Easter is traditionally a time for young people to ramp up their preparation for the upcoming exam season. Taking exams can be stressful for students – and for their parents and carers!
You can help your young person with practical tasks and time management, such as developing a revision plan to focus on the most important topics and subjects at the right time.
Looking after their wellbeing, making sure they are getting good sleep, fuelling them with nutritious food and snacks, and keeping hydrated. Ensure they are taking breaks and getting a healthy balance to avoid overwhelm and burn-out.
Being supportive and creating a calm and positive environment to allow them to focus on study. Don’t worry about small things like chores, or a messy bedroom!
Prepare everything, ensure they have all your necessary materials (pens, pencils, ID, etc.) packed and their clothes ready the night before the exam.
Here is our pick of the best sources of help and support
BBC Children in Need- Supporting Young People with Exams – This resource brings together useful links to mental health and wellbeing resources, including Young Minds. It’s a great place to start if your young person is feeling overwhelmed.
Top tips for parents: Helping Children Prepare for exams – Dr. Amanda Hipkiss, an expert in how students with SEND take examinations, shares her top tips for those supporting students with SpLD and/or dyslexia. Her advice is invaluable for making the exam process smoother.
BBC Bitesize – Offers subject guides and videos, as well as revision tips and exam preparation strategies. You can create an account on ‘My Bitesize’ to personalise your learning. It’s like having a personal tutor at your fingertips. Also useful for keeping one step ahead to help with homework!
Practicing using past exam papers under timed conditions is a great tool for exam preparation, to reinforce understanding and improve exam technique. You can find past papers, mark schemes, supporting materials, and exam dates on the individual exam board websites, such as:
CloudLearn – Shares expert tips through exams with effective study strategies and emotional support.
One of our team has children sitting both A Level and GCSE exams this summer. Knowing what is included in each paper and reminding them to think of the sequencing of their exams and what to prioritise has really helped to avoid adding to the stress.
Understand how your children study differently, not only using different techniques, but also working at different times of the day. Are they a night owl who can revise late into the evening? Or are they a morning person and need to get it done first thing?
And finally, talk to friends, family, colleagues and teachers for support and encouragement.
Looking for more advice, resources, and insights tailored for parents? Explore our growing collection of articles designed to help you support your child’s future. From careers guidance to educational opportunities, our ever-expanding library is here to inspire and inform. Click here to discover more!
