BRIAN MOONEY's exam advice for parents and students

FOR PARENTS

1 Know your child’s entire exam schedule.

Pin a copy of the examination timetable on the kitchen notice board. You should also note the date and time of each paper. Make sure you are at all times aware when your son or daughter has to be in the examination centre.

2 Ensure your child is present for each paper.

Yes, its sounds ridiculous, but with both parents working in many homes, it can happen that someone forgets to wake the student. Make sure they are up and dressed each morning before you leave the house.

3 Make a checklist of daily requirements, based on each day’s papers.

Make a final check each morning before you leave home that your son or daughter is fully prepared for the day’s exams. Writing instruments, along with the other requirements such as rulers, erasers, calculators etc should be checked, along with reading glasses etc.

4 Listen to the story of their day – and move on.

After each day’s examinations, allow your child to recount to you their daily story. Do not be tempted to review in detail the errors or omissions they may have made in answering the paper in question.

Such a process achieves absolutely nothing, other than to increase stress levels. Simply allow them the time and space to tell their story and move on.

5 Help them to focus on the next day’s papers.

It can be helpful to review the next paper. Simple questions, such as “What is up next?”, “Are there any compulsory sections?”, “Are there any predictable questions?” and so on, can be useful in helping students devise their study schedule for the time available before the next exam.

6 Help them to maintain a balanced daily routine.

You should ensure your child maintains a proper balance between study and rest. After an exam, they need time to rest and recharge before they can do any beneficial study for the next paper.

Remember that this is on average a two-week process and they need to be as sharp on the morning of their final paper as they are tomorrow.

Late-night study sessions should be avoided.

7 A good night’s sleep always improves examination performance.

All study should end at least an hour before bed to allow the student to unwind. Falling straight into bed from the study desk means the student’s mind will be buzzing for hours as he/she attempts to fall asleep.

8 You are what you eat.

What you eat and drink affects your performance in any field of activity, especially one involving mental sharpness.

As a parent, you should try to ensure that your child eats and drinks nutritious food during the coming weeks.

Grazing on junk food is very tempting at times of increased stress. Avoid this.

9 Don’t overhype the importance of any examination.

Make it clear to your kids that your love and regard for them is in no way dependent on how they perform in the Junior or Leaving Certificates.

This affirmation is the best gift you can give them on the eve of their exams.

10 Make sure your child continues to mix with friends and family.

Don’t isolate them in the study room upstairs. Contact with their peers is very important to maintaining their spirits during the coming weeks. You can also support them and lift their spirits when they are taking a break from their studies.

FOR STUDENTS

1 Get all the support that you can over the next three weeks.

Your family and friends can provide you with the emotional support to sustain you through the next three weeks.

If you have any last-minute problems call up your teachers (if they are still in the country) or listen in to the various radio programmes offering advice.

Experts in each subject area will be answering question on 2FM each night this week between 7pm and 8pm.

2 Learn to manage your stress levels.

Talking honestly to those that you trust about how you are feeling helps to reduce stress. Simple breathing techniques, to help your body relax, also reduce stress. Physical exercise in the form of a brisk walk, a run or a swim can burn up excess stress.

3 Plan your study timetable, working back from your final paper.

By now you will have processed a large number of possible questions for all exam papers. You need to organise them backwards, starting from your last examination, identifying the periods of time that you have available to you to review your notes and sample answers.

When you have completed this process back to today, you will have a clear picture of how you are going to use every hour available to you to ensure that all sections of every paper have an identified time slot for final revision.

Undertaking this simple process will give you back a sense of control and will greatly reduce excess stress.

4 Remain sharp and alert until the exams are over.

To achieve optimum performance you must maintain a disciplined approach, by sustaining a well-balanced study routine, eating regular and healthy meals, going to bed before 11pm each night and relaxing for at least an hour before you do, so that your sleep is restful.

5 Review what you need each day – before leaving home.

A simple check is always advisable as different papers may require you to have different instruments and materials.

Also check your other daily requirements, such as fluids, other forms of nourishment, bus fares etc. You may also wish to take a set of revision cards with you to review on your journey to your exam, but remember to leave them aside before your enter the examination centre.

6 A good start is half the battle.

When you sit into your seat, arrange your pens and other instruments on your desk. Always opt for the paper (higher or ordinary level) you have prepared for. Once you receive your paper, read it carefully and fully before you do anything else.

Once you have completed this task, start to sketch out at the back of your answer book the answers to every question you are planning to tackle. When you have completed this process, start working on the question with which you feel most comfortable.

7 Allocate a specific period of time to each section of questions to be taken.

Firstly, allocate a number of minutes to each section of every question.

Secondly, never leave the examination centre until the exam is over, as you can always achieve higher grades by reading through your work and editing it to add additional material that will come to mind as you re-read what you have written.

8 What if I am uncertain as to one of two answers in a specific question?

Everything that you write must be read and marked. It is advisable, therefore, never to tear out or erase any material.

9 What should I do if I feel unwell during an examination?

If you arrive at a centre and are not feeling the best, inform the invigilator and your principal. You can be supported during the examination with a warm drink or the opportunity to leave the centre under supervision for a few minutes, if necessary.

10 Should I review my answers after each examination?

It is entirely natural to discuss your paper with friends and family after each examination, but do not attempt to analyse your performance, as it will only frustrate you and draw your mind and energy away from the only thing that matters, the next paper.