Parents of Hardworking Teens

Ep. 151 - → 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.___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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Web page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/151Episode 4: Essays That Actually Answer The QuestionEpisode 9: Just Do Your Best' - And Other Things They Don't Wanna HearUpdated and upgraded! Check out the NEW! 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 150→ 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.___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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Resources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/150Updated and upgraded! Check out the NEW! 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 149→ 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.___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 Systemsand 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. FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Ep 24: 'The Skill Web'Updated and upgraded! Check out the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 148 → 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.___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: PARENTPODFEATURED ON THE SHOW: 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-everythingyouneedResources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/148Updated and upgraded! Check out the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 147→ 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.___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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Enrol your teen into the 'Add the RIGHT Detail' Workshop at: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/detailResources page: https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/147Updated and upgraded! Check out the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

- Ep. 146→ 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 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)FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Updated and upgraded! Check out the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 145 - → 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.___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. FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Episode 2: Why Your Teen Sometimes Procrastinates (even though they want to get it done)Updated and upgraded! Check out the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 144 - → 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.___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. FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Episode 77: Reverse-Engineering SuccessCheck out the upgraded and updated 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 143→ 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.___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! FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Episode 118: What's The Point? (No, really - what is it?)  Episode 140: How to Figure Out the Focus of an AssignmentEpisode 18: The Truth Behind Creative tasksEpisode 12: Does Your Teen Need a Tutor?Episode 24: The Skill WebEpisode 114: Don't 'Write About', 'Respond To'Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 142→ 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.___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. Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 141→ 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.___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! FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Smarter, Faster Research Workshop: Get better information, in half the time - and actually understand what you find. Ep. 140: How to Figure Out The Focus of an Assignment  www.rocksolidstudy.com/140Ep. 114: Don't 'Write About', 'Respond To'  www.rocksolidstudy.com/114Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 140→ 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.___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! FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Ep. 118: What's the Point? (No, really - what is it?)  www.rocksolidstudy.com/118Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 139→ 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.___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! FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Ep. 137: [Part 1] 3 Things That Totally Changed How I See Study and Exams: www.rocksolidstudy.com/137Ep. 138: [Part 2] "Miss... This is GOLD"  www.rocksolidstudy.com/138Ep. 24: The Skill WebFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 138→ 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.___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. FEATURED ON THE SHOW: Ep. 137: 3 Things That Totally Changed How I See Study and Exams: www.rocksolidstudy.com/137Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 137→ 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.___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. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Get all the episode resources at: www.rocksolidstudy.com/137Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 136→ 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.___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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:The Exam Mastery Workshop + Complimentary Bonuses: Purchase HERECheck out the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program for your teen.Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 135→ 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.___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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 118: What's the Point? (No, really. What is it?)Check out the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program for your teen.Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 134→ 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'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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Get the full Exam Mastery Workshop recording, workbook and bonus resources at https://www.gradetransformation.com/EMWEpisode 17: How to Stop Losing Marks in Maths ExamsFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on Instagram

Ep. 133→ 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.___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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Grab your teen's ticket to the Exam Mastery Workshop, LIVE 2025! https://www.gradetransformation.com/EMW25Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

Ep. 132→ 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.___What to do with sources when they’re provided in an exam, inquiry report or for an extended response. Discover the trap that many students fall into and what they need to do instead.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 114 - ‘Don't Write About - Respond To’.Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

Ep. 131Students 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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie so they use the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramHave Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

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/127and Brutal Study Truth #2 (Markers Don't Care) at:  https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/128FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Visual Art grade descriptors: SCSA Visual Art grade descriptorsFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramHave Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

Ep. 128→ 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 syllabus excerpt here:  https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/128→ Get Brutal Study Truth #1 at:  https://www.rocksolidstudy.com/127This 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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Syllabus Prescription example: NESA English ModulesFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramHave Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramHave Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

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. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:One page resource download: Evidence for the Exam Success ShortcutFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramHave Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

Ep. 125Get 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 riskingWhat happens when that risk pays off AND what happens when it doesn’tand How to reduce the level of effort-risk, so that they’re INVESTING their time and effort, rather than gambling with it. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Ep. 9: 'Just Do Your Best' -  And other things they don't want to hearFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramHave Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

Ep. 124Click 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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Article: The Myth of Passive Learning, by Blake HarvardEp. 52: Active Vs. Passive RevisionFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Have Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

Ep. 123Get 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 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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Ep. 30: If it's Not Difficult, it's Not Doing Anything! Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Have Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

Ep. 122.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.___How to help your teen nail their new year group - and have them: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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:'Nail Your New Year Group' Webinar replay (available til 3rd Feb, 2025): www.gradetransformation.com/newFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Have Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

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!)FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 1: The Study Success FormulaEpisode 6: If Your Teen's Grades Dropped For No ReasonFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Have Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 1: The Study Success FormulaFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Have Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for Schools

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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Have Katie speak at your teen's school! >> Direct the school to the following web page: www.rocksolidstudy.com/schoolsEpisode 63: The GameFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramHave your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramGet 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.

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:Have Katie speak at your school: Parent-Student 'Exam Mastery' Information Evenings for SchoolsEpisode 18: The Truth Behind Creative Tasks Episode 64: Shortcuts to a Stunning Short StoryFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)

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 teensFEATURED ON THE SHOW:Happy Families Podcast on Spotify: Happy Families, ep. 334Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-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.

- 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/schoolsFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen trained by Katie to excel in exams and assessment, using the most effective study strategies in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-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.

- Ep. 115Listen 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. FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Mama Mia Podcast: This Glorious MessFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-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.

Ep. 114A 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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-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.

Ep. 113Real 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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-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.

Ep. 112I 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 :)FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Get your teen skilled and strategic in their study with the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program.Up-level your teen's skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates).Follow Rock Solid Study on Facebook.Follow Rock Solid Study on Instagram.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.

Ep. 111It'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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 103: How Year 7 Success Sabotages Senior StudyEpisode 110: Universal SkillsFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramUp-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.

Ep. 110We 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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Get your teen skilled and strategic in their study with the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program.Up-level your teen's skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet 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.

Ep. 109Talking 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'?FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 63: The GameFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen skilled and strategic in their study with the 10 Week Grade Transformation Program.Up-level your teen's 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.

Ep. 108Did 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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 78: When They 'Hate' or Struggle With a SubjectFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramGet 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.

Ep. 107This 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? FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Watch the 10WGT student and parent case studies on the 10 Week Grade Transformation Programsummary page.Up-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Episode 29: Two Words I Never Say (Anymore)Episode 106: Symbols of Study SuccessFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet 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.

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 ProgramUp-level their skills and maximise outcomes in Next Level Coaching (only open to 10WGT graduates)Follow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet 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.

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!FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 64: Shortcuts to a Stunning Short StoryFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramGet 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.

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).FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Episode 72: Why A-Grade Exemplars Aren't All ThatFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramGet 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.

- 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 change as 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.FEATURED ON THE SHOW:Join my email list and 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 FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen skilled and effective in my flagship program: The 10 Week Grade Transformation Program

- 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/examsFollow Rock Solid Study on FacebookFollow Rock Solid Study on InstagramGet your teen behind the scenes of assessment with me in the 10 Week Grade Transformation ProgramGet 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.