Surviving Exam Season

The final exam season of the year is almost here, and it’s not unusual for a sense of dread to creep in.  It’s not just the learners who are under duress; exam time can be stressful for families and the school community.  Parents and teachers want to provide the right support, but it’s not always clear what that should be.

With the end of the year exams around the corner, I asked the Koa Academy, Mark Anderson for his advice/tips on ‘Surviving Exam Season’

Hands off or on?  How involved should parents be?

There’s such a wide range of parent-child relationships in diverse family contexts that it is impossible to find one-size-fits-all advice.  What’s true though, is that during exam season, most parents find themselves treading fine lines.

Mark says, “It can help for parents to think of their involvement during exam time in terms of the optimal role they could play.  In my view, this is about supportive accountability.  For instance, instead of seeing their role as a driver of their child’s performance or staying completely in the background, parents are more effective as their child’s primary supporter.  This means taking a keen interest but not taking over.  It helps learners when their parents hold them accountable in an appropriate way.  Your child should have the space to take ownership of their own study schedule and goal setting.  Checking in regularly though demonstrates your interest in their progress and their roadblocks which is supportive and motivational.”

Parents also play an important role in facilitating an optimal study environment over exam season.  It’s not just about the studying.  To perform at their peak, your child needs to study in comfort, sleep sufficiently, eat healthily, exercise daily, interact socially and take breaks so that they can recharge.  Parents can help by keeping their focus on their child’s well-being and encouraging healthy habits.  In some families, parents can also play an important role in reducing distractions and household obligations, while monitoring procrastination which can lead to stressful, fruitless cramming before an exam.  Mark says, “Parents will want to be the champions of consistency and balance during exam season.  If your child is sitting up studying desperately until two in the morning, that’s a red flag, not a sign of dedication and determination.  We perform at our peak when we are well-prepared and confident, and you can’t give your best when you are exhausted and anxious.”

Advice for learners – keeping things in perspective

Mark says, “Keep perspective, exams are not a sudden disruption to your school year, they are just part of the learning cycle.  Everything you do throughout a school year works towards your performance in an exam. Working consistently on your classwork, courses and projects throughout the year is all learning and preparation that leads you to writing the exams. That’s why consistency wins the day.  So, it is important not to see exam season as a surprise or once-off, or even disassociated event.  Exams are embedded in your learning, and therefore your long-term effort pays off best at exam time.”

What’s also important for learners who are feeling like their whole future is at stake during exam time, is to realise that things are not that simplistic.  Life is long, people’s futures take many interesting turns, and the world is full of solutions.  Many parents have experienced this reality first hand and bringing that perspective during exam time can lift our eyes and relieve unnecessary expectations or pressure, while still striving for your best.  If you feel overwhelmed during the upcoming exam season, it’s important to reach out to a supportive parent, teacher or friend.  Remember, you are more important than any mark.