Examinations can be a stressful period for primary school children as they strive to achieve their academic goals. Your child might be worried about whether they are prepared to tackle higher-order questions and achieve desirable results to get into his/her dream secondary school. As a parent, it is important to help them acknowledge and keep these emotions in check in order to reduce stress and anxiety.
Exam stress is a multifaceted issue stemming from various factors such as:
1. High Expectations
Students might place immense pressure on themselves to attain near perfect scores during exams in order not to let down their teachers and parents who have placed their faith in them. This fear of failure can also stem from the academic goals they have set for themselves, and can lead to exam anxiety.
2. Insufficient Preparation
This can impact your child’s confidence level in tackling the examinations. With the rigorous and competitive education system in Singapore, students might feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of materials and past year papers they need to cover and complete. Inadequate preparation and practice can cause your child to not be familiar with the exam format, or develop the skills needed to tackle PSLE. Fortunately for students gearing up for their PSLE English examinations, WRITERS AT WORK offers English tuition classes for primary school. Whether they are figuring how to start a composition or looking for good English oral practice, WRITERS AT WORK’s educators strive to ensure that your child is well-equipped with the techniques needed to ace the PSLE English paper.
In order to prevent your child from suffering from burnout, poor mental and physical health and undesirable academic performance, let’s look at some strategies you can help your child employ to overcome exam stress.
1. Establish a Consistent Study Routine
Creating a study routine helps children manage their time effectively and stay on task. Break down study sessions into shorter ones with breaks in between, and ensure that your child remains productive and focused during the session. This reduces the need for last-minute cramming before the examination and makes sure your child is well-prepared. Let’s look at some 2023 PSLE Oral Questions and break them down into sets to revise each day leading up to the exam.
Day 1: Poster showing “The Fantastic Future Exhibition”
Q1: Would you like to see this exhibit? Why or why not?
Q2: Do you feel the school holidays are long enough?
Q3: Who do you spend the holidays with?
Day 2: Picture of a girl sitting at her desk writing, with different items like a family picture, slice of cake and birthday card on her desk.
Q1: What do you think the girl was going to write in her diary?
Q2: What is one thing you treasure the most?
Q3: What memorable experience have you taken a photo for?
Practicing these questions can help your child become familiar with the different types of questions they might encounter during the actual exam and develop well-structured responses accordingly.
2. Practice Mindfulness Techniques
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation can keep students calm when faced with exam anxiety. This keeps the brain relaxed and calm and reduces the level of stress hormones in the blood. Encourage your child to practice these mindfulness techniques a few minutes a day, especially when they feel overwhelmed.
3. Practice Self-Care
Although exam periods can be hectic, it is paramount for your child to set aside some time to engage in hobbies and interests that they enjoy. Take the pockets of time in between study sessions to play some sports or musical instruments to clear their mind. This helps to reduce stress, improve mental health and achieve a study-life balance.
4. Establish a Supportive Environment
As parents, you do not want to add on additional unnecessary stress on your child. Try to check in with them often by asking simple questions like “How was your day at school?” and offer them help and advice if needed. Your support and encouragement can go a long way in spurring them on during this difficult period.
5. Encourage Positive Thinking and Visualization
Help your child develop a positive mindset by encouraging them to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, rather than dwelling on potential failures. Visualization techniques, such as imagining themselves confidently answering exam questions or receiving positive results, can help boost their confidence. Reinforcing the idea that effort and progress matter more than perfection can reduce the pressure they feel and foster a healthier approach to exams.
In conclusion, equipping your child with effective coping strategies is key to their success during the PSLE, or any examination period. WRITERS AT WORK seeks to make students better learners through organisation skills, reflection, and understanding of how we process information. Are the PSLE or O Level English exams on the horizon? Let us take care of your child’s English results! Join us at our tuition centres where your child will learn strategies that can help them navigate the challenges of exams and emerge more resilient and confident.
Attain Stellar Results with WRITERS AT WORK!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. WRITERS AT WORK reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how WRITERS AT WORK makes a difference, feel free to explore our website, watch our YouTube videos and catch us LIVE on TikTok!
If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS AT WORK has expanded to 9 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS AT WORK!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. Which Tuition Centre is Good for English?
W@W is an excellent option to help your child prepare for their English Language classes at school at any level. W@W teaches students how to write compositions which are the basic building blocks for all communication, whether it be in school or outside in the workplace.
2. Why is It Important to Attend English Enrichment Classes?
Students will be able to develop important skills such as critical thinking which will serve them well in all areas of life. Students will learn how to incorporate critical thinking and analysis skills when they read comprehension passages and plan their ideas and arguments out for essays.
3. Is It Worth Getting an English Tutor?
If your child needs help in school, it could be worth considering getting an English tutor as English is a compulsory subject at school. English is used in all areas of life and learning how to read critically and write essays are highly important skills which should be learned early.
