, tips for teaching siblings, and a reminder to check the rules where you live.
Learning Wiki topics
Composite functions
A composite function applies one function and then another. f(g(x)), also written (f ∘ g)(x) or fg(x), means do g first, then put the answer into f.
Conditional probability
Conditional probability is the chance of an event A when you already know event B has happened. It is written P(A|B) and found with P(A|B) = P(A and B) ÷ P(B).
Equation of a circle
A circle with centre (a, b) and radius r has the equation (x − a)² + (y − b)² = r². If the centre is the origin, it is simply x² + y² = r².
Inverse functions
An inverse function f⁻¹ undoes f: if f(3) = 7, then f⁻¹(7) = 3. To find it, write y = f(x), swap x and y, then solve for y.
Logarithms
A logarithm answers the question "what power?". log₂ 8 = 3 because 2³ = 8. Logs undo exponents, and their rules turn multiplying into adding.
The sine rule and the cosine rule
The sine rule a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C and the cosine rule a² = b² + c² − 2bc cos A find missing sides and angles in any triangle, not just right-angled ones.
Track your child’s progress
Your parent dashboard suggests a ten-minute plan for today. On the Family plan it also builds a printable weekly pack matched to your child’s level.
Questions about ages 14–18
How many hours a day should my teenager revise?
It depends on the timetable and the person. Two to four focused hours on a non-school day, in blocks with breaks, is plenty for most. Quality beats quantity.
My teen leaves everything to the last minute. What can I do?
Help them break big tasks into small first steps with their own deadlines, and check in briefly. Nagging rarely works; agreeing a plan together does more.