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Exam Stress
For some teenagers the pressure and expectation to do well can be very great. For parents it can be difficult to find a balance between being supportive and intrusive. While strategies on how to cope vary, the unanimous advice from experts is to keep things in perspective. Exams are a big worry for most young people. Sometimes parents add to the load by expecting too much. One good thing about exam stress is that you know there will come a time when the exams are over - although waiting for the results can be nerve-racking too. Coping with exams For many teenagers who are studying at school or college, the time of exams is very stressful and difficult. Some exam pressure is inevitable, but parents can do much to support and encourage their son or daughter through this time. Why do teenagers come under such stress? So much of a teenager's future seems to depend on success in exams that stress seems guaranteed. Many teenagers are afraid of failing, but they are also worried about letting their parents and family down. If you can reassure your teenager that as long as he does his best you will be happy, that may help to reduce his anxiety. How to help teenager prepare for exams? A key area where you can support your teenager is to help set up good study habits. • make sure they have a quiet, calm place to do their work • set aside specific times to work and do not allow them to be interrupted • help him to organize files and books • remind him that spending time on his weaknesses - the areas he is not good at - may pay more dividends than just concentrating on his strengths • suggest he uses index cards to make notes - they are easy to revise from, and can be used for quick revision before an exam Helping teenager revise Revision is the key to making sure your teenager does his best. It is not always as easy to revise as it is to learn the work in the first place, and many teenagers feel that they are facing an uphill task alone. During the revision period for exams, parents can help their teenagers with the necessary assistance and motivation to revise productively. Encourage your teenager to plan a revision timetable. If your teenager has worries or concerns about specific subjects or topics, encourage him to speak to his teacher at an early stage. Advice about areas to concentrate on or suggestions of extra work can help him manage the workload. Encourage your teenager to check that he has all the correct notes, essays and texts to revise from. Explain to your teenager that prolonged slogging isn't as effective as short intensive spurts. Suggest that they do around 50 minutes at a time, with a 10-minute break. Remind your teenager to work on all areas, not just the ones he likes. It's very easy to ignore the areas he finds difficult, and they can easily crop up in the exams. In between study sessions, encourage to do some exercise. Exercise will lower stress levels generally, as your teenager lets off steam. Encourage him to eat small amounts often, and offer lots of carbohydrates - bread, pasta and potatoes - for energy. Don't have a lot of sugar. Caffeine is OK, in moderation. It is important that teenagers are not tired when they sit the tests, so encourage some early nights. If your teenager has a problem sleeping, and feels tired as a result, then suggest a 20-30 minute nap in the afternoon. Encourage your teenager to use all resources possible - libraries, the web, family friends, a set of revision guides -and seek support from anyone who may be able to help. Helping your teen on the day of an exam: • make sure he gets up in plenty of time so he's not rushing and has time to eat breakfast. He won't be able to concentrate if his stomach is rumbling • encourage her to take five minutes to check that she has everything she needs, like extra pens and pencils, calculators and maths equipment • remind him not to discuss the details of the exam just before he goes in. Someone will always know something he doesn't! • say: "don't panic, don't worry - just do your best." Tell to say it to oneself during an exam as often as it needs to. And if he does his best, be happy with the results - whatever they are. Finally, parents should be careful not to get too anxious themselves. They can help best by being quietly supportive, available to listen and ready to reassure that there is life after the HSC and that it can be good whatever the results.
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