How to Support Your Child During Exam Period

Whether your child is aged 10 and preparing for SATs or at college and awaiting their GCSE exams, it is important to note that the process of it all can be quite stressful. As a parent, it is imperative that you support your child through this difficult period to help them achieve their full potential. There are lots of ways you can support your child during exam period, such as encouraging positive lifestyle choices to optimise their health and wellbeing, helping them create effective study plans, and ensuring they have a suitable environment at home where they can revise.

Of course, all parents want their child to do the best they can, but it should be made clear that there is a difference between pressure and support. It is vital to find ways to help your child achieve academic success without adding to the existing pressure of exams and heightening their anxiety levels, because this will make it difficult form them to absorb and retain information. For some children, words of affirmation may be enough. For others, they may need someone to guide them through their work. Let them know that the effort they put in is what matters, as trying their best is more important than receiving full marks. Whatever needs doing, there is always a way. Here is a guide on how to support your child during exam period. 

An effective study plan

One of the main reasons many students don’t reach their full potential in exams is because they don’t have an effective study plan in place. Preparation for exams starts as early as day 1 of the academic year. Each piece of homework assigned is there to test your child’s knowledge slowly. If your child is used to completing small chunks of work on a daily basis, revision won’t come as such a shock to them later on. Create a learning plan that includes short bursts of study time and breaks in between. Help your child organise their work and set realistic targets to hit every week. Ensure you both focus on how well your child is doing in the present, rather than the outcome as it will only make your child feel more pressured and stressed. 

It’s also worth identifying areas where they might be struggling, as there’s no point in them revising for the same amount of time on a subject they are performing poorly in as a subject they are performing well in. You could consider hiring a private tutor to help them study those problem areas.

Stepping stones

Effective studying is done in small amounts and regularly. It’s all about consistency. In order for your child to do well in their exams, they need to be aware of this. Leaving their studies for a day and choosing to do it all at the weekend is not as effective as they may believe, because it’s impossible for any of us to concentrate on one thing for extended periods. Little and often is a better approach.

Be sure to reward your child for their efforts through the revision process such as cooking their favourite meal or playing video games together. Positive praise and a few pats on the back will make for good progress in their work.

Diet

One of the main issues students face when it comes to exam season is their diet. High levels of stress and anxiety can lead to young one’s binge eating on the wrong foods or disregarding it altogether. A well-balanced diet full of nutrients is what they need to keep their energy levels up and their brain fuelled. Provide them with a healthy breakfast every morning before school and ensure they take a water bottle to keep hydrated throughout the day. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a takeaway here and there as a treat but try and ensure your child eats regularly and keeps away from caffeine and energy drinks.

Sleep

Sleep is crucial for studying. Given that exam period can be a difficult time in a student’s life, it may become a common practice to stay up the night before a test for revision. However, studies have shown that just one less hour of sleep in a night can make an 11-year-old’s brain function like that of a 9-year-olds. Morning exams are well known for starting early so encourage your child to put the books down and settle down for a good night’s rest instead. 

This advice is purely a guide to get you started. If you require more tailored guidance specific to your child, don’t hesitate to contact their teachers.