It’s hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the first school term of the new academic year. In a couple of weeks some secondary level schools will be administering their internal tests or examinations. These exams often swoop down on us, catching us off-guard and can be a source of much distress to parents and students alike.

Exams or tests should certainly not be seen as a burden or a hardship. They are an inevitable part of school life. They are an important way for teachers to assess learning, and they offer benefits to students as well. By taking tests, kids develop valuable study skills and they learn from the mistakes that they make. By practicing and preparing, kids acquire competence and outcomes should be positive.

If your teenager does not feel prepared, there is no point in getting upset and waging war. Make an effort to fix the problem and offer assistance along the way even if they show resistance. Your child’s brain is still developing, a process that will continue until about age 25. Therefore, as adults and as their parents, we have to ignore their demeanor and attitudes most of the times and simply offer love and assistance.

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO NOW

Communicate — Discuss with your high-schooler his/ her various subjects. Evaluate what are the most troublesome subjects. Devise an action plan which should include extra time for those deemed difficult.

Talk to the teacher – Teachers often offer a study guide for the exam. This would include the format of exam as well as topics that will be tested. Encourage your teen to talk to the teacher if this information was not already given.

Quiz your child — Many of us parents do not remember or perhaps did not even learn much of the material being taught at school these days. Do not let this deter you. Take the textbook and ask questions from it. This will reinforce your interest in your child and will also foster a good parent-child relationship.

Practice – Obtain workbooks, worksheets or past papers which will help your child become competent at answering questions. Many worksheets can be obtained online at no cost. Practice builds confidence.

Hire a tutor — If your child is having real difficulty in particular subjects, do not delay in finding extra help.

ACTION PLAN FOR TEENS

Treat exams as a job to be done. This is where you show “your employer” what you know. Here are some tips:

Keep a positive attitude – At this time, internal exams would only be covering 13-15 weeks of learning. So, looking at it realistically, it’s really not a lot of material. Reassure yourself that it can and will be done. It is also advisable to avoid other students who would rather complain than study. Stick with positive-minded peers.

Rewrite your notes — Spend time rewriting notes given in class but in addition to these, add extra information that you can obtain from textbooks as well as reliable online sources.

Leave the distractions – This is the time to turn off the cellphone and to stay clear of social media. Social media as well as texting apps are simply a waste of your time. You want to maintain clarity and focus.

Get plenty of sleep — Memory formation depends on sleep. Make sure you are getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Remember that you cannot perform to your fullest potential if you are tired.

Keep moving — Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. If you already have an exercise programme in place, you may be tempted to give it a break in lieu of studying. Do not do this. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. Even more important is the fact that exercise increases the blood supply to your brain cells, promoting clarity.

Seek help — Do not be afraid to ask your teacher for clarification if necessary. If you come across questions and you are unsure of the answer, definitely find your teacher and discuss. You could also seek assistance from peers who are competent in that subject.

Teach your friends — This is a great way to share your knowledge as well as reinforce ideas in your own brain. When you explain to or teach someone, your own understanding increases.

Test yourself — It’s not enough to simply review your notes. Try testing yourself. You could write questions as you go along and then close the book and attempt these questions.

Dr Karla Hylton is the author of Yes! You Can Help Your Child Achieve Academic Success and Complete Chemistry for Caribbean High Schools. She operates Bio & Chem Tutoring which specialises in secondary level biology and chemistry. Reach her at (876) 564-1347, biochemtutor100@gmail.com or khylton.com.