Download

We have created this free download and print sheet that you can stick on your fridge for reference.

Download your Key Dates Sheet in PDF format.

Give me that sheet!

Other Useful Leaving Cert Resources

You might also find these Leaving Cert and Exam resources useful:

• 7 Must Haves for Your Teen Studying Leaving Cert French

• 7 Must Have Resources for Your Teen Studying Irish

• 6 Must Haves for Your Teen Studying Leaving Cert Spanish

• 10 Tips for the Last 10 Days Before Exams

• 9 Practical Tips to Help With Exam Stress

• Top Tips for Parents Supporting Their Teen with a CAO Application

• CAO Change of Mind Deadline is Approaching – Has Your Teen Made the Right Choice?

The post Download Our Key Dates for Leaving Cert Sheet appeared first on MyKidsTime.

How Can Parents Help?

A survey carried out by Smartfutures found that 51% of college students said their parents influenced their decision making, and that they’d advised their son or daughter, based on what they thought would suit their personality.

So, for example, if a parent holds any stereotypes about science and maths themselves (“It’s too difficult!” or “it’s not really for girls”) this can be picked up on and limit a student’s perceptions about what to consider.

Especially important for those having CAO change of mind conversations!

Discuss options with your teen and keep an open mind. Try not to steer them in the direction you feel they should be taking. The last thing you want after all is for them to start a course then drop out because they just aren’t into it.

Some parents decide to use a career advisor to help with choices at this point too.

Key CAO Dates to Be Aware of for 2023

• 5th May (12pm): Online Change of Mind facility becomes available (Free)
• 1st July 2023 – CAO change of mind deadline.
• First week of July: Initial CAO offers (mature applicants and applicants who accepted and then deferred places in 2022) are made by post and online on CAO.ie and remain open for a week. Offers lapse if not accepted within a week.
• End of July: The SEC will complete the standardisation process on the assessed grades submitted by schools.
• TBC: Leaving Cert results. Once the results of the written papers become available in August, the SEC replaces assessed grades where the student secures a higher grade in a written paper. These combined results will then become the provisional results released to students by the SEC in mid-August.
• Mid to late August 2023: Grades go to schools, available through a secure online service at examinations.ie from noon. CAO releases Round One offers to candidates online. A week after the issuing of round one offers, the CAO will close off the option to accept that place. Within a few days the CAO releases Round Two offers to applicants.

• YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Key Dates for Parents of Leaving Cert Students

The post CAO Change of Mind Deadline is Approaching – Has Your Teen Made the Right Choice? appeared first on MyKidsTime.

How Stress Works

To combat stress we must first have an idea of how it works. We have all heard of the ’fight or flight’ reaction. This is inbuilt in our DNA and when we face a stressful situation or challenge our first instinct is flight or fight.

This flight or fight reaction is caused by raised levels of ‘cortisol’. Once the stress passes the ‘cortisol’ levels quickly return to normal. This is true for all mammals.

However, in humans, we have become less able to rebalance our cortisol levels as our world constantly challenges and pressurises us. All too often we allow stress to grow and grow until it takes hold and controls us.

Recognise the Signs of Stress

The build up of stress can affect both your physical and mental health. Key indicators of stress build up include:

• Nausea
• Mild panic attacks
• Broken sleep which leads to exhaustion
• Heart palpitations
• Outbreaks of eczema, psoriasis and acne
• Irritability/short fuse
• Appetite changes
• Headaches
• Muscle pain and tightness
• Shortness of breath

Know the signs of stress and manage it to avoid stress building up. Persistent high levels of stress, can impair memory absorption and recall, learning focus and decision making. A stressed body and mind is unable to operate at peak performance. For extreme cases, seek medical advice.

We need to encourage our children to let stress go in the lead up to exams.

Download

Are you looking for advice on how to deal with your tween or teen? Download our FREE e-Book which is full of essential tips to help you survive the teen years!

Download!

#7. Play with a Pet

Send the family dog into your teen’s study spot so they can take a 10 minute break to have a cuddle and play with your pet.

#8. Think Positive Thoughts

Positive thinking leads to positive emotions and a general feeling of well-being and control. Reinforce the message that your teen has worked hard and the knowledge is in there just waiting to flow out in the exam.

If an exam doesn’t go their way, don’t dwell on it, let them talk it through only if they want to and help them to move on.

#9. Have a Soak

A soak in a warm tub helps ease away worries, tension and stress. You will emerge feeling good in mind, body and spirit and go on to enjoy a great night’s sleep.

• YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 6 Ways to Help Avoid Exam Stress

The post 9 Practical Tips for Parents to Help with Exam Stress appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Practical Guide to Surviving Leaving Cert

Whether your child is embarking on the first stages of the three-year Leaving Cert cycle and debating their subject choices or has completed their CAO form and is about to sit the exams, there are many milestones along the way for parents to be aware of.

The guidance needed for the next Leaving Cert cycle is extensive, and while much of this will come from teachers and school in general, you need to understand the options being presented to your child so that you can ensure they are making the right decisions.

