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MNHQ

Share your tips for helping your DC through the exam period with SchoolExams.co.uk – chance to win £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

190 replies

EmmaMumsnet · 06/03/2017 10:27

Whether your DC are at primary school, secondary school, or doing their A levels, exams can be a challenging time. SchoolExams.co.uk want to find out how you help your DCs through this period and for you to share any tips you have for making the process easier.

“You might not have the knowledge to help your child to revise for an exam, but you will be able to help them to gain the skills they need to maximise their success. You can also help to build their confidence, ease their stress and support them if things don’t go quite to plan. With experienced tutors, downloadable papers, and video tutorials SchoolExams.co.uk is the closest online experience which replicates the home tutor experience, at a fraction of the price.”

So how do you support your DC during exam time? Do you work with them on a revision timetable which includes planned breaks to help your DC stay focused and avoid last-minute panics? Or do you make sure they get lots of sleep and eat ‘brain food’ the morning of an exam? Is it a constant battle to get them to revise or are you more worried about them working too hard. Perhaps you are really involved and quiz them with flash cards on their subjects? Or maybe you're more laissez-fare, leaving them to get on with revision on their own.

However you help your DCs through the exam period, please share your tips below and you will be in with a chance to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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Share your tips for helping your DC through the exam period with SchoolExams.co.uk – chance to win £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
andymorris · 15/03/2017 11:49

early nights...some good food and concentrate on the subject

MrsFrTedCrilly · 15/03/2017 16:38

We review topics together if it's what he needs or wants to do but most importantly I try to instill in my child how proud I am of their hard work and achievement. I always remind him of how far he's come despite him never thinking that he could. And lots of cake!!!

winewolfhowls · 15/03/2017 20:41

Be sure to have done the work and paid attention in the first place. It's much harder to learn new things than to revise and memorise them.

HalimaB · 15/03/2017 21:06

Make sure you allocate a set time for your child to sit, learn and practice every single day. Repetition is especially good when they are young to make sure it sticks!! Also know when the kids concentration levels have been maxed out give them a break and some brain food. Keep all younger siblings preoccupied and away so your son/daughter can fully concentrate

defineme · 16/03/2017 07:41

Quiet study space, letting them off chores and fresh air breaks.

BL0SS0M · 16/03/2017 11:11

making sure there are healthy snacks on hand, being aware of their revision timetable and making sure they agree on not using phone for a two hours while revision is taking place

pizzatray · 16/03/2017 13:08

Early nights, good food without too much sugar or artificial stuff, fresh air and (hopefully if possible!) sunshine. Exercise important too.

Not stressing too much about it and having other things to do!

ann28 · 16/03/2017 15:50

Make sure they take a break!

ha2el · 16/03/2017 16:04

I never put pressure on my children to perform exceptionally. I only emphasise that they do the work and do their very best. To be proud of the effort that they put in and to ask for help if they are having difficulty.

lottieandmia · 16/03/2017 19:12

My dc is rewarded for good exam results. I also make sure she goes to bed on time.

Jayfee · 16/03/2017 21:47

hide any anxiety from them...exams are important but not life or death

SallyGinnamon · 17/03/2017 05:26

Both of my DC know that nothing is the end of the world. People change career all the time and for most things there are second chances.

I also say that the important thing is to try your best then you can be proud of your results. There's nothing worse than getting a poor result and think 'if only I'd worked instead of partied'.

In practical terms, with DS's GCSEs for some subjects I marked past papers for him so that he could focus on the exam practice.

user1485629191 · 17/03/2017 10:38

Factor in fun time during the revision! We did half an hour of craft, drove for ice cream, played bingo, anything that was fun and silly to completely get their mind off them. I also tell my children that whilst exams are important I am still proud of them and love them no matter what the results are.

poopoopoo · 17/03/2017 13:22

Let them chill out, have a short bit of revision time in the mornings when their brains are at their best. Keep them well fed and don't give them any more pressure, being happy and healthy is most important!

pfcpompeysarah · 17/03/2017 22:11

I think its important to just make sure they are looking after themselves, feed them well, make sure they get plenty of breaks and lots of sleep and ultimately just let them know that you are there to help them with anything they need. I don't agree with pressuring your kids too much, my mum always said 'so long as you tried your best then that's good enough for me' and I think that sort of attitude really helped, some people get so stressed over exams because they are being made to do too much or place too much emphasis on the outcome of it.

tallulahbalghar · 18/03/2017 12:51

Working out their concentration span, making sure they have a quiet space to revise and being around to answer any of their questions and to reassure them. Patience, patience and more patience and snacks!

