Exams are a challenging part of life and the weeks leading up to the exams themselves will undoubtedly be tense and stressful for all involved. However, there are many things you can do, as a parent, to help ease the pressure and keep them along the way. In this blog post, we will explore how you can help support your child to keep their confidence up and their motivation high.
Exam preparation can be an incredibly daunting task for anyone. This is probably the first time your teen will have had to juggle so many tasks all at once. In itself, this can be daunting but with the right support they can get through without feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
The Importance of Structure & Routines
One of the most effective methods for providing support during exam preparation is to create a structure that allows them to stay focused while studying. Help them establish a routine early on as this will provide consistency and will give them clear guidelines about when they should be studying and when they should relax.
When pulling together their revision timetable, sit with them and chat through each subject. Find out where they feel confident and where they are struggling and help them focus their time in the right way.
Ensure they set out specific goals set out at the start of each study session; what exactly are they trying to achieve in that session and how are they going to do it? This clarity and direction will enable them to stay focussed and keep going.
Resources & Study Materials
Having access to quality study materials plays a huge role in the exam preparation process. The notes from class are always a good start, but sometimes these aren’t enough. If they’re struggling then reach out to their teacher: they will be a fountain of knowledge in terms of other resources and tools that may be useful.
Work out how they learn best. Some of us are visual learners, preferring diagrams and charts, whereas others learn better through audio learning. Understanding this will make a huge difference as to how they study. If they’re a visual learner there’s no use in expecting them to stay focussed on huge blocks of text for hours on end. Instead encourage them to make mind maps or spider diagrams to help. However they learn there will be a resource to help – the internet today is a veritable hive of materials.
Talk to them about what resources they need. School should be able to help when it comes to textbooks or revision guides but it may be that they need more; and there may be an associated cost with that; whether it’s a computer or tablet to help their research of some additional textbooks or flashcards, have a conversation with them about what is needed and do what you can to help provide these for them.
Offering Encouragement & Support Throughout The Process
Remaining positive throughout this difficult period will be challenging, but doing so will help keep them motivated and things will run much more smoothly.
It’s important that you remain understanding and supportive, whatever they are going through. Offering words of encouragement every now then helps remind them why they’re working so hard, and providing simple rewards (or incentives) after completing certain goals along the way will spur them on too.
During times when they are feeling overwhelmed or deflated, don’t dismiss their feelings and tell them ‘everything will be alright’. Instead try to probe gently to find out what exactly they are feeling disheartened about and help them make some simple changes to their plan so things don’t seem so overwhelming. A sense of perspective is important but feeling like they are being listened to and supported will make them feel valued.
Utilising Positive Reinforcement Techniques To Keep Progress On Track
Setting targets and tracking them through the day/week is very useful. Having a chart that can be ticked off provides a visual representation of the progress that is being achieved – which can be a huge motivator.
Also ‘bribery’ and ‘corruption’ will continue to be your good friends! Having an effective reward system does not just work for toddlers; it works for all age groups and can be particularly useful during intense periods of revision. So set up various treats, like their favourite foods, trips to the cinema, visits from friends etc and they will reap the rewards and keep them motivated.
Finding Balance Between Studying & Relaxation For A Healthy Mindset
It goes without saying but taking breaks between study sessions is so important. There are numerous studies that show that teenagers generally have a short concentration span. They will work far better, and be far more productive if they work in short, sharp bursts, taking a break roughly every hour.
During their breaks encourage them to step into a different room, to give their brains time to adjust, relax and switch off, ready for the next task.
At the end of each day make sure they wind down properly before going to bed. They may be exhausted but their brain will need time to switch off after an intense study session and they will sleep better, and feel well rested if they’ve managed to switch off from the day before sleep.
When it comes to exam preparation, as a parent you play a key role. They may be teenagers and largely independent, but a problem shared is a problem halved and they will perform so much better with you supporting them in the right way.
There may be days when they treat you like public enemy number one. On these days it’s probably best to provide support in a less-obvious way (regular healthy snacks, top ups on refreshments etc).
There will also be days when they need a shoulder to cry on and support on those days will look a lot different. Whatever they need support is available. There are so many resources available now that there will undoubtedly be things that will make their lives (and yours) easier.
FAQ’s
Q1. What tips can we use to help my child stay motivated while studying for exams?
Set realistic goals, break up your study sessions into smaller chunks, build in rewards for when a goal is accomplished; take regular breaks, and create and set an achievable study plan.
Q2. How do I help make sure they’re being productive while studying?
Provide them with an environment that is conducive to learning. Eliminate distractions such as TVs or phones and set clear objectives for each session; encourage them to talk you through what they’re doing as the process of explaining something is often key to understanding it.
Q3. What kind of support should we seek out during exam preparation?
Encourage them to reach out to their teachers and their friends. Teachers will help with study resources and techniques and friends can provide a different perspective on something. The internet is a valuable catalogue of material and can help with things like flashcards, videos, mind maps etc.
Q4 Are there any techniques that could help them focus on their studies better?
Yes! Mindfulness techniques such as meditation or deep breathing exercises can help them stay focused and calm. Encourage them to set some time aside to calm their mind each day as it will help them stay focussed. Additionally, help them to stay organised; breaking down tasks into manageable pieces will allow them to get more done in less time without feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs completing.
Q5 Is it normal for them to feel overwhelmed when preparing for exams?
Absolutely – It is totally normal (and even expected) for them to feel overwhelmed when preparing for exams! This is probably the first time they’ve had so many things to juggle and it’s not unreasonable for them to feel like they’re drowning.
Interesting Info
- Research has shown that having a support system or “learning community” during exam preparation can help reduce stress and anxiety associated with exams.
- It is important to have the right kind of support system, as not all forms of encouragement may be equally helpful in motivating students to do well on an exam.
- Studies have indicated that having social support from peers and teachers who are knowledgeable about the material being studied can increase student engagement with the subject matter and ultimately improve performance on exams.
