*New* TUE Resource Alert: 'Supporting Teens During Exam Season'

Let ‘Operation Exam Season’ commence!

Supporting children and young people through what can feel like a small academic marathon requires stamina, not just on the part of the young people facing the exams, but also on the part of their family! It requires us to think more holistically in terms of family support. How can we help them feel organised and in control of the volume of work they need to get through? How can we ensure that they are revising effectively and not just sitting in their bedrooms gaming? How can we motivate them without nagging them? How can we ensure they are nourishing their bodies and minds whilst they revise?

Know, you are not alone.

Currently, you might feel like the only parent in the world facing the challenge of supporting a child, or even multiple children, through the preparation for high stakes exams, but you aren’t alone. Thousands of other parents who form part of the Tooled Up digital village are going through the same thing, at the same time as you. We know that it can feel daunting and maybe even anxiety-inducing when you consider what lies ahead for your child. We know what it feels like to want to do your best for your child, so they can give every paper their best. We know you might be losing sleep wondering how the next few weeks might pan out. We hope our tips and the resources embedded within them, help you feel empowered and confident.

Organisation is key.

Before getting into the nitty-gritty with your teen about revision plans for each subject and what they feel worried or confident about, let’s get our ducks lined up. Let’s think about ensuring that they have everything they could possibly need ahead of the revision period starting. Start with the basics. Do they know when their exams are? Some teens can’t bear to think about this, some will already have schedules printed out and highlighted on the bedroom wall. Either way, make sure all dates are in family diaries and double-checked. Try not to get too annoyed if your child isn’t sure (easier said than done!) and instead ask them to jot down the things that they don’t know and need to know. Consider together how they can find answers to these questions or omissions. Do they need to ask a friend, a teacher or form tutor? Have they done that? Stay calm and positive, modelling the fact that you are a team. Praise them for working through these organisational points.

Does your child have all the tools they need to revise? For example, a working calculator, mathematical equipment, squared paper, colourful post-it notes? Is their computer or laptop working optimally? Do they have a favourite pen for exams, and can they get used to using it now? Are their notes organised per subject? Do they need to go through a pile of notes on the bedroom floor and work out what goes where? Can you support them by listening as they make piles and start to feel better as they become more organised?

Tools vary across subjects, but it is helpful to do a small audit now, rather than later! It is also a good juncture once they feel a bit more organised to ask them how they feel about each subject sitting in front of them. Here is a resource we created for GCSE students for example, that might provide inspiration.

Discussing expectations, managing stress and finding balance.

Just when revision is required and exams are upon them, teenagers also have a perfectly normal drive to socialise and engage with one another. Some won’t want to miss their friend’s big party at any cost. Some will be dating and worry about when they will see their boy or girlfriend if school is out. Others will be working or have sport and other commitments. Yes, they have lots of their plates, and we want to map all that out, so we are avoiding arguments the night before a big exam.

Ask them: how can I help you find balance over this time? Let’s sit down and think about what you want to accomplish and how you are going to take care of yourself too over the weeks ahead.

This conversation involves mapping out realistic revision schedules (even for a week at a time) coupled with a realistic discussion about small treats and things to look forward to at the end of each week. Some teens may not care about these incentives. Others rely on them. You are the judge. Planning to partake in a football match (for example) or to see a friend in town after an effective revision session at home can work brilliantly, bolster mental health and reduce anxiety. However, attending parties, sleepovers and particularly consuming alcohol during exam season can obviously inhibit sleep, academic performance and have an unwanted knock-on effect on concentration and learning.

Talking to your teen and agreeing on potential plans of action that feel good and doable is advisable ahead of time. You will know intuitively that sport and exercise are terrific activities to pepper any revision schedule with (even a walk around the block after 30 minutes revision can enhance learning and wellbeing). You will know what works for your child in terms of ‘feel good’ factors and the more we can amplify those in family life at this time, all the better.

Nutrition, energy drinks and allergies.

How will your teen fuel themselves over the revision and exam period, so that those brilliant brains are working optimally? We have done the heavy-lifting for you, and asked a paediatric dietitian for her view so check out her suggestions here. We also did some recent digging on the topic of energy drinks, a popular choice amongst teens who fancy all-night revision sessions) or who wish to feel alert on the day of the exam. It won’t surprise parents to learn that these drinks are not something that will enhance your teen’s mood or performance (quite the contrary). Persuading some young people of this fact is another matter. We suggest reading through this information sheet and perhaps ask your teen to at least weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of consuming these drinks.

Other concerns: It is around this time of year (spring) that allergy parents can feel concerned about the impact of things like hay fever on exam preparation and performance. You are right to consider this issue early. Listen to Professor Adam Fox’s tips in this past webinar and if you have other questions for him, he’s back with us for a webinar in May.

Revision is underway, but is it effective?

You might see your teen sitting down to get some work done, but what are they doing and is it working well for them? Setting small, achievable revision goals per subject, per day, can work well as teens have a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day. During this process, we can support them in multiple ways. Firstly, we can try to ensure that home is as quiet as possible. We can potentially adjust working patterns to ensure an adult is present during key revision periods (or that a grandparent or family friend can pop in to see them with lunch!). During break times, we can ask them to teach us something. This can feel undemanding as a task, yet it is a powerful mechanism for helping them recall knowledge. We can offer to test them on something, notice when they are making progress and comment on their tenacity and perseverance.

Ahead of the revision period, ensure they have read available subject-specific revision guidance, that they know where to get past papers from (for example, do they need a login to a particular site) and read through this ‘Smart Reviser’ resource with them. Ask them what works for them, and does it vary per subject?

As revision begins, some teens might start to feel overwhelmed and anxious. They might realise they don’t understand something important or know less about a topic than they thought. Reassure them that revision is about just that; working out what we know, and what we don’t know, and going over it again and again until we feel like we have grip or mastery of it. They can test themselves in different contexts and with past papers until they begin to develop confidence. Praise them for having the courage to get stuck in!

Examiners are people too.

The thought of examiners marking papers can be enough to give us all excessive butterflies in tummies, but it is worth reminding our offspring that examiners are just people after all (typically teachers and parents themselves) and that they want the best for them!

You might choose to watch this webinar with your teen or choose a part of it where Patrick Cragg (a GCSE English examiner) is giving out a few of his best stress-busting tips. Students will judge for themselves, but we think he comes across as compassionate and kind. It is the Patricks of this world who will ultimately spend the summer marking our teens’ exam papers and sometimes visualising who they are writing the exam for, can help reduce those pesky nerves.

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