Exam success without the Exam Stress:- a guide for parents

Exam Success without the Exam Stress.

Supporting your son/daughter through exams.© Copyright Bridget Clapham 2010

Bridget Clapham is an performance and exam success coach who enjoys working with students of all ages so that they can achieve their potential in exams, auditions and interviews.

For information visit www.bridgetclapham.co.uk or call 01869 277348 to discuss exam success or interview coaching. You can also follow Bridget on Twitter bridgetclapham


Celebrating exam success is fabulous for the student as well as for the teachers who have taught them and we, the parents who have supported and shared the exam journey with them. To open the results letter and see successful grades jump out from the paper brings, for the student, and also for parents, a mixture of feelings from relief, excitement, joy, exhilaration, confidence and pride.

We invest in our children's education in the belief that we are enabling them to reach their potential. However the school, its teachers and the students are not the only vital ingredients in the recipe of exam success. Parents also play a crucial role.

Our children in the UK are the most consistently and highly assessed children in the world today. Many children feel pressurised to achieve highly and increasing numbers of young people are suffering every year from stress related symptoms and health problems relating to the pressure of exams. Childline recently reported a 50% rise in the number of calls and increasingly GPs are prescribing medication for teenagers who are stressed and overwhelmed by exams.

ChildLine’s Chief Executive, Carole Easton, said:

"Exam stress affects almost every child at some point in their education and we are hearing from hundreds of children at this time of year who are struggling to cope with the pressure they are under. It is vital to reassure children that there is life after exams, that they are not the only route to success, and that they will still be loved and valued no matter how they perform"

So- how can our children achieve success without the stress? What can we do to help them to manage the pressure and confidently reach their potential?

This is a huge topic area but here are a few proven suggestions to get you started.


Quotes from GCSE and sixth form teenagers are in italics.

Help your child find the inspiration to do well.


“Study and revision — no thanks!”

Many teenagers, when asked about GCSE, AS and A levels find them as inspiring as wading through mud in concrete boots! You may remember that feeling!!!

Help your child see beyond the exams to the future opportunities that their success will bring.

Help them understand that each exam is the equivalent of a stepping stone or a key to get them to the next level.

The more keys they have, the more choices they will have about which doors to open for their future!



Make sure that you and your child share a view on what their success looks like!

Sometimes as parents we have visions of success which don’t match those of our children, or their teachers.

“Whatever I do isn’t good enough for my parents. They want me to get A stars and I’m just not an A Star student.” GCSE student.

Being interested in what your child is learning as well as being supportive and encouraging is far more valuable than setting unrealistic, stressful targets for your child.

Talk with them and with teachers about their potential success. For some children success is A or A star, for others it is a C or D grade.

Celebrate the potential of YOUR child and encourage them to reach it!


Make the most of resources.

“My Mum has bought every study guide published. I’m surrounded by them and I don’t know where to start!!”

This is a common one. there is still time so, check with teachers which revision guides and websites are most suited to the syllabus that your child is studying for each subject.

Check with your child which approved guide suits their style best!

Encourage your child to ask teachers if unsure. Use the subject experts!

Make sure that there is a comfortable area in which to study and that the environment is well equipped.

If possible keep study separate from your child's bedroom. Switching off and relaxing is important!



Mindset Matters

“I wish I felt more confident about my exams” A Level student

Confidence and self belief are vital to success. Talk with your child about what is going well, praise and encourage their efforts and think of ways that you can boost their confidence whilst studying and doing exams. Make sure that you celebrate every achievement along the way.

Talk to teachers if you feel that more confidence is needed. Your child may be presenting a different persona at school from the one you experience at home and teachers will help once they are aware there is a need.

After every exam get your child to focus on what they COULD answer and what they thought went well. Encourage them to be the best they can be. That's all anyone can ever ask!!

A positive mindset matters

“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t---you’re probably right.” Henry Ford.



Organisation and planning

“My time just disappears I spend hours planning and not enough time doing” GCSE student.

Help your child devise a study timetable and then, importantly to stick to it!!

Find out what help students are having with revision techniques. Some children lack skills in HOW to revise.

Encourage revision in small chunks broken up by something fun or relaxing.

Make sure your child is aware of the different ways to revise- study guides, mind mapping, past papers and on line quizzes and resources all add variety.

Help your child work out which best suits their learning and study style.


Balance.

“Nothing but work, work, work. My Dad rings me every night to check how much I’ve done” GCSE student of divorced parents.

Balance is important. Encourage your child to plan breaks as well as study.
Learning and memory function is reduced when stress levels are high. The brain chemistry associated with stress and anxiety is not conducive to feeling good or to focus, study, and memory or recall function.

Fun and relaxation create endorphins- the body’s “happy hormones” and brain function improves on many levels. Fun and relaxation thus create a great balance to study and the student can return refreshed with something else always to look forward to!

Ensure that they are sleeping well and eating healthily.

Plan something to look forward to during study and after the exams!



In conclusion,

As parents we may not be curriculum experts but through the love that we have for our children we can do a great deal to support them through the pressure of exams, and encourage and guide them on their way to success.



Do message me via the blog, via Twitter bridgetclapham or via my website on www.bridgetclapham.co.uk