The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is just around the corner – students and parents alike tend to feel a lot of pressure during this period. While some may feel ready to take on the papers already, others are still searching for ways to score that extra mark.
Here are a few tips to raise your child’s game:
Review Mistakes
It is ok to make mistakes before the big day and your child can learn from them. Remember to go over the mistakes and right the wrongs. Taking the time to carefully review these mistakes can help identify areas for improvement and prevent similar mistakes during the actual exam.
Prioritize
Planning is the key to doing well in anything, and that includes scoring well for the PSLE. Identify which subjects and topics are more challenging to your child, and work out a study schedule.
Children may feel demoralized when they attempt topics they are weaker at. Build up your child’s confidence by starting off a revision with topics they are strong in and work on some moderate questions. Your child can then attempt subjects that he or she is weaker in, from simple to moderate to difficult questions. Check the answers for each question after every attempt to affirm their understanding of each concept.
Study Smart
Focus on the topics that will come up in the exams and highlight all the key points in the textbook.
Time Management
It is important to manage the time your child spends practising on his or her revision. Use your phone timer or an alarm clock to keep track of the time limit that you have set for your child – this will help in time management for the actual exam as well.
Remind your child to move on to the question instead of getting stuck on a question for too long. This will prevent anxiety, and allows the mind more time to process the question and an answer might come naturally later on.
Remember to impose brief breaks after every 45 minutes to allow your child’s brain to file away information and come back focused on his or her task.
Find a Balance
Sufficient rest, healthy meals and adequate exercise play a huge part in your child’s physical, emotional and mental health; especially so during this stressful period.
Encourage your child to take slow, deep breaths whenever he or she feels overwhelmed.
Both parents and children should remain positive and accept that everyone has their strengths and limitations.
And finally..
Conduct an equipment check (pencils, sharpeners, calculators, etc) for items required for the exams to avoid last minute rush.
All the best!
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