You know GCSE results matter but how can you convince your teenager? Raisingkids.co.uk's Education expert, Elizabeth Cook, advises.

Raisingkids member's problem
How can I make my 16 yr-old daughter appreciate the importance of finishing her GCSE coursework on time and passing these exams?

Elizabeth's advice
The problem of motivating teenagers to do as well as they can has had parents tearing their hair out for generations. You're certainly not alone. From my own experience, nagging seldom works. Don't say 'Why aren't you working?' but rather 'How can we make sure that you'll be properly prepared for your GCSEs?'

Getting work in on time and doing enough work to get good grades depends on organising revision properly. Starting early avoids last-minute panics so work with your daughter to create a timetable that allows her to get through most of the syllabus by the time exams come around. Find out more about timetabling.

You need to make certain things clear though. GCSEs are her responsibility and she'll live with the consequences of her own underachievement. Even if she scrapes through to do A-levels, a borderline set of GCSE results will limit the courses she can apply for, post A-level.

Perhaps you should look for other causes, e.g. her peer group. If all her friends have deemed work to be uncool, her attitude will inevitably suffer. If this is the case, then given that you can't choose her friends, you have to talk about it. Perhaps they're less able than her and have naturally lower expectations. Perhaps the reverse is true. She may be spending time with people who can afford to mess around without their grades slipping.

Whatever the cause, you should try not to overreact yourself. If the problem is that your daughter isn't as academically ambitious as you think she should be, then there really isn't anything you can do about it. It's her decision and, as long as it's an informed one, you have to accept it. If you're actually worried she might not get through to A-levels then you might want to approach her school. Perhaps you could talk it through with her form tutor whilst your daughter's present.

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