Exam revision: ‘Our dad’s a teacher

Examination season is across the nook for GCSE, BTec and A-level college students.

It is a time of life that’s remembered perpetually, and the run-up to it could carry stress and pressure to college students and households up and down the nation.

So how do you get by way of it, and what can dad and mom and carers to do assist?

Meet the Jolleys, a family-of-five from Essex.

Dad Steve, 48, is head of sixth type at The FitzWimarc faculty in Rayleigh, the place he helped me by way of my very own A-levels again in 2010.

Eldest daughter Emma is nineteen and finding out criminology at Bristol College, however says she discovered A-level revision overwhelming.

Brother Ben, 18, loves maths and physics and says he discovered finding out for his GCSE exams got here extra simply than for his sister – however he says he is working tougher for his A-levels this summer time.

Then there’s youthful sister Jess, who’s 15. She loves PE and artwork, and desires to go to basketball school in September after doing her GCSEs.

One household, three very completely different youngsters. So how do they handle examination stress? And does having a trainer as a mum or dad assist?

“I used to be very overwhelmed and I did not need to do it,” says Emma, pondering again to her A-level revision final yr.

She not too long ago received recognized with ADHD – consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction – which has helped her perceive why she discovered her A-level revision interval so troublesome.

Emma says she generally finds it arduous to focus till a deadline is drawing nearer.

“I want the strain – however I additionally hate it as a result of I get so harassed and so burnt out so simply,” she says.

Emma additionally says she generally struggled to get began with revision – regardless that she wished to do it – due to how her ADHD impacts her means to start out duties, and organise revision classes into manageable chunks.

“I believe there’s a variety of disgrace and guilt, as a result of I believed I used to be being lazy,” she says. “You’re feeling actually garbage about your self. Then once I get actually overwhelmed I get complications.”

Emma says her dad helped her to attract up a examine plan, and to maintain her on monitor when she did not need to revise.

“I’ve very robust reminiscences of Emma sitting at this kitchen desk crying her eyes out, getting actually, actually harassed about revision,” says dad Steve.

“And us sort of saying: ‘OK that is superb, it’s essential to take a break. However tomorrow it’s essential to go once more’.”

Growing resilience, digging deep and making an attempt once more after a foul day are issues Steve says Emma did brilliantly whereas discovering A-level revision overwhelming.

“As a mum or dad, you don’t need your children to undergo issues that upset them,” he provides. “However really the place that is involved, you sort of need to preserve going.”

So what can dad and mom and carers do?

Speaking about your emotions may be robust, however parenting professional Stevie Goulding, from the charity Younger Minds, suggests protecting the traces of communication open throughout the examination interval, and ensuring you are able to hear after they’re prepared to speak.

“Nervousness will get magnified when younger persons are below additional pressure and stress,” she says.

“Actually recognise and mirror: ‘I’ve observed you have not been sleeping or consuming as a lot’, talking observations into existence, and ensuring there’s a variety of reassurance.”

There isn’t any escaping it, revision may be actually boring.

“I completely hate simply sitting down with a laptop computer or e book and simply working,” says Ben. “However I believe it is one of the simplest ways for data to get into me.”

His GCSE outcomes comprised principally of the highest grades of 7s, 8s and 9s. He loves maths and physics – one thing his sisters discover arduous to know.

He is sitting A-levels this summer time, earlier than taking a yr out to resolve between an apprenticeship or college.

He and older sister Emma each say that doing previous papers and making use of their revision to the questions has actually helped with their examine up to now.

“If I am not doing questions to use it, it simply does not go in,” Ben says.

However what works for one scholar might not work for others, and professional Stevie means that pondering creatively about how your baby can revise is a good suggestion – assume flashcards, thoughts maps and even YouTube movies.

“I really like flash playing cards – they’re really easy and fast,” says youngest daughter Jess.

“It additionally means we are able to get entangled as nicely,” provides dad Steve, explaining that folks will help to check their youngsters on them.

Once we’re harassed, it may be tempting to push apart time for enjoyable and rest – nevertheless it’s really actually necessary in serving to us to carry out nicely in exams, Stevie says.

“We actually have to take care of our brains. It is actually necessary to get the steadiness.”

For Emma, studying or walks together with her mum, dad and their canine Maisie was necessary time to carve out throughout A-levels.

It is basketball for Jess, who’s anxious that her present knee damage means she will not be capable of play to chill out throughout her GCSE exams.

“Now I simply come house and nap,” she says.

She says she’s feeling the strain together with her GCSE grades, as not solely does she want them for basketball school right here, however her goals of basketball school within the US for college afterwards depend on them too.

Their brother Ben enjoys enjoying on his Xbox with buddies, however says he drags himself again downstairs to do work when he realises he has been ignoring his revision slightly too lengthy.

As a variety of exams depend on reminiscence, professional Stevie says that staying hydrated, consuming healthily, exercising, and having time to do the issues we love will help us take care of our brains.

Time along with your favorite TV present or perhaps a scroll by way of TikTok can even assist to search out that steadiness.

You’ll be able to’t have an excessive amount of of factor.

Telephones will help us to remain related to family and friends throughout robust occasions, however they can be distracting.

“I’ve to cover my telephone beneath books or behind my laptop computer,” says Emma. “If I see it, I will simply go on it.”

When requested how she’s going to keep away from the distraction of her telephone throughout her GCSE exams, youthful sister Jess says she “hasn’t labored that one out but”.

Dad Steve has supplied to take it away – if Jess desires him to – with a view to assist her focus.

“I do not assume anybody goes to study in the event that they’re being pressured to take a seat in a room with somebody standing over them, or with the specter of: ‘We’ll take your telephone away,'” he says.

“It is tough.”

Generally it may be tempting to say to folks: “Don’t be concerned, it will be superb.”

However that may invalidate their emotions, says professional Stevie.

“We’re all responsible of claiming it and it comes usually from an excellent place,” she says.

“However for that younger individual there’s a very legitimate fear there.”

As an alternative, she suggests acknowledging the fear, and saying one thing like: “I can completely hear that you’re anxious, and it is utterly pure in exams, however you have put a lot time and power into revision.

“You’ve got labored so arduous and no matter occurs, we’ll be right here to help you.”

“I believe when issues are getting robust, simply step away from it,” says trainer and pa Steve.

“Staying wholesome – mentally wholesome and bodily wholesome – needs to be a very powerful factor.”

When tensions are excessive at house round revision and exams, arguments might occur. Stevie from Younger Minds says that strolling away and having a cooling off interval is crucial.

“As soon as folks have cooled down, you may mirror, say that you simply perceive why they’re feeling so pissed off, and ask if there’s something you are able to do to help them.”

“I believe one thing we would undoubtedly say as lecturers is that it is not a good suggestion to return out of an examination and stand in an enormous group of individuals and listen to what everybody else wrote,” says Steve.

And his daughter Emma agrees.

“I simply walked out on my own, received my bag and went house,” she says. “I used to be like, ‘I am not ruining this, goodbye!'”

“It is only a nice feeling of reduction after you have finished the examination,” provides Ben.

With exams across the nook, the Jolleys are additionally keeping track of what they need to sit up for after it is all completed.

Journeys to Malta, Croatia and Magaluf are on the horizon, in addition to a college promenade.

They simply have to get by way of these exams first.

Take heed to Radio 5 Dwell’s Revision Time Particular with Nicky Campbell from 10:00 on Friday, 18 April on BBC Sounds, with recommendations on how you can preserve calm when revising. Or for calming music that can assist you focus this examination season, take heed to music stream Radio 3 Unwind on BBC Sounds.