Surviving the NSC examinations for parents & boys!
Mrs J Finnie Deputy Headmaster: Academics)
The 6th Form year is a special, yet bittersweet year filled with several significant milestones and rites of passage for our boys. It is also, often a very stressful year for families, and this stress reaches its climax as our 6th Form embark on their final school examinations.
Below are some thoughts to bear in mind as we all walk this road:
- Stay calm and keep perspective
Exams are important, but they don’t define your sons. There are many ways to achieve their goals. Both parents and boys should remember that there is life beyond these examinations, and this is just one step in the journey. - Plan
Boys should create a study schedule that balances the different subjects but also gives some downtime. As difficult as it is, parents should resist the urge to micromanage and at this stage, will need to trust their sons to manage their time effectively. - Healthy body, healthy mind
Encourage your boys to eat well, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep. Limit junk food and energy drinks. Studying all night is most often counterproductive, and students generally perform better with a fresh mind and body. - Breaks are part of the study process
Short breaks are an important part of the study sessions, but they must be limited. It is easy to allow a 10-minute break to turn into an hour on social media. A quick walk, a snack, or even a chat with a friend can re-energize a tired student. - Parents: Be supportive, not overbearing
The role of parents is to support and encourage but try not to pressurise him or place too many restrictions on him. - Positive reinforcement
Celebrating small achievements, such as completing a section or mastering a tricky question can be helpful to motivate boys. This could be an extra break, a nice snack or a chat. - Stress management
Encourage your son to manage their stress appropriately. Boys are often not good at verbalising what they are feeling, but they will experience stress, nonetheless. Strategies such as deep breathing, some exercise or listening to music can be helpful to get through the difficult patches. - Focus on effort, not just results
Try to focus on your son’s effort and commitment to study, rather than on the end results. Consistent effort will bring results. Re-assure your sons that they are loved, no matter what their results turn out to be. - A marathon not a sprint!
These exams last a long time, and both parents and boys need to pace themselves.
Try to encourage and support each other.
There is uncertainty not only regarding results, but also in terms of what lies ahead as our boys enter a new chapter of their lives.
Resilience and grit are key tools in future success.
Wishing all the boys the very best!