Prepare children for their exams

Exam time can be a stressful time for both children and parents. Children should prepare the syllabus and turn it in at the time of the exam, and parents should make sure that they help their children as much as possible in preparing for the exams. In fact, parents can play an important role in preparing their children for success on academic tests. The role of parents in preparing their children for exams for different age groups of children is highlighted below.

From 7 to 11 years

Children in the 7-11 age group are basically primary school students. Children in this age group are just learning the basics of each subject at this stage. The immediate goal for kids in this age group is to pass the SATs with flying colors and lay a good foundation for other big tests in the future. As a parent, your task is to guide your child at such a tender age to get out of his exams successfully. Here are some helpful tips to help you prepare your child for their exams.

1. Preparation is the best way to combat stress during exam times. Make sure your child adheres to this golden rule and does not leave any part of the curriculum unprepared.
2. The period leading up to exams is a golden time. The key is to organize the schedule in such a way that it covers all topics thoroughly.
3. Children at this stage are quite impressionable. Therefore, it is much easier to instill positivity in their minds so that your child can develop the coping mechanisms to learn how to deal with the pressure of exams. This allows them to de-stress and not panic at the time of the exam. Panicking during a test is one of the main reasons kids do less well on tests. Teach them simple routines to deal with exam stress at their age and these methods will stay with them for the rest of their lives. This topic is covered in a bit more detail at the end of the article.
4. If your child is having trouble concentrating on a particular topic, try innovative techniques from everyday life to make the topic interesting. Try Windows brain training software or one of the main packages for the Nintendo DS system. This topic is covered in a bit more detail at the end of the article.
5. If the child usually has difficulty concentrating on his studies, it is better to give him a break. First, he must persuade the child to indulge in the activities he likes best. E.g. Sports, TV, games, etc. This should recharge the batteries and improve the child’s concentration levels.
6. Make sure your child gets adequate physical exercise, a healthy diet, and regular sleep during the exam period.
7. Don’t leave it for the last minute. If you’ve instilled in your child the habit of being organized and meeting all deadlines throughout the year, half the work of preparing your child for her exams is already done.
8. Children should be aware of the importance of planning ahead. If the child knows what is expected of him during the exam, it will save him from the surprise element of the added pressure. In this sense, preparing a monthly schedule for the child and encouraging him to stick to it can be a good way to introduce discipline in the child’s routine.
9. Finally, don’t overload your child with high expectations. Just leave them alone and they are much more likely to get good grades. Her son has probably been put under enough pressure without you joining in.

11 to 16 years

The preteen and teen years are formative stages of a child’s academic career. Preparing for your high school exams and GCSEs can seem like the most difficult task due to various distractions at this stage of your life. As a parent, you should treat children in this age group with the utmost care. Here are some helpful tips to help you prepare tweens and teens for their exams.

1. Encouraging and letting your child know about the importance of GCSEs is your primary role as a parent.
2. Rely on hard work throughout the year instead of last minute revisions.
3. The importance of organization and scheduling can never be overstated for any age group. Help your child make a schedule. Make room for your normal day-to-day activities. Never let them eliminate activities they enjoy to make room for more review time. This will only lead to a build up of stress which could lead to poor performance on all of your exams.
4. Practicing and reviewing throughout the year without skipping any part is the key to success and your child should be encouraged to clear up any difficulties or doubts rather than skipping the difficult part altogether.
5. It is extremely vital to allow and encourage your children to get adequate rest so that they are refreshed every time they study. They should also be encouraged to engage in different activities, and not just concentrate on studies.
6. Create the perfect environment for studies. Ask family members not to disturb your child when he is studying and avoid distractions from any source, such as the television. Keep in mind that some children benefit from listening to some types of music while studying.
7. Make sure your child sleeps well and adequately.
8. Always praise them for their hard work and reward them with small gifts.
9. Instill positive thinking by explaining to your child that it doesn’t make sense to think about poor performance on a test.
10. Ask your child if he needs help. This moral support is enough for your child to be honest with their test preparation.
11. Promise a big family celebration after exams are over, and keep your promise!

You can only do so much, but the final test results are entirely your child’s effort. Always remind your children of the golden rule of life.

Games improve memory and test performance

With the introduction of brain training software for the Nintendo game console, educational software became cool. Children who are reluctant to learn using conventional methods are now being taught using educational software in the classroom. In one example, we have created software that has different targets that move around a smart board and the student triggers the correct answer using a remote control. This is a very fun method of teaching mental math and spelling to younger age groups.

Research on educational computer games, such as brain training software for Windows and the Nintendo game console, showed that children who use the software for 20 minutes at the beginning of the day easily outperform children who use conventional methods.

The children who used the software tended to calm down more quickly and concentrate with much higher levels of concentration. Adults have also achieved the same results using the same software. Furthermore, short-term and long-term memory were found to improve if the software is used regularly.

To improve your child’s performance on their exams, try to find the right balance between conventional methods, using past exams, review guides and computer-based methods, online learning (SAM’s Learning, etc.), computer software , brain training software, etc.

Methods to control stress.

In the months leading up to the exam period, play a sport or try to get in some light exercise by going for a bike ride or a long walk. Physical activity is a great method to reduce stress and anxiety.

At the beginning of the exam, read the exam instructions carefully without thinking about anything else. This will prevent you from making mistakes when answering questions that you shouldn’t try because you’ve tried other questions; but it will also focus your mind by eliminating thoughts that lead to anxiety. Find a perfume or deodorant that has a calming effect on you.

If you feel really anxious, hold your nose and exhale or breathe through your cupped hands. This increases carbon dioxide in the blood causing a calming effect. Find your own stress points, massage your temples or just over your nose in a gentle circular motion. If you suffer from really serious nerves or anxiety, don’t suffer alone, go see a doctor.