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 Don’t let exams get you or your kids down – use our checklist to beat the exam blues.
1. Get a study companion
If you have more than one child sitting for exams, it is good to have them study together. Each will motivate the other to persevere. When taking a break, they can chat or even go for a quick walk together. You can also be a study companion yourself.
2. Get your stationery together
Your child may need highlighters, markers, sticky notes, a calculator and rough paper to do sums. It is good to have a stapler, clips and folders handy to file away notes or pages of worked explanations for easy review the next time.
3.Set aside a study area
While a separate room is ideal, you can also mark out a study corner with enough space to write and read, with good lighting, and importantly, peace and quiet. Make sure that the TV or radio are turned off.
4. Understand the format of the examination paper
Your child’s school will provide information on the format of each paper – including the number of sections, marks in each section, types of questions and the skills/concepts to be tested. For some schools, such information may be available on the school’s website.
5. Identify the relevant points of each chapter
Many students have a tendency to zealously highlight whole chunks of text or scribble numerous sidenotes. This may actually slow down the revision process. Teach your child to identify the relevant points of a lesson and where possible, to recite or rewrite them in his or her own words on index cards, so as to test for understanding. The summaries at the end of each chapter can be useful here.
6. Use mind-maps to help organize information
Our brains store information like branches on a tree. Teaching your child to draw mind maps using symbols and bold words, so that they can better visualize the main points of a chapter (click here to learn the basics)
7. Use Mnemonic devices to remember long lists
A common memory trick is to compress a list of related items into a shorter word that is easier to remember. For example, to help your child to remember the colours of the spectrum, use R O Y G. B I V – short for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.
8. Use everyday scenes and examples to reinforce learning
When your child can relate principles and theories to everyday life, it would be easier for him or her to understand and recall them. For example, you can point out different objects floating in the sea to teach your child about density and the concept of displacement of water.
9. Use revision papers from the school or bookstores
Chances are, your child’s teacher would have given a number of revision papers as part of exam preparation. Go through these thoroughly with your child, and revisit them from time to time, each time going over the ‘problem’ areas. If you feel your child needs additional help, get extra assessment books (ask for the teacher’s recommendations) or find an e-learning programme. Do note though that assessment books will not help if your child does not understand the basics of the lesson.
10. Remember to take a break!
During a study session, remember to take a break every forty-five minutes – take a walk, have a snack or do some stretching.
Do your have other exam tips to share? Drop us a comment 
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