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Exams can be a really stressful time for the whole family. We understand that as a parent or supporter, all you want is the best for your loved one. Take a look at our top 5 things you can do to help support them to succeed during exam season.
Young people studying for their exams are often under a lot of pressure to excel, most say that this pressure comes from their family. You can help ease the pressure they feel by reassuring them it isn’t the end of the world if things don’t go as well as they hoped. Speak to them before their exams to make sure they know you’re proud of them no matter what happens.
Revising and preparing for exams is obviously very important but it can take over the lives of some students when exam season rolls around. It’s important that they don’t ‘burn out’ before the exams have even begun. It may seem like your ‘duty’ to encourage revision but try to encourage them to take some time out too. Having regular breaks for exercise or to do an activity they enjoy can actually boost productivity and is the key to remaining positive and motivated. It’s also a welcome distraction for some students.
One way to show your support is to help your young person with their studies. This can be in the form of actually helping them academically, such as going over exam questions and testing their knowledge with flash cards, or helping them out in other ways, for example helping with their chores, cooking them a good meal and generally taking things off their plate so they can put all their efforts into revision.
Arguably, the most important thing you can do is talk about stress. Ask your loved one how they’re feeling and discuss how you can support them through this stressful time. Being able to speak openly about how they're feeling is vital as it allows you to understand how to support them. Again, this might be a good time to remind them how proud you are and that you’ll be there for them no matter what happens.
If the worst should happen, it might be a good idea to know what options are available. If a student hasn’t achieved the conditions of their University offers, they could still find a place through Clearing. Alternatively, they may consider resitting exams, so find out when resits take place. Having this knowledge will also help to reassure students and hopefully take the pressure off.
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