Categories

Archives

RSS Feed

RSS Subscribe to RSS

Why Keep a Healthy Perspective On Exams?

healthy exam thinking

Are you worried that your child doesn’t have a healthy attitude towards exams?

Perhaps they are stressing over results, worried about failure, or think they are not good enough compared to their peers?

The truth is, exams are not everything in life.  Actually, in the great scheme of things, while they are an important part of our journey, they do not define who we are as people.

However, they are hurdles that our children have to jump over at some point in their lives – much like passing one’s driving test, or interviewing for a job.

That’s why it helps to have a healthy perspective on testing to keep expectations at an achievable level.

Healthy Communication Tips

Young people put the greatest pressure on themselves sometimes.  Whilst you want them to achieve their best, it’s important to remind them to keep things in perspective.

You are more than an exam grade

It’s true. When we go for job interviews, apply for school places, or go on into higher education, exam grades aren’t the only things that matter.

For instance, these are all sought-after traits:

  • Real character and personality
  • An ability to work in a team
  • Initiative and problem solving skills
  • Positive attitude to life and others

Exam success or grades achieved, then, only paint part of the picture. Independent school entry is a good example of this.

While some schools set academic parameters, many young people are picked because they:

  • Are brilliant at sport or acting, for instance
  • Have a lovely, kind, funny personality
  • Are knowledgeable about the world
  • Have a healthy attitude to others.

This holistic approach enables those who are not the highest academic achievers to have equal chances to excel in life. Reassuring, don’t you think?

Another little tip when your child says: I’m no good at that. Ask: ‘What are you good at? Let’s start with that.’ It helps to swing negative thinking back to positivity.

Don’t compare yourself to anyone else

This piece of advice is crucial as young people often negatively compare themselves to their peers and siblings.

Here at 121 Home Tutors we see it all the time. It can be heartbreaking to hear a young person:

  • Knock themselves
  • Say they are not good enough
  • Call themselves failures before they’ve started

This is why it’s so important to have a healthy chat with your child about what success really looks like.

That small steps of achievement are just as important as life’s big successes.

Teach them that:

  • Picking yourself up after failing shows true courage
  • Determination to try your hardest is everything
  • Trying something out of your comfort zone shows what you’re made of
  • Success in sport, in local clubs, in the community is just as valid
  • Being a good listener or helping others out are life goals
  • Simply being a nice person who cares is what everyone should aim for

The great news is, you can still encourage your child to achieve great grades, of course.

But by keeping a healthy perspective about what success looks like, it helps them understand that success in life isn’t often rooted in passing an exam, and that failure can teach us so much.

Need a tutor to help you child shine?

Our trusty team of tutors are brilliant at bringing out your child’s natural abilities and confidence, especially if your child is struggling with themselves or a subject at school.

Just get in touch!

*Image courtesy of Childline.org.uk

Tags: , , ,

Comments are closed.