What's the view on rewards/incentives for exam passes?

[myotherusernameisbetter]

This is all new territory for us this year as DS1 will be doing his first set of exams next year.

Up until now a small reward (book/computer game etc) has been given for a good school report/parents' evening. The reports etc have all been based around effort rather than achievement so I've felt the rewards have been earned for working hard.

Both DH and I came from very poor backgrounds so none of these type of rewards were ever given or expected to be given for exam results etc.

We are financially ok but not well off, but DCs (we have DS2) go to a high school where a lot of the parents are wealthy.

Neither DC has broached the subject of rewards for exams, but I have heard talk from other sources of various schemes that parents run such as £100 per A, £50 for a B etc. I have heard (though not sure if it's true), that a child has been promised a brand new car for all As in his final exams.

So, if you do/did give rewards, what did you give and for what and was it effective in motivating your child to do their best, or was it simply a hand out for being clever?

If you don't reward, do you regret that or think it would have made no difference and that the greater opportunities that come from exams were ample motivation and reward?

I used to think that 'bribes' were a bad idea and that a child should work hard for heir own success - however having an incredibly lazy - but able - teenage DS I am now giving it a bit more thought but haven't yet reached any conclusion .

Rewarding effort is one thing, but rewarding results has been shown to have a negative effect. There's a lot of evidence around.

We only ever give small treats or meals out for working hard, or tell the children that they will have a lovely holiday to look forward to if they get their heads down. Both have done well at GCSE and A level, and by 'well' I mean they have done what is good FOR THEM.

You want children to respond to intrinsic stimuli. How will they manage at university if you aren't around offering cash?

We did offered "incentives" with both dds for different reasons.

DD1 was a very high achieving, hard working student. She went to the local comp and to be honest she wasn't quite the norm. She went through a bit of a "what's the point, not many others are working as hard as me" so we offered her money.(after a lot of chat about the fact she will do well in the future etc) I can't remember the amounts but it was based on her predicted results. She ended up with a few hundred pounds and got all A*/As. It did give her a bit of a boost to carry on.

Dd2 was very different. She is just as bright but not at all motivated so we thought it would be a great incentive for her. it didn't make any difference and although she passed them she didn't do as well as she was predicted. As it turned out, her disappointing GCSE results, rather than lack of money gave her a good kick up the backside and she went on to get fantasist A levels.

We all get paid for working. Why shouldn't students?

This is interesting.

www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jun/25/cash-for-grades-should-parents-reward-exam-results

I will add that mine are now 24 and 21. They are well rounded, hard working women. Both at/have been at uni, both held down holiday jobs etc.

Having money as incentives hasn't had any negative affect on them at all.

Because they are learning to defer gratification, one of the most important lessons in life. Work hard now and do better later on life.

But when you're a 16 year old getting fed up with studying every night in the run up to exams, and their friends aren't bothering, saying "but it will all be worth it in the future" isn't as effective as saying "you'll get a reward in three months when the results come out"

I don't agree in payment for good results. I agree that it doesn't reward for effort, some children can put in huge effort and still not achieve the highest grades in the exam. And even for children expected to reach the higher grades, how will they feel if they don't achieve them and you don't reward them with money.

August- that's why it's better to offer incentives for their predicted grades. Saying if you get all As when they're expected to get all Cs would be very stupid. Does any parent actually do that?

Absolute no for me.

However I did reward my dd when she finished her exams as I wanted to reward the hard work she put in. I offered her a trip away if I could see she was putting in the effort to her work.

She did and she had the trip. Excellent results but in the off chance she had bottled it in the exams and not done as well as expected I didn't want to take away from the work she has done.

We went for a day out, lunch cinema etc to celebrate her results but I would never ever consider a pay by results incentive. It goes against everything I've learnt and believe about motivational theory and self esteem in young people.

I don't think anyone would expect As when predicted Cs, that's not what I said. I just don't agree with offering money for the result, far better to reward for the effort your can see being put in.

I think my issue will be more with DS2 who at the moment is in a group of friends that seem to be less able academically than he is. He has said to me that he doesn't see the point in studying as X friend studied hard for the class test and got less than he did when he himself had done nothing. I think for both of them thus far things have probably come too easy and they haven't seen the value of working extra in order to do better for themselves as they have generally done well amongst their peer group without trying too much. DS1 is slightly more competitive. he has less idea of what he wants to do though so maybe the target is lacking. DS2 does have a better idea of what he wants to do so I am hoping that becomes the motivation.