Dizzyc73 · 18/03/2017 14:16

During exam time I have with each of my 5 children made a timetable with them, one that works for them and makes them feel like they also have spare time. I make sure they stick to the timetable for revision and then reward them with maybe their favourite tea or one of their favoured chocolate bars for example. I also tried to make sure they got outdoors even if it's just for 20 minutes, fresh air is good for clearing the mind and getting focused. To be fair, all 5 of my children passed all their exams and are now doing well at college or working in decent jobs.

bettythebuilder · 18/03/2017 19:34

My daughter struggles to sleep during exam times, I now give her a little pouch filled with lavender to put under her pillow. if she' can't get to sleep she gets it out to smell it, it's more a psychological/soothing thing really, but she says it helps!
We also go for a short walk together round the block when she takes a revision break... just a bit of fresh air and exercise, but she can also have a chat with me, about her schoolwork or anything.

WhoremoaneeGrainger · 20/03/2017 14:49

Lots of sleep. We have made flashcards for each subject on the bits DD has struggled to remember in past assessments. Breaks for the loo, a drink, something yummy to eat. Max 30 mins at a time before a break, even if it is just to stretch. Quiet music in the background helps DD concentrate. Not allowed to sit up in her room on her own all evening. Nice warm bath, some wind down time after so has something other than what she is revising in her head before sleep.

WhoremoaneeGrainger · 20/03/2017 14:49

Oh and no phone/laptop/tablet whilst revising from notes/cards

windowmouse · 20/03/2017 16:08

Create the right environment for revision and encourage them to take breaks as well as studying

cookie09 · 20/03/2017 19:43

The best way to support your child during the stress of revision and exams is to make home life as calm and pleasant as possible. It helps if other members of the household are aware that your child may be under pressure and that allowances should be made for this.

Make sure there are plenty of healthy snacks in the fridge and try to provide good, nutritious food at regular intervals. Encourage your child to join family meals, even if it's a busy revision day - it's important to have a change of scene and get away from the books and computer for a while.

rocketriffs · 21/03/2017 09:37

Plenty of support and encouragement. Use de stressing techniques and most of all, in the event of the results going the wrong way, tell it doesn't matter because they will always have the love and support from the family.

Andbabymakesthree · 22/03/2017 12:17

My teenage stepson is currently studying for his GCSEs. Been really careful not to put any pressure on him. Lots of fun and laughter and a chance to be just 15 with his mates.

Quietvoiceplease · 22/03/2017 12:33

This is a tricky one to generalise about, as even amongst my three children, different things work. The eldest struggles with procrastination (I don't know where she gets that from; I am actually typing this whilst meaning to do something else...). So I have tried to help her with a timetable not just of subjects but also topics and questions to think about. My main help to her though has been to try and teach her synthesis of information, and to keep asking herself exm type Qs to check if she understands the information. The alternative is that she will otherwise just look for confirmation in her notes of what she knows. My mantra, however, is that revision is not learning, and she should spend the months leading up to exams consolidating information, so that revision is not about new information, but about application of that information.
Having said that, I then am also a bit on her case because despite all this, everytime I go in to her room, she seems to be faffing!
My younger daughter is only 12, but experience with HW to date does not bode well for how to support her in revision (she struggles at school, so it is minefield). That desire for them to do their best, but having to watch them do less than that, can be so difficult to observe.

Having said all this, our family mantra is: the results don't matter but trying your best does. The rest, I hope, falls into place.

Now, what was I meant to be doing? :)