Are Boot Camps Worth It for Exam Prep?

Boot camps are becoming increasingly popular, especially when exam season approaches. They promise to give your child a quick boost, last-minute tips and help your child feel more confident and prepared. But do they actually help? Or are they just adding more stress to your child’s already full plate?

Considering a boot camp for your child? Here are five things you need to know.

1. Boot camps can give a helpful boost, but they shouldn’t be a last-minute fix.

Many parents sign their kids up for boot camps, hoping for a quick fix. But the truth is, boot camps work best as a short-term revision boost and confidence booster before exams—not a replacement for regular studying throughout the year.

They’re best for:
✔️ Kids who already have some foundation and just need a refresher or that extra push
✔️ Those who need a final push to sharpen skills before exams.

If your child is struggling with the basics, a crash course might not be beneficial and will actually stress them out even more. They’ll be thrown into intense sessions with little time to truly absorb the material.

2. The Best Boot Camps Teach Exam Strategies, Not Just More Content

Some boot camps are well-structured, focusing on exam strategies like time management and answering techniques, while others are just glorified revision sessions with minimal added value.

Before you sign up, check:
🔍 Who’s teaching? (MOE-trained teachers vs. junior tutors)
📚 What’s covered? (Exam techniques vs. just drilling past-year papers)
👥 Class size? (If it’s too big, your child won’t get much attention.)

Tip: The best boot camps focus on exam-smart strategies, time management, and tackling common mistakes.

3. Timing Matters

A lot of parents think the best time for a boot camp is just a few weeks before the exam. But cramming last-minute usually just leads to stress, panic, and brain overload.

The best time for a boot camp? About 3 to 6 months before the major exams.

This way, your child has time to:
✔️ Absorb the new strategies
✔️ Practice them in actual exam conditions
✔️ Identify weak areas and work on them before it’s too late.

4. Boot Camps Can Be Intense—Make Sure Your Child Can Handle It

Boot camps often pack 3 to 5 days of intensive learning, sometimes with several hours per session. Some kids thrive in this high-pressure environment—others just get exhausted and disengaged.

Ask yourself:
👉 Can your child absorb information quickly, or do they need more time to process information?
👉 Do they handle pressure well, or do they get overwhelmed with intensive learning that may back-fire?

👉 Are they already familiar with the subject, or are they struggling with the basics?

If your child gets overwhelmed easily, look for boot camps that are spaced out (e.g., weekly sessions over a month) instead of consecutive days of cramming.

5. Boot Camps Work Best When Paired with Consistent Practice

A boot camp can definitely give your child a quick boost, but without some follow-up practice, it’s easy to lose what they’ve learned.

Here’s what actually works:
✅ Taking notes during the boot camp and revisiting them.
✅ Using the strategies taught in the boot camp in home revision.
✅ Reviewing mistakes and doing targeted revisions

If your child doesn’t take time to review after the boot camp, chances are they’ll forget everything they’ve learned within a week.

Boot camps are not a one-size-fits-all solution, but when done at the right time with the right approach, they can be useful in helping kids feel more prepared and confident.

However, what counts most is when they learn how to stay motivated and make ongoing improvements. Instead of relying on last-minute cramming, help your child understand that learning is a journey that takes consistent effort. Encourage them to take ownership of their progress, whether it’s through regular practice or developing better study habits. Ultimately it’s not just about exam success; it’s about creating a strong foundation that will support them for the long haul.