Get all the facts here, and then start some conversations at home with your teen about their subject likes and dislikes, how prepared they feel for exams, what career path they have started to think about (if any), whether higher or ordinary level exams are a more suitable choice, and so on. With the confidence of information, you will be better equipped to have calm and considered conversations with your teen – because the last thing anyone wants or needs is to have heated arguments that cause more undue stress.

Your Teen Choosing Subjects for Leaving Cert

In the CAO system, your teen’s highest six grades will be used to calculate the points for entry purposes to courses offered in all Higher Education Institutions (Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology).

As a result, most schools will offer students the opportunity to take seven (or more) subjects, to allow the best six to count for CAO points. Some schools also offer the LCVP (Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme) as an additional option, which has a focus on enterprise and preparation for working life.

To start with, your teen must consider the options open to them after the Junior Certificate. They need to check the requirements for each of the third level courses in which they have an interest, and then they must put in the time necessary to research the consequences of taking or not taking any particular subject.

Certain universities may require students to have specific base subjects, while certain courses will then also have their own requirements. For example, to enter an NUI institution (UCD, UCC, NUI Galway and Maynooth) the majority of students must have Irish, English and one other language as part of their six subjects. Further, to study Commerce, students must also have mathematics.

Sit down and look at courses together with your teen and discuss what they might be interested in applying for and what the requirements will be. This will also be useful for when they come to make their CAO application (see below).

If your teen doesn’t know what they want to do when they leave school then it’s advisable to choose a good balance of subjects for Leaving Cert to leave their options open. Students who are a year ahead of them may be able to offer helpful insights into what it is really like to study any particular subject.

Some Tips For Choosing Subjects for Leaving Cert

Your teen should:

• Choose subjects they enjoy
• Pick subjects they are good at
• Opt for subjects they need for their chosen career
• Keep options open by making a balanced choice now
• Talk to Guidance Counsellor and teachers
• Discuss it with both parents/guardians

Your teen shouldn’t:

• Choose a subject because a friend is taking it
• Pick a subject just because they like (or dislike) the teacher
• Choose a subject because they think it will be easy
• Opt for a new subject without finding out more about it
• Make a decision at the last minute without thinking about it
• Panic

What To Expect as a Parent from Leaving Cert Years

You can expect a lot of stress and a lot of work. Teens will face a “mountain of work” – teachers seem to load on the homework and expect study as well, and that’s for all seven subjects.

I can only share my experience, but I did find that my daughter has definitely been motivated and hard working which has helped. I didn’t need to try to motivate her. If your teen needs motivation, then maybe looking at future options and getting them excited about what they could do after school would help motivate.

Stress is very high at times. Especially near mock exams, orals and CAO applications. So keeping things organised for your teen and yourself will help when stress levels rise.

Your teen is likely to be a bit crotchety (or more crotchety than usual!) so expect a bit of backlash from the stress. Try not to take it personally.

If they are complaining about a teacher or the workload, listen and try not to jump in but let them work out their feelings. They may just need to vent.

They are in the throes of a huge deal, so while you know that it’s not the be-all and end-all, they don’t right now, so be supportive.

Are Grinds Necessary – Yes or No?

Whether or not your child needs grinds or extra tutoring obviously depends on a number of factors. I went to school in Scotland so I didn’t have the same system, and personally I feel it should be the school, teacher, pupil and parent who all work together to make sure the student is managing the subject. But grinds are a major part of Irish education.

Unfortunately, one of my daughter’s teachers just wasn’t up to scratch and she needed a grade in that particular subject for the course she wants to do at university, so that meant paying out for weekly tutoring.

You can expect to pay an average of 30-40 euros at a minimum for a weekly 1-hour session.

Tips For Choosing a Grinds Teacher:

• See if you can share a session with one of your teen’s classmates – it will help bring the cost down, plus they can study and go together, and that helps with lifts too.
• Ask for recommendations from other parents. Word of mouth is really important here.
• If you can’t get a word-of-mouth recommendation, ask the potential grinds tutor to give your number to a past parent who has used them for a quick reference. It’s worth it.
• Consider using a college student to keep the cost down – if they have recently been through Leaving Cert and are studying that subject in college, they may be a good option.
• Ask the grinds teacher if they will let you pay up front for more sessions and get a discount. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Many people also opt for crash grinds courses during midterm, Christmas and Easter holidays. We didn’t go that route, but you can expect to pay approximately €1,000 for a week’s crash course.

• YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 41 Revision Techniques to Help Kids Study Smarter

Studying at Home or at School

This will depend on your situation, your child’s preference and what’s available at their school in terms of supervised study after core school hours.

Because we live a bit of a drive away from school and I’m already picking up her younger sister, it’s not very feasible to drive twice to school, so we ruled out staying to study after school. In any case, my daughter preferred to come home, have something to eat then get stuck into her homework and study at home in peace. She can play music while she’s working and not get bothered by other people.

However, that might not suit your teen. Michelle, the other co-founder of Mykidstime, says that her daughter prefers to stay after school for supervised study, get her homework and study done so that then when she comes home she knows it’s all finished for the day.

Tips for Parents of Leaving Cert Final Year Students

Avoid your own Leaