What to buy

1. Textbooks

A good textbook is the most important learning resource you can buy. Textbooks are not the same as revise guides, key-facts books or study guides!
They are more detailed, better written and more interesting. They contain information that a student needs in order to fully appreciate a subject.

But few school now supply textbooks, and they are difficult to find in the shops. Even if your school supplies textbooks, it is a good idea to get your own, up-to-date copy for each subject.

The safe and simple rule is, find out what exam board and syllabus your child is taking for each subject, and then buy a book that is written for that syllabus. Make sure it's up-to-date.

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2. Revise guides

Revise guides are much better now than they used to be. However, the number and variety of syllabuses is greater. This makes it difficult for a general revise guide to cater for everyone. This is particularly true for modular sciences. Ideally, find a revise guide that is written for the exact syllabus you are studying. Your teacher should be able to advise you. Phone the exam board if in doubt.

Letts Educational and Longmans publish good guides which are very clear and attempt, with varying success, to point out the differences between syllabuses. However, I'm very impressed with the new Collins guides, which often come with CDs and back-up information on the Collins website. The guides include extra information, such as comments from chief examiners on common mistakes. The CDs include lots of practice questions. They are my number one choice. You can find them at WH Smiths and other good book shops.

Letts Educational
Longmans
Collins

3. Practice exam papers

School should provide lots of papers, although they may pass the cost on to you. However, there are plenty available to download from the web. I've listed sources on the students exam papers and syllabuses page. Use papers from other exam boards as well, as long as they are for the right level. Of course, if you're doing a modular syllabus, don't get papers from a non-modular syllabus.

Don't forget that text books and revise guides contain lots of practice questions, as do many of the better revision websites. And you may be able to buy packs of papers at WH Smiths.

4. Stationery

If your child follows my advice in the learning resources section, you'll need to buy some A3 ring-binders, A3 paper and a four-hole punch. Make sure you have a wide selection of highlighter pens, felt-tips, crayons, pencils, and so on.

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