4. One STRESS at a time
If possible, try to manage your workload so that you won’t have to manage major projects or deliverables at work during the same week that your child is having exams. If this is not possible, see where you and your spouse can share duties to help to ‘spread out’ the stress. Some parents even take leave so that they can totally ‘focus’ on their children’s exam preparation. This gives you time to monitor and help your child better, but be careful not to ‘breathe’ down your child’s neck either.

5. Show the silver lining (and the pot of gold…)
Give your children something to look forward to at the end of the exam period as a reward for all the effort put in, and preferably something that is their choice. It could be something as simple as a planned movie and dinner outing to make up for the weeks of ‘social sacrifice’, or something more substantial. This is not the same as dangling a reward for good performance, though that is also a form of incentive. To know that you care enough to show your appreciation for their hard work and diligence regardless of the final outcome can go a long way towards raising your child’s spirits during this period.

6. Don’t pre-test JUST before the test
On your way to the exam venue, keep the conversation light and neutral.  Try to avoid ‘testing’ your child’s recall of facts or principles. It is well and good if your child can answer them, but if your child can’t, it can lead to more nervousness and insecurity which may affect exam performance.