Education and Child Matters

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Academic And Exam Stress

 

WHAT IS ACADEMIC AND EXAM STRESS?

Education and schooling in the UK is compulsory for all children aged between 5 years and 16 years of age. Throughout these years children have different experiences and feelings towards their time in education. Some thrive, some struggle, some want to continue with further education and then there are some that can’t wait until to leave and start work.

Education involves learning new concepts, attending lessons, taking tests and exams, doing coursework and writing essays to name a few. There are many aspects of schooling that children can find stressful and can cause them tension and worry. This stress can be harmful to a child’s well-being resulting in anxiousness, depression, lack of sleep, eating disorders and unhappiness. The pressure and fear around exams, tests and achieving good grades can be demoralising, affect a child’s day to day life, their relationships and cause them great angst.

WHAT CAN CAUSE ACADEMIC AND EXAM STRESS?

Academic stress can result from the following:

  1. A child not being able to understand something being taught
  2. A child not being comfortable in a classroom and feeling confined
  3. A child not being able to focus for a long period of time
  4. A child not being comfortable with a teaching method
  5. A child not liking a subject
  6. Being unable to focus and concentrate during revision.

Exam stress can result from the following:

  1. Pressure of achieving good grades in exams
  2. Tension and nervousness at taking an exam
  3. Not being able to remember facts during an exam
  4. Not being able to focus during an exam
  5. Not being able to finish an exam in time
  6. Feeling unprepared for an exam.

IS YOUR CHILD READY AND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM?

Although we know all children are different and they develop in their own time and at their own pace, schools and society have targets that by a certain age a child should be achieving this and by that age a child should be achieving that. All children are lumped into one pot despite the fact that they are different.

Children are graded on exams as young as year 2 and year 6. 

Our research has shown that although some children may be ready to take exams and excel there are so many that are not able to understand exams and tests, they are scared and feel pressure and stress because of what is required of them. They are not ready to perform. Neither are they ready or want to be compared to other children. And this continues all the way through school where achievement is assessed through exams and tests and course work for everyone at certain ages. 

It is time that we all as a society asked ourselves whether this is correct. Is your child ready to take an exam and is your child ready to learn what is being taught.

For now your children are required to attend school and take exams and tests at set times determined by the government. It is for parents and teachers to guide and help children through schooling so they do not suffer from stress and anxiety.

 So what is expected of your child:

  1. To achieve education targets set by the government
  2. To continue with their studies despite the fact your child may be underachieving and not hitting targets

When a child does badly at school or in exams it can knock their confidence and if this happens a few times there will be a reinforcement of failure within their mind. 

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP A CHILD COPE WITH SCHOOL AND EXAMS?

Below are some tips for you to help your child cope with school, tests and exams:

  1. Be vigilant and observant of how their child is coping with day to day school, with tests and exams. If your child is stressed and upset they will show signs of this. Some children will show more signs than others. This is the time to take action and talk to your child.
    • Ask your child why they are stressed and how you can help them.
    • Ask them to open up to you.
    • Allow them to talk.
    • Do not interrupt them.
    • Listen to them intently.
  2. Help your child deal with negative thoughts about school, learning and exams.
  3. When your child is studying or revising help them feel good with reassuring words and by creating a warm happy environment.
  4. Make sure your child has water and healthy snacks while they are studying.
  5. Make sure your child gets adequate sleep during school terms time.
  6. Make it a rule that your child is not allowed their mobile phone and any social media during their study or revision period. 
  7. Have a routine for your child so they feel safe and develop healthy habits of eating. Sleeping and studying on time.
  8. Have a family or parent and child talk time. This can be at meal times when you eat together or when you’re dropping your child to school. Ask questions about their time in school, their homework and exams. Listen to your child. 
  9. At exam time do not add to their pressure with arguments and stress in the house and between family members.

TIPS FOR YOUR CHILD WHEN PREPARING FOR EXAMS

Below are some tips we gathered for getting ready for your exams:

  1. Start revising early (well before the exam period) with plenty of time to cover all the subjects and topics you need to.
  2. Make a plan or timetable of how to distribute your subjects and topics throughout your revision period and what you are going to study on which day.
  3. Set realistic goals for the amount of revision you can do in one sitting.
  4. Be organised with everything you need for revision in one place.
  5. If you can, ask everyone to leave your study and revision area alone so you can leave your study things there.
  6. Find a quiet place to study and revise. 
  7. Remind your whole family you have exams and you are preparing and revising for these exams so they must speak quietly, not have the TV on loud, not play loud music and talk quietly over the phone. 
  8. Pace yourself with your revision.
  9. Drink water while you revise and study.
  10. Have healthy snacks during your study and revision time. They can be slow energy release foods like nuts, fruit and vegetables so you avoid blood sugar highs and lows.
  11. Revision can involve long periods of sitting so it is important you take regular short breaks, you stretch, and move about.
  12. Exercise is important during revision time so you feel fit, strong, flexible and have plenty of oxygen circulating around your body. Exercise relieves stress and boosts brain power.
  13. If you find revising lonely then study with a buddy or join a revision study class
  14. Attend the extra revision classes that school provide before and after school
  15. Make notes on things you don’t understand and ask your teacher to explain them during lesson or after lesson.
  16. You can study study cards, put notes up on the wall, flow charts, diagrams or use post it notes to revise. Whatever method you do use, make sure it works for you.
  17. Practise previous exam papers to learn exam and question style and format.
  18. Practise a previous exam paper in the time period given so you can understand the speed you need to do the paper.
  19. Understand your exam paper and the distribution of marks. 
  20. Use a study guide and do the tests after each section.
  21. Do regular self-tests to make sure you understand what you have revised.
  22. If you are not coping with revision, inform your parents and your teacher and ask for help.
  23. It is very important to sleep at least 8 hours a day during your study and revision time so your mind and body is rested and ready to focus and concentrate. 
  24. Know your exam timetable well. Hang your exam timetable on the wall or the fridge so you know when your exams are. You can put these dates and times in your diary or phone if it helps you remember. 
  25. Keep mobile phones away from your studying area so that you do not spend your time answering phone calls.
  26. Make it a rule to keep away from all social media while you are studying and revising so you can focus and concentrate.

TIPS FOR YOUR CHILD WHEN TAKING EXAMS

Below are some tips we gathered for you to help you before and during exams:

  1. Before leaving home:
    1. Make sure you have your student ID or any other student card you need to enter the exam hall.
    2. Make sure you know which exams it is, where it is being held, what time it is and how long it is for. 
    3. Make sure you have a clear water bottle with you so you can stay dehydrated.
    4. Make sure you have a clear pencil case with a sharpener, eraser, pencils, pens, maths stationary and a calculator (if allowed).
    5. Eat a moderate but balanced breakfast or lunch before you go into your exam. This way you will neither be hungry or over full during the exam.
    6. Wear comfortable loose clothing and comfortable shoes.
  2. Leave home early and arrive at the exam with plenty of time to spare. 
  3. Before starting your exam do some deep breathing to relax yourself.
  4. Do not talk or go near anyone who is panicking
  5. Make sure you visit the toilet.
  6. Tell yourself you are going to do well in the exam.
  7. Make sure you write your candidate number or name on the exam paper 
  8. When the exam starts, read the exam paper first and decide which questions you will do. Make sure you understand the question and what is required to answer it. 
  9. Pace yourself during the exam as you work through the paper.
  10. If you make notes during your exam make sure the examiner can see your notes so they are aware you know your stuff. 
  11. If your brain freezes, don’t give up, just continue and very soon you will start to remember.
  12. Attempt all the questions you can first and then do all the others after.
  13. If there is time left at the end of the exam go over your answers and check your paper.

HOW CAN THE SCHOOL HELP STUDENTS WITH EXAM STRESS?

A school will have systems in place to help students deal with exam pressure. It is always wise for a parent to talk to their child’s form tutor about exam stress and how as a team they can help the child.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR OFQUAL BLOG – WHAT CAN SCHOOLS DO ABOUT EXAMINATION AND TEST ANXIETY.

  1. Teachers should keep children calm and focused during exam time. 
  2. Some teachers have started to do pre-exam mindfulness sessions half an hour before exams start to calm students.
  3. Teachers should still make revision lessons fun and happy
  4. Keep an eye on students who consistently perform poorly and observe how they are coping. 
  5. There should be good and open communication between teachers and students
  6. The teachers must make sure the children do not feel alone and feel supported
  7. Teachers need to inform children that it is important that they try their best. If they don’t get the results they want then the main thing is they tried.