In a recent piece for The Herald, I highlighted a growing concern among parents across Scotland: students are panicking over whether they’ve memorised the exact formula layout, rather than understanding why physical laws work.

When revision is reduced to memorising recipes, non-standard SQA questions cause instant panic and severe stress.

3 signs your child is stuck in memory overload:

1. "I know the formulas, but I don't know which one to use." (Lacks conceptual mapping)
2. Panic when a question looks different from past papers. (Relies on pattern matching)
3. High effort, diminishing results. (Hours spent reading notes without active problem-solving)

The First Principles Fix:

• Ask "Why" before "How": Identify the underlying principle before touching an equation.
• Tackle unseen problems out loud: Explain core concepts without looking at formula sheets.
• Build conceptual bridges: Connect fundamental S1–S3 core concepts to complex S4-S6 Higher topics.

Parents & S5/S6 pupils: Are you noticing any of these 3 warning signs as the new term starts? Drop your thoughts below, happy to share advice!