Supporting your child through study and exams

Learning, revision, and exams are part and parcel of growing up. And sometimes, it can feel like there is a lot of pressure attached to getting high grades. There is a lot that you can do to help your child through the process of revision and exams. 

Photo by Avel Chuklanov on Unsplash

Extra support

Your child might be strong in maths and science but feel like they need extra help with English or languages, and luckily as well there is a lot of book materials you can also find plenty of GCSE tuition options too. 

Have a chat with your child and see if there is anywhere they feel like they need support, and put together the right tools and options to help. 

Planning 

Organisation and planning don’t come easily to everyone – it is a skill in itself. And when you have multiple exams to study for, it can be very beneficial to help your child create a timetable. 

Often people will overload their timetables, and they become unrealistic. Unfortunately, that can lead to a feeling of pressure and that they aren’t succeeding. 

While each subject should have an even amount of study time, if there are subjects that are more intense, then these should have longer sessions. 

We tend to absorb and use information better if we work in short bursts, so rather than have study periods of hours per subject, opt for shorter sessions. 

One of the keys to a great timetable is having plenty of space for downtime. 

Study space

Studying in their room all the time can get lonely, and you won’t be on hand if they run into trouble. Not all teenagers are willing to speak up if they are struggling. This makes it beneficial to have more than one location that is great for studying. 

Just like a regular workspace, a study space should be neat and tidy. It means that your child can concentrate on the work that they have, rather than the ‘stuff’ that is surrounding them. 

Balance

Even a very relaxed teenager might put themselves under a lot of pressure to perform, and if you also add to that, it might all become too much. 

It is essential that you find the right balance between encouraging them to study and letting them find their own way. 

Being around to help can be a huge source of support. Keep in mind that in high-stress situations, and exams can be considered as one of those, the person under pressure might be snappy. 

Sometimes they might need to talk it out; other times, they might just be frustrated and need a moment to vent. 

Healthy 

When studying, it can be very tempting to stay up late, study long hours, skip breakfasts, and more. 

You can help your child by making sure that they have water nearby, ensure they understand that tired brains don’t work as well as rested ones – and have a range of nutritious and brain-fuelling meals lined up while they are in revision and exam mode. 

Keeping learning fun and fresh can help the process be less worrisome, too: How To Make Learning Fun For Kids

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