Following Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi’s announcement that he had an “absolute commitment” for 2022 summer exams to go ahead, we thought we’d offer some advice to our parents on how to react to mock exam results.
Students will be given “unprecedented” help this summer; exam boards have already released all topics that will be covered in the exams to make up for the depleted teaching time, plus students will be given formulae that they would previously have had to memorise in maths. Nevertheless, mock exams can be a cause of destructive anxiety if not handled well, so we wanted to give you some pointers.
The Disaster ?
A clear and all round failure can be debilitatingly disheartening for some students.
DO:
- Find some positives. There will be some papers, topics, answers that went well, proving that your child is capable of success if they adjust their approach.
- Offer practical solutions. Fixing revision slots into their schedules, even if it’s only 20 minutes every other day, can be hugely beneficial. Distilling all the topics and subtopics which they need to work through can make the revision seem more manageable.
- Act quickly. The new approach must start immediately.
- Prioritise. If sitting their GCSEs, focus on your child’s A level subject choices first.
DON’T:
- Panic. Your child will follow your lead on how to deal with adversity. Be positive and realistic.
How can a tutor help? Underachievement across the board can be a result of a disorganised and lacklustre approach. We’d recommend getting in a tutor to act as a mentor, helping to organise your child, chunking up their revision, and working on technique for both revision and exams. Clarendon’s tutors are trained to help foster these skills in your child, and not just do everything for them.
The Mixed Bag ?
The curate’s egg, as my old classics teacher would have described it – good in places. It’s worth bearing in mind that schools tend to deflate results in an attempt to motivate students, but don’t pass this on to your child.
DO:
- Get your child to self-evaluate. What was good about their approach? What could be improved? Where do they think they need most help? This will give them agency in the process.
DON’T:
- Heap pressure on attainment. Your child will want to do well, so get them focusing on their approach to their work. Do they have a dedicated workspace? Is it tidy? Do they have a dedicated work time? Is it consistent? Do they leave their mobile phone outside of their workspace? Do they leave their phones outside their rooms at night? Do they commit time each week, even a little, to revision? This is the type of checklist we’d recommend.
How can a tutor help? Subject specific tutoring would be most helpful with the mixed bag. Choose the subjects in which your child needs most improvement, then let our expert tutors demystify the content and sharpen the technique.
The Prodigy ?
Even with the school’s deflation of results, your child seems on track for success across the board.
DO:
Praise the approach, rather than results. Organisation, hard work, and discipline should all be picked out for praise.
Keep your child motivated by reminding them of the next steps that their results will enable.
DON’T:
Allow complacency to creep in. Give them a break, allowing them some fun over the weekend, before resetting the focus and attention.
How can a tutor help? Honestly, your child doesn’t need tutoring. You might ask them if they would like any extra support, but it would be a privilege and not a necessity.