When students start falling behind, most parents ask the same question: “Is it too late to make a difference?”
The answer is no – but only if they change how they learn.
If conventional revision hasn’t worked all year, more of the same won’t suddenly produce results. There is a better way, backed by extensive research, that can make a real difference to your child’s grades and confidence.
Why Traditional Revision Doesn’t Work for Everyone
For generations, revision has meant re-reading textbooks, highlighting notes, and completing endless past papers. These methods feel productive, but they often lead to superficial understanding. This is particularly true for Business Studies, where success depends on applying concepts to real-world scenarios, not just memorizing definitions.
What doesn’t help:
- Passive note-making and highlighting create an illusion of learning without ensuring retention.
- Endless past papers with no feedback mean students repeat the same errors.
- Generic tutoring without real-world context makes the material feel abstract and irrelevant.
- Cramming facts without building confidence might help short-term recall but does little for deep understanding. Research shows that spaced repetition is far more effective for long-term retention [1].
What the Research Says Actually Works
The evidence is clear: active learning is the key to unlocking a student’s potential. Unlike passive learning, which involves simply receiving information, active learning requires students to engage with the material, solve problems, and apply their knowledge in a practical way.
Peer-reviewed studies have consistently demonstrated the superiority of active learning over traditional methods:
| Metric | Active Learning | Traditional Lecturing |
| Participation Rate | 62.7% | 5% |
| Test Scores | 54% higher | – |
| Failure Rate | 1.5x less likely | 55% higher |
Source: Engageli, 2024 [2]; PNAS, 2014 [3]
These statistics paint a clear picture: students in active learning environments are more engaged, perform better in exams, and are less likely to fail. A landmark study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that active learning can lead to an increase in examination performance that would raise average grades by half a letter [3].
Active learning is not just about improving grades; it’s about developing the higher-order thinking skills that are essential for success in both academia and the workplace. A 2022 study by Huang et al. found that active learning strategies are particularly effective at fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities [4].
Skills Hub: Practical Tools That Make the Difference
This is where Skills Hub comes in. We’ve built a platform that is grounded in the principles of active learning, designed to help students learn by doing. Our interactive simulations and tools bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing students to apply their knowledge in realistic business scenarios.
Our data shows that students who use Skills Hub see a significant improvement in their grades and confidence:
- Improved grades within 8–10 weeks: On average, students who use Skills Hub for a minimum of three sessions per week see their grades improve from a C to a B in just 8-10 weeks.
- 34% improve by two grades or more: A significant portion of our students see an even more dramatic improvement in their performance.
- Increased engagement: Our simulations are designed to be engaging and relevant, reflecting the real-world challenges that businesses face. This approach has been tested with over 630 students, achieving a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 69 in our live business simulations.
It’s not too late to make a difference – if you change how they learn.
Start Your Free Trial Now – Transform Your Child’s Business Studies Success Today
How Skills Hub Helps
Skills Hub is more than just another revision app. It’s a comprehensive learning platform that provides students with the tools they need to succeed:
- Targeted skill-building: We don’t just focus on facts; we help students develop the critical thinking and analytical skills they need to excel in their exams.
- Confidence through real-world application: Our simulations build commercial awareness, a skill that is tested in a wide range of exams, not just Business Studies.
- Strategic focus on gaps: Our platform uses data to identify areas where a student is struggling and provides targeted support to help them improve.
- Career readiness alongside academic progress: The skills that students develop on Skills Hub, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and strategic thinking, are highly valued by employers.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Every week with ineffective revision is a week lost. But the time remaining is more than enough to see significant improvement – if used effectively.
Private tutoring costs £50 per hour, adding up to around £3,000 per year for two hours weekly. While helpful, it often follows the same passive approach that hasn’t worked in the classroom. School alone, though free, is limited to homework and textbook exercises. Teachers are doing their best, but with limited time and resources, they can’t always provide the individualized support struggling students need.
Why Skills Hub Works When Other Methods Don’t
Skills Hub is built around the way students actually learn best:
- Learning by doing, not just reading. Every lesson uses interactive simulations. Students don’t just read about cash flow – they manage it. They don’t memorize marketing theory – they launch products and see the consequences.
- Just 15 minutes daily. Bite-sized lessons fit busy schedules. Fifteen minutes of focused, active learning beats hours of passive note-taking.
- Exact syllabus alignment. Every tool maps to specific exam board requirements. We cover all major UK exam boards, including AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and Cambridge.
Start Your Free Trial Now – Transform Your Child’s Business Studies Success Today
For Parents: A Better Way to Support Your Child
As a parent, it can be frustrating to see your child struggle with their studies. You want to help, but you’re not sure how. Skills Hub offers a practical, evidence-based solution that can make a real difference.
For less than the cost of a single tutoring session, you can give your child access to a platform that will help them build confidence, improve their grades, and develop the skills they need for a successful future. No cramming, no burnout. Just real learning that sticks.
Our students tell us that Skills Hub feels less like homework and more like a challenge they want to complete. One parent shared: “My son actually asks to use Skills Hub! The simulations make it feel like a game rather than homework. His teacher noticed the improvement immediately.”
Another parent reported: “Within 3 weeks, Emma went from panicking about business studies to confidently explaining break-even analysis at dinner. Her mock exam grade jumped from D to B.”
These aren’t isolated cases. With over 630 students tested and an NPS of 69, we know our approach works.
£10/month – Cancel any time.
Try Before You Commit
Not sure if Skills Hub is right for your child? Try three free tools right now, with no sign-up required:
- Adapt and Thrive: Experience how businesses respond to change.
- Lead the Team: Master leadership and motivation strategies.
- Recruit Right: Learn effective recruitment strategies.
Your child can start learning immediately, and you can see for yourself whether our approach works for them. Every tool is mapped to major UK exam boards – AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Cambridge, and more.
Start Your Free Trial Now – Transform Your Child’s Business Studies Success Today
References
[1] Tegaru. (2025, January 16). Spaced Repetition vs Cramming: The Data That Will Convince You. Tegaru. https://tegaru.app/en/blog/spaced-repetition-vs-cramming
[2] Engageli. (2025, October 28). Active Learning Statistics: Benefits for Education & Training in 2025. Engageli. https://www.engageli.com/blog/active-learning-statistics-2025
[3] Freeman, S., Eddy, S. L., McDonough, M., Smith, M. K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth, M. P. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(23), 8410–8415. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1319030111
[4] Huang, Y. M., et al. (2022). Effects of Active Learning on Students’ Higher-Order Thinking Skills: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.8649815
