'Create a positive mental picture'

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To boost one's self-confidence, create a mental picture of yourself successfully completing your exam before drifting off to sleep. It is most effective if it is done every night, but even one day before an exam could make a significant difference in creating better exam results.

Taking several breaks is beneficial to learning. However, watching TV or playing Play Station doesn't count as taking a break as video games are very stimulating and aren't relaxing at all. So stay away from them during the exam season.

The importance of adequate rest and eating well cannot be stressed enough. Make sure you (or your child) eats healthy and rests enough. Not getting enough sleep could put several months of hard work down the drain. Make sure you are fit and healthy during your exams.

Make sure you revise important points 45 minutes before you sleep because the brain ruminates through the night what you did in the last 45 minutes before sleep. Use that time well and make it count.

Examinations need to be put into perspective. They may be important and they may determine which stream you can choose or which college you get into. But they are not the be all and end all of life. And they should be treated as such.

Exams are a means to an end. They are not a measure of success, ability or intellect and were never intended to be. Parents need to keep this in mind and refrain from pressurising their ward with unrealistic expectations.u00a0
Providing unconditional emotional support and reassurance is what the child truly needs which will be more valuable to them than anything else you can provide.

(Dr Natasha D'Cruz is a clinical psychologist, expressive therapist and director of Red Corner Consultants)

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