Across the country, teenagers are preparing for GCSE and A level exams. A levels kicked off last week with modern languages speaking exams. Public exams can be a challenging period for families. However, there are ways to minimise the stress.
The power of positive thinking
Encourage your child to think positively before each exam. If they envisage themselves successfully navigating more difficult questions and showcasing their knowledge, this can be incredibly helpful. If your son and daughter approaches an exam with the thought: ‘I’m terrible at Maths and I am going to do badly’ it’s more likely to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Positive thinking and solid self-esteem, during exam season, are worth their weight in gold.
Helping teenagers to study
Ask your child how you can best support them with their exam preparation. Ensure your child has somewhere comfortable to study. Help them to organise their revision by preparing a revision schedule or finding past papers to help them to practice. You can also motivate your child by encouraging them to think about their future dreams and goals – such as entrance to their first-choice university or preferred sixth form college. And to see how these goals are linked to their exams
Talk openly about exam nerves
Feeling anxious before an exam or important event is entirely normal. Remind your child that even adults still experience anxiety before an important event, but that this anxiety can be managed and nerves can be put to positive use. Exam practice can help your child feel familiar with the sort of exam papers they will see on the day. Encourage your child to think positively and to be proud of how much they know- this will help them to feel more confident.
Ensure your teen gets sufficient sleep
A good night’s sleep will improve your child’s concentration and ability to think clearly. If you can ban the dreaded mobile phones from their bedrooms at night, this helps enormously as they are not tempted to scroll Instagram or Tik Tok when they should be sleeping. Teenagers need between 8 and 10 hours per night. Allow an hour or so for kids to wind down before they sleep. Cramming all night before an exam is usually a bad idea. Sleep will benefit your child far more than a few hours of panicky last-minute study.
Keep home life calm and un-pressured.
This is easier said than done, with many UK parents managing their own careers and businesses. It is often the case that we as parents feel more stressed about GCSEs and A levels than our offspring. Simple things like maintaining meal-time routines and enjoying time together as a family, can help your child to feel secure and supported.
Lumos Education wish all of our clients the very best with GCSE and A level exams.
