Woman: Ten top revision tips
It’s that time of year when students have their noses buried in their books. Revision can be both stressful for teenagers worried about their exams and parents who may be unsure how to help. Here are some tips to help make the experience less daunting:
1Help them to get comfy. Make sure your child has somewhere quiet, comfortable and uncluttered to work away from any distractions such as televisions, games consoles or tablets. This will make it easier for them to focus on the task at hand.
2Give them a hand drawing up a revision schedule if they are finding it hard to know how to divide their time among the different subjects. Split the work into smaller chunks and allow time for regular breaks.
3Offer to be a study buddy. You can help by testing them on what they have learned so far. This will make it easier for them to know what they still need to work on and can also make them feel better about the progress they are making with their revision. You can also time your child’s attempts at practice papers to help them get better with their time management during exams.
4Encourage them to spend some time doing something else whether it’s getting exercise or seeing friends. A break away will perk them up and make them fell better about returning to the books.
5Try not to make too many demands on your child during exam time, appreciate that they are going to be distracted and might not be so considerate towards other members of the family. Arguments are counter-productive and will only make you all feel worse.
6Ensure they get plenty of sleep especially the night before an exam. Discourage your child from staying up late to cram, they will be less productive the later it gets anyway.
7Let them know they can always talk to you about any worries or problems they might have and that you are always there to listen. Talking things through makes us all feel better and more positive.
8Make sure your child has a balanced diet, not just on exam days but also when they are revising. This will help keep their energy levels up and make it easier for them to concentrate on their work.
9Plan a way for you to celebrate the end of your child’s exams which will give them something to look forward to once it’s all over. It will help to spur them on when they may feel overwhelmed.
10 Above everything else, remind them to stay positive and keep everything in perspective. Make sure they know they can only do their best and that everyone will be proud of them no matter what happens on results day.
