AD| Helping Your Child Manage Exam Stress

School exams can trigger many emotions for children. They may feel overwhelmed by the amount of revision they need to do or they may feel anxious about their exam performance. To help your child with their revision and reduce the stress caused by exams, here is some helpful advice from an independent school in Hertfordshire…

Help them prepare

The best thing you can do to help your child manage exam stress is get them prepared as early as possible. One way to do this is by creating a revision schedule. This could be a simple hand drawn poster, or you could use your computer to make a digital version. This schedule should clearly show exam dates and times, along with time slots for your child to dedicate to revision. You should also include ‘free time’ slots to allow your child to relax and reward themselves.

Identify their learning style

If you are planning on helping your child with their exam revision, it can be really useful to identify which learning style suits them best. For example, auditory learners prefer to talk things through or read aloud. Visual learners retain information better when using diagrams or videos, and kinaesthetic learners enjoy physical activities, such as role play and experiments. By identifying your child’s learning style you can find the right techniques to support their learning.

Encourage good sleeping habits

Getting plenty of sleep will improve your child’s concentration. Teenagers need around 8 to 10 hours’ sleep a night, so try to get them into a good routine when they are taking exams. It is also important to allow your child time to relax before going to sleep, particularly when revising. Ensure that they stop studying at least half an hour before bedtime, to help them get a good night’s sleep. Sleep will benefit your child far more than a late night study session.