By now children everywhere have gone back to school for the start of a new year and, as many of you will be very aware, this means the countdown to Common Entrance Exams has begun. The closing date for applications – October 1st – is drawing ever closer and that means that the exam date itself is creeping towards us too. However, this shouldn’t be cause for concern! There’s still plenty of time to go, but here’s a few things to bear in mind over the next few weeks.
Check out the https://www.iseb.co.uk/ website before you do anything else. It’s full of helpful information, important dates and links to practice papers and other resources.
Practice, practice, practice. This isn’t about pressure – children who feel they are being pushed will be stressed and this is really detrimental in the long term – it’s about supporting and encouraging your child. Help them when they’re struggling, go over practice papers with them. Show them that the problems and questions they are tackling are interesting, not just something to wade through.
Speak to specialists – your children’s school teachers should be able to help advise you, but if that isn’t the case, then speak to a tuition agency. They have experienced tutors on their books who have years of practice getting children through these exams. Make the most of their resources!
Don’t panic! If you feel you can’t help your child to do their best, or they are struggling, then additional tuition is invaluable. There is no shame in seeking support from elsewhere. Here at Regency Tuition we really understand the importance of extra tuition, having received it ourselves over the course of our education!
Above all remember, this isn’t the end of the world. Teach your children to love learning and to enjoy the challenge of problem solving. Too much pressure early on might do more harm than good. A child who remains enthusiastic about education will do far better than one who is totally jaded by exam stress before they even reach GCSE year!
So think positive! Even if the weather looks bleak, it doesn’t have to mean the same for your moods over the next month! Good luck 🙂
