HELP YOUR CHILD GET THROUGH THEIR EXAMS!!
Tips to help parents and children get through the exams:
1. Know your child’s entire exam schedule.
Pin a copy of the examination timetable at a place where you can easily view it or can regularly check it. You should also note the date and time of each paper. Make sure you are at all times aware when your son or daughter has to be in the examination centre
- Assisting with revision
The secret of doing well in exams lies in planning. You can help your child to create a clear revision plan and method of studying that will make him/her feel that things are under control.
Tips for revision planning:
- Work out a revision timetable for each subject.
- Break revision time into small intervals – hour-long sessions with short breaks at the end of each session often work well.
- Make sure your child has all the essential books and materials.
- Help them make short notes which will act as points during revision.
- Go through school notes with your child or listen while they revise a topic
- Make your child practice sample papers after he/she is done with revision.
- Make a checklist of daily requirements, based on each day’s exam
Make a final check each morning before you leave home that your son or daughter is fully prepared for the day’s exams. Writing instruments, along with the other requirements such as rulers, erasers, calculators etc should be checked, along with reading glasses etc.
- Listen to their story, of the day.
After each day’s examinations, allow your child to recount to you their daily story. Do not be tempted to review in detail the errors or omissions they may have made in answering the paper in question. Such a process achieves absolutely nothing, other than to increase stress levels. Simply allow them the time and space to tell their story and move on.
- Help them to maintain a balanced daily routine.
You should ensure your child maintains a proper balance between study and rest. After an exam, they need time to rest and recharge before they can do any beneficial study for the next paper. Remember that this is on average a two-week process and they need to be as sharp on the morning of their final paper as they are tomorrow. Late-night study sessions should be avoided.
6. Do not pressurize them with, what are you expecting from them during their exams!
Parents naturally want their children to do well in exams through school and further education. That is completely natural. Most kids place enough pressure upon themselves during study and exam preparation to make that outcome a reality. Additional expectations, demands or pressure from them can end up being more damaging than useful. Instead reassure them of your love and support no matter what the outcome of exams and emphasize that this is not the end.
7. Create a supportive atmosphere.
- Your attitude is crucial. Remain calm and try not to transfer additional anxiety on to your child in the lead up to the exams. Don’t place unnecessary pressure to gain certain grades. They may feel they’ve failed if they don’t achieve what they thought was expected of them.
- Try to support your son or daughter rather than ‘policing’ them.
- Observe how your child is dealing their stress. Ask how you can help if they appear to be struggling. Sometimes it’s just enough for your son or daughter to talk things through. Actively listening can be enough to support them.
- A little bribe can help.
Although it is not a good practice but students often need some source of motivation. Parents can make promises like, “we will gift you a new bicycle if you will get above 90% in maths and science”, “we will take you to a hill station if you will score above 70%”. Such types of promises motivate them to work harder. The best part of this technique is parents do not need to compel them for study.
- Track their health & eating habits.
During last months of exam preparation, some students start skipping their daily meals, few students starts consuming junk food and snacks. Nowadays, it has also been observed that some students consume medicines without any medical prescriptions. Such drugs may cause harmful effects on the mental and physical health of a student. So, it is important that parents should take care of their child’s health. Parents should encourage their child to take light food and fruits instead of fast food or junk.
- Use these magic words.
Sentences like “This is not the end of the world just do your best”, “Everything is a once in a lifetime experience”, “Exams are just a game and you are smart enough to play well”, “don’t worry about results just do your best”, these phrases reduces mental pressure of exams on students. Such phrases also give emotional support to students. They feel more confident and focus more on exam preparation rather thinking about the result.
Exam time is the most stressful time in a student’s life especially for those who are appearing for the first time in board exams. But this time period can be most enjoyable and memorable time if a child gets 360o support from his or her parents. Parental support in the examination is important and plays an important role in overall performance of their child. In order to achieve better result parents can follow these tips before exams.
Harshpreet Kaur
Clinical Psychologist
