Feedback can feel discouraging — both for parents reading it and for teens receiving it. But when used properly, feedback is one of the most powerful tools to accelerate progress.

Why feedback is often wasted

• Teens take it personally instead of constructively.
  
• Parents don’t know how to frame it at home.
  
• The focus stays on what went wrong instead of what to do next.
  

How to shift the narrative

1. Ask questions, don’t lecture. Instead of “Why did you make these mistakes?”, try “What’s one step you can take to improve this section?”
   
2. Spot specifics. Highlight actionable points like “improve analysis” rather than vague “work harder”.
   
3. Normalise mistakes. Remind your teen that progress comes from learning what not to do.
   

What happens when feedback is used well

• Teens progress faster between assessments.
  
• Confidence grows because they feel in control of improvement.
  
• Parents and teachers become allies, not critics.
  

Feedback loses its value the longer it sits unused. Treat it like fuel — wasted if left in the tank.

👉 The teens who climb fastest are the ones who act on feedback immediately. Make sure your teen is one of them.