We've always said that working hard brings opportunities and whilst doing less well doesn't mean your life is over, it narrows down your life options - no idea if that is going in.

ds is quite materialistic generally so I remind him he will need to work hard at school to be able to afford these things as an adult

I agree with other posters that results in our family have not always correlated with effort (especially school dressing up days!)

DD got a reward for hard work in eleven plus before we know the results. So emphasis is on effort. She is motivated enough to want the schools she is trying for. We know she couldn't have tried harder.

I never did financial rewards. They were encouraged to do their best but I always put forward the view that the good exam results were their own reward and the exams were for their benefit not mine, probably because that's the line my parents took with me.
It's also fairer if you have children of differing abilities. Why should the kid who is lucky enough to have the ability to do well in exams get more money too?
My kids/ stepkids always got congratulated and we had a mini celebration but the kid with the best results didn't get a better celebration than the others.

I think rewards go to work and results over and beyond what could reasonably have been expected from that child. Otherwise they're doing a good job and get a "well done" with a huge smile or some token of pride and appreciation.

Sorry to sound like a killjoy, but school is their JOB. They are following a curriculum designed for children of that age and ability, they are given guidance and instruction by verifiably capable teachers so what's the big deal if they pass the corresponding exam? Even A Levels are a rite of passage.

If on the other hand they have struggled and overcome difficulties to get unexpectedly good results, they have EARNED a reward, just like an employee receives a productivity bonus, and the parent decides what is suitable.

This thread has struck a chord with me today. DS (17) is doing well at high school. Last year his marks were (just!) good enough to put him onto the "high achievers" list which involves a reduction in certain charges and perks like free clubs and activities. It will also impact on his final state exam result. We discussed this with him and he accepted it was worth working for those grades. When he got them his reward was a (private) huge joyful show of pride and approval from his parents and the choice of dinner that evening with a toast to his success.

Now, here comes the interesting bit...
What sets him apart is that on top of school he also does piano to a high level in his spare time. Today he did his final theory exam at the University and got an excellent mark. All due to perseverance, passion and a fair amount of grafting on top of his "day job" (and good tutors let's not forget!).

THAT is what fills me with wonder and pride and makes me WANT to reward his achievements.
His bottom-of-the-range mobile phone stopped picking up the WIFI last week. How convenient...he may be surprised with the replacement.

The trouble with rewarding kids who do better than you expect is that kids who consistently work hard so are expected to do well have the bar set much higher than those who piss about and then decide to make an effort. I think if kids try then you congratulate them, regardless of whether they do better than expected or as well as expected.

My dd would have felt a failure if we'd paid.per result
she did get 2 A and er about 6 A and 5 B but 3 of her A were just 1 point from an A ...
She got a designer watch at the end of exzmz regardless of results. I did give her £50 on results day to.pay for a trip out

It's the old Parable of the Prodigal Son, isn't it?
The hard worker gets none of the praise while the dosser is welcomed back and given rewards. Frustration is far outweighed by a sense of self worth though.

When kids get to the age of sitting exams, their parents have probably worked out whether they are internally or externally motivated.

The externally motivated ones do well with monitoring and teamwork, teacher support and encouragement with short term goals. These are the ones that would respond well to incentives and higher rewards for better results.

The internally motivated are driven by a personal desire to improve and develop. They can be loners or specialise in one area to the exclusion of others but when they find what they love they give it everything. Financial incentives wouldn't make much difference in that case.

OP, which sort of motivation do you see in your DC?

Now I feel like a terrible parent as I have no idea!

DS 1 is borderline aspergers and is a bit of a man of mystery. He is overly compliant so probably really just does as he is told, however he also thinks everything is "great" never asks questions though I would say he is a bit competitive but never spends the money he already has as he doesn't know what he wants.

DS2 is not competitive, things have generally come easy to him but he is stubborn to the point of idiocy. He talks a good self motivated game but is very lazy. He is a bit of a splash cash.

We have a graded scheme, a small amount for predicted level at report day and higher amounts for achieving over this grade.

Lots of careers have bonuses that award targets not effort so no different really.

Whilst as adults we can see the advantages good grades and high achievements have on the workplace it can be harder to see that as a teenager.