Supporting Your Child When Preparing For Exams

There are a number of ways you can support your child during this stressful period. Read on to discover all you need to know.

Firstly, you should work out a timetable that suits your child. Don’t enforce a revision timetable that is too taxing or does not fit in with your child’s wants (within reason), or you will only add to the pressure they are already feeling. Instead, let your child guide you when working out a revision timetable. Everyone learns differently; some children prefer longer revision sessions whereas others are better with the little and often approach. 

Don’t forget to schedule past papers into your timetable. By putting mock exams in place at various points throughout the revision schedule, you can ensure your child is ready for the real exam. Past papers help them to get familiar with the type of questions that are going to be asked, and so they can perfect their exam technique. However, you do need to mix it up and offer a variety of revision approaches, from practical tasks to reading revision guides.

Also, make sure you help them with specific areas of learning. For example, if you have a young child who is taking a math exam and calculators are not allowed, it is important to ensure your child practices on their mental maths skills. Now is a good time to help your child become secure in their times tables, as they will need to rely on this knowledge.

What To Do If Your Child’s School Hasn’t Provided Past Papers

Past papers are a great revision resource. Most schools will provide your child with at least one or two past papers. However, what do you do if your child hasn’t received any past papers from their school? Or, if you would like to get your hands on some more past papers?

Of course, you can ask the school, but you’d like to think that they would have provided the papers to the children if they had them. All you really need to do is a quick search on the Internet. You should be able to find maths past papers with relative ease, as well as great resources like this AP calculus books and other exam books with practice papers. 

Nonetheless, you do need to be careful about the past papers you use. You must make sure that they are authentic; so only download them from a credible resource. Look for a revision website that has a good reputation in the industry and has a number of positive reviews from parents that were once in your shoes. You may have to part with a very small amount of money for this privilege, but it is money well spent. The last thing you want to do is give your child fake papers to practice with. 

Not only this, but most revision websites also have other great study resources for your child to make the most of, including videos and animated question walkthroughs. This can take the weight off your shoulders, as you have a handy revision tool to turn to if you are struggling to explain things to your child.