Come the spring and summertime, parents and students start to worry about exams. It’s no wonder, with so much pressure and outcomes riding on results. But a lot of that pressure can be alleviated if we start planning ahead.
Rather than panicking in May, it makes sense to think about developing the skills and attitudes needed for good performance a few months ahead of time. This will enable the young person to build up their habits and approach for exam success.
A lot of exam performance comes from confidence. The confidence that they know the content, the confidence that they can answer the questions, and the confidence that they can do their best. Being assured that they have the ability to do well will help them in the revision period and the exam room.
Having a mantra or phrase that they repeat to themselves can help remind them of their ability. It can be something as simple as ‘I can do this’ or ‘I am capable.’ This can help keep them calm and focused. If they find themselves becoming distressed, they can come back to the phrase.
Practice makes perfect, so having some sample tests or doing homework under exam conditions is a good way to enable children to get a sense of what they will be doing, and help them feel more comfortable with the situation. When circumstances are familiar, they produce less stress, which will help with performance.
Breaking down workload into manageable chunks stops it from being overwhelming. The earlier you are able to make this a habit, the better your child will be prepared. Rather than rushing to cram at the end of the year before the exam, they will have been adding to their knowledge bit by bit throughout the year.
Starting early is key to performing well. It is all about instilling the right approach and mindset before the exam period starts. That way lies success.
If you want to know more about my work with children and teenagers head to the Helping Kids UK website.