Parents: How to support during the exam period
The next few months are crucial for your son or daughter as they prepare to sit their GCSEs this summer. We all know that these are important exams as the grades achieved will determine what he or she does next in life. You will want your child to achieve the best grades that they can and this can be made possible when there is a good partnership between the student, the school and parents.
Students need to use the limited time left before the exams well. They need to be organised and work hard. There are a number of simple things that you can do as a parent to help students to be as prepared as possible:
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle including proper sleep, exercise, and diet.
- Create a quiet study environment at home.
- Be a positive and encouraging presence, avoiding pressure and negativity.
- Discuss their study plan and help them stay organised and on track.
- Offer to assist with practice questions or help with specific topics.
- Allow breaks and encourage leisure activities for stress relief.
- Reinforce the importance of preparing, but also emphasize the value of self-care and a growth mindset.
- Encourage them to use the exam paper resources on the school website.
Your role may include some or all of the following:
Attendance officer
Making sure your child attends school on time every day and understands the importance of making the most of lesson times. Government statistics show that there is a link between attendance, punctuality and results at GCSEs. Every day lost in attendance reduces your child’s chance of achieving their best.
Partner with school and child
Going to parents’ evenings, asking questions and finding out how you can best help your child at home.
Provider of the tools for homework and revision
A quiet space for study, pens, paper and other necessities.
Study buddy
Showing an interest in the subjects, helping with the homework (but not doing it for them), testing them when they ask you.
Adviser
Helping your child to break tasks down so that they are manageable, keeping a subtle eye on progress and celebrating achievements. Seeing a positive way forward when things go wrong.
Project manager
Agreeing the rules for homework or revision, helping them to make a realistic timetable, balancing work time against recreation time and reviewing the plans as necessary.
Go-between
For your child and the school when necessary, making sure problems are addressed quickly.
Information provider
Finding copies of old exam papers, searching out websites, finding out about the subject, exam structures and content.
Revision tips for parents
Help your child to make a study/revision timetable which includes the dates and times of the examinations in May and June as well as dates of any controlled assessments.
- The timetable should be used to plan revision sessions. These should be spread out evenly so that your son/daughter is not planning to do too much all at once.
- Have the timetable displayed in their room and help them to stick to the plan.
- Ask to see your son/daughter’s revision notes and make sure that they speak to their teachers if they are missing any.
- Encourage your son/daughter to ask for help at school on any work that they do not understand.
- Encourage your child to attend all revision sessions offered by the school.
- Make sure that they have all the books needed to hand to avoid wasted time.
- You can buy revision guides to help with study.
- Make sure that your child knows which exam board and syllabus have been followed for each subject.
- Make sure that the study area is quiet and well-lit.
- Check how they are doing by asking them to explain to you something that they have just revised.
