Only relatively recently, the Singaporean government decided not to make primary 1 and 2 children undergo academic testing. This was widely well-received as most people agreed that children that young aren't ready for the trial and tribulations of examinations.
While this has helped alleviate stress in children, students beginning primary three are arguably underprepared for the tests they will have to undertake. It's no wonder children require additional help in the form of tuition as early as primary school. Fortunately, we've made a list of tips and tricks you can use to help your child take exams head-on in the coming year.
1. Understand your child's learning style
Preparing for exams doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Learning can be fun, especially if parents take note of their child's learning style and cater to it when helping them study. Examples of popular learning styles include visual, auditory, social, and more. Planning exam preparation materials in accordance with this can be incredibly effective. For instance, helping to prepare flashcards for visual learners or arranging study groups for social learners can be very beneficial.
2. Go through their school work
One sure-fire way of gleaning information about how and what your child is doing in school is to look into their syllabus and school work. This is an important insight you should have if you're planning on helping your child prepare for their tests. Most of the questions that will be tested in the exams will likely have been covered in class. Looking through their school work helps you more or less gauge where your child is at in terms of their understanding of the topics taught in class. If you notice any recurring patterns in what they're getting wrong, you can bring it up with their teacher or tutor for supplementary help.
3. Do practice papers
For most primary three students, the coming exam will be the first official one they've ever taken. Since this would be such a novel experience for them, it might be best to try and familiarise them with it first. The best way to do this is by making them take practice exam papers at home while replicating an examination setting as closely as possible.
This will also be the best time to try and emphasise the importance of finishing the exam within the allotted time. In doing so, students will gain an understanding of the pace one must adopt to complete the paper correctly and on time. They will also be able to learn how to concentrate on the questions for an extended period.
4. Encourage them to rest
Ideally, children should get plenty of sleep at any point in time, but a troubling pattern emerges during exam season that parents should consider. Hence, it's essential that you ensure your child isn't staying up until odd hours to revise. Students who deprive themselves of sleep tend to be less healthy and focused than well-rested ones. Do note that children aged 6-13 years old need at least 9 to 11 hours of sleep, and teenagers require 8 to 10 hours of sleep. While you're at it, ensure that you eat well for a more alert, healthy, and ready mind.
Conclusion
As parents, you're uniquely positioned to support and guide your children towards effective exam preparation. For additional support outside of home, you may want to consider engaging the expertise of the Math tutors at Colourtrain Academy. It's a math tuition centre in Singapore that focuses on igniting a genuine love for math in your child while helping them achieve their full potential through quality and comprehensive lessons.
Comments