Helping Your Child Prepare for Exams
Exams can be a stressful time for children, especially as they begin to face more pressure at school. But with the right support at home, you can help your child feel confident, organised, and ready to do their best. Preparation isn’t just about studying, it’s about creating routines, building resilience, and helping your child feel supported every step of the way.
Create a Calm and Structured Study Environment
The first step to successful revision is providing a calm, organised space where your child can focus. This doesn’t need to be a separate room, a quiet corner of the house works perfectly.
Make sure the area is:
- Free from distractions (phones, TV, loud noises)
- Equipped with the essentials (pens, paper, highlighters, notes)
- Comfortable and well lit
Having a dedicated study space helps children mentally switch into “learning mode”, making revision more productive.
Help Them Build a Realistic Study Schedule
A clear plan can remove a lot of anxiety around exams. Work with your child to:
- Break subjects down into smaller, manageable tasks
- Set specific goals for each study session
- Use a calendar or timetable to plan revision blocks
- Include regular breaks to prevent overwhelm
A balanced routine encourages steady progress and prevents last-minute cramming, which can increase stress.
Encourage Active Learning
Simply reading notes isn’t always the most effective method. Encourage your child to use active learning strategies such as:
- Summarising topics in their own words
- Using flashcards for key facts and definitions
- Teaching the information to someone else
- Completing past papers or practice questions
- Creating mind maps or visual aids
Active techniques help strengthen memory and improve understanding.
Support Their Wellbeing
Exam preparation isn’t just about academics, wellbeing plays an important role too. Help your child stay healthy by encouraging:
- Regular exercise
- Plenty of sleep (especially during exam week)
- Healthy meals and snacks
- Downtime to relax and switch off
Reassure your child that their best effort is what matters. Remind them that mistakes and challenges are part of learning.
Stay Positive and Encouraging
Children often pick up on the emotions of the adults around them. A calm, positive approach can make a big difference to how they feel about exams. Offer praise for effort rather than just results, and keep communication open so your child feels comfortable talking about their worries.
Encouragement from parents helps build confidence, motivation, and resilience.
Teach Simple Stress-Management Techniques
Exams can trigger nerves, even in confident students. Teach your child helpful strategies such as:
- Deep breathing
- Counting to ten
- Taking short breaks
- Stretching or moving around
- Positive self-talk (“I can do this”, “I’ve prepared well”)
These tools will benefit them not just during exams, but throughout life.
Practice Past Papers Together
Past papers are one of the most valuable revision tools. They help children:
- Get familiar with the format and style of questions
- Improve timing
- Identify areas that need more attention
Go through answers together and talk through any misconceptions. This boosts confidence and helps reduce anxiety about the unknown.
Stay Connected With School
If your child is unsure about a topic or struggling with revision, don’t hesitate to reach out to their teachers. Schools often provide revision guides, recommended resources, homework clubs, or extra support sessions.
Clear communication helps ensure your child gets the help they need.
Preparing for exams is a journey, and your child doesn’t have to go through it alone. With structure, encouragement, and a calm approach, you can help them feel confident and ready to succeed. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress, resilience, and doing their personal best.
