A calm, practical plan for parents after a bad mock: what the grade is used for, what to ask the school, and how to turn the paper into a list of topics to fix.
Stay calm and treat the mock as a map, not a verdict. Mock grades don't count towards the final GCSE, but schools use them for predicted grades, sets and tier entry. Ask the school what this result changes, get the paper back, and help your child sort the lost marks into topics. Plan practice on the weakest topics before the next mock, then redo one paper timed to check.
First, the conversation at home
Your child probably feels worse about the result than you do. Start by listening. Ask how they think it went and what surprised them, before you say what you think. Keep the result in proportion. A mock is sat months before the real exam, often before the course is finished, and with less revision behind it. It tells you where the gaps are now. It doesn't fix the final grade. If your child seems very anxious, low or isn't sleeping, the NHS has advice for parents on exam stress and when to get help.
A short email or a parents' evening is enough. You want facts you can plan around, not an argument about the grade.
Does this result change the predicted grade or the tier, and when will that be decided?
Can my child have the paper back, with the mark scheme?
Which topics or skills cost the most marks?
Is there extra support, and which topics will it cover?
When is the next assessment that could change the picture?
A plan for the next few weeks
The aim is to turn one bad result into a short list of things to fix. Your child does the work; your job is to help them start and keep the plan realistic.
Sort the lost marks: with the paper and mark scheme, mark each lost mark as knowledge, exam technique, timing or misreading the question.
Make a topic list: list the knowledge gaps, biggest first. Three to five topics per subject is plenty to start with.
Put it in the week: short, regular sessions on those topics beat one long weekend session. A simple timetable helps.
Test, don't reread: practice questions and self-testing on each topic, then the same questions again a week or two later.
Fix technique separately: if marks went on timing or misreading, practise whole questions against the clock.
Once the weak topics have had a few weeks of practice, a second timed paper shows whether the plan is working. It needs to be timed and sat in one go, like the real thing, or it tells you less. Past papers are free on the exam boards' websites. Another option is a Revise Right mock: free, timed and marked for you. Revise Right mocks run in rounds. The next is 7–20 December. Your child needs a free account, and about a week after sitting it they get a percentage, an estimated grade and a topic-by-topic breakdown. The estimated grade is a guide, not a prediction: the papers are our own practice papers, and the grade uses last summer's boundaries.
A bad mock on its own is common. Talk to the school sooner if the result is part of a pattern across subjects, if your child has stopped going to lessons or doing homework, or if the school mentions a lower tier and your child needs a higher grade for their sixth-form course. If the problem is more than revision, such as anxiety, sleep or something at school, the school's pastoral team and your GP are better places to start than any app or tutor.
Sources
Revise Right: do mock exams matter?: Our guide to what schools use mock grades for: predicted grades, sixth-form offers, sets and tier entry, with its own sources. NHS: help your child beat exam stress: NHS advice for parents on spotting exam stress, sleep, food and when to get help.
No. GCSE grades come only from the real exams and any coursework the exam board sets. Schools use mock results for predicted grades, sets, extra support and, in tiered subjects such as maths and science, for choosing Foundation or Higher tier.
Should I get my child a tutor after a bad mock?
Not straight away. First find out which topics cost the marks and give a plan a few weeks. A tutor can help if one or two subjects stay stuck, or if your child needs someone to explain things again. Our tutor or app guide has prices and the research.
Will a bad mock lower my child's predicted grade?
It can. Teachers usually weigh mocks with class tests and other work. Ask what evidence would change the prediction and when the next assessment is.
Can a mock decide whether my child sits Foundation or Higher?
Yes, in tiered subjects such as maths and the sciences. Foundation tier caps the grade at 5. If your child needs a higher grade, ask the school before entries are made what they would need to show.
How do I help without nagging?
Agree the plan together, then check in once a week rather than every evening. Ask about tasks ("which topic did you test yourself on?") rather than hours. Protect sleep and a quiet place to work.
Is another mock before the real exams a good idea?
Yes, once the weak topics have had some practice. Sit it timed and in one go. Exam-board past papers are free, and Revise Right's free mocks run in rounds; the next is 7–20 December.