It’s no secret that children need to work hard and dedicate time to their studies to gain good academic results. But there is another powerful tool that parents can use to help their child reach optimum academic success: exam practice tests.
By incorporating exam practice tests into their studies, children can develop essential skills and strategies which will help them achieve top grades in exams.
What are Exam Practice Tests?
Exam practice tests are question sets that have been designed in the same way as exam questions, so they give a taste of the kind of questions and topics students may expect come exam day.
They provide an opportunity for children to get comfortable with exam-style questions, as well as become familiar with the structure and content of the exams they will be sitting.
The Advantages of Taking Practice Exams
By taking part in regular exam practice tests, your child can improve both their confidence and accuracy when tackling difficult problem-solving questions.
Familiarity with these types of questions gives students a better chance of understanding what is expected of them on the day and helps boost their overall score.
Not only this, but using mock papers also helps children understand how long they should spend on each question and therefore utilise their time better during exams.
Getting Started
- Decide on a suitable frequency for your child’s test practice sessions
Weekly or fortnightly practices are recommended (this all depends on how close your child’s upcoming exams are). Your child must have enough time to understand new content before completing a practice test so plan accordingly.
- Find a range of suitable papers
These could be produced by the school or you can find online resources such as RiSE+ which offers a variety of online practice tests for year 2 to year 7 students. These assessments are invaluable in identifying your child’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth and development.
- Give clear instructions about what you expect from your child
Let them know how much time they should spend on each section and question, set aside time for breaks (encourage healthy snacks!) and make sure they are comfortable with the materials provided before beginning each session.
Additionally, ensure that you create a distraction-free environment where your child can focus on their work without being interrupted or disturbed by noise etc.
Encouraging Your Child During Exam Practice Test Sessions
It is important to motivate your child throughout the study process; try not to focus solely on grades but rather encourage them towards improvement based on progression over time through mini-goals e.g “Can you complete 20 minutes extra this week compared with last week?” or “How did you go completing this paper faster than last week?”
Make sure to praise effort regardless of the result – children need to recognise that it is okay to make mistakes because this is how we learn!
Accessing Further Support
If you feel like some additional support would be beneficial then seek out external sources such as private tutors or online platforms which would help you identify knowledge gaps so students know exactly what topics require further attention ahead of exams. These often prove invaluable when preparing for high-stakes examinations.
In Summary
Parents play a crucial role in fostering a conducive learning environment for children. This includes providing access to appropriate resources and offering moral support when needed. However, integrating regular exam practice tests into your child’s study routine significantly increases the likelihood of achieving top grades.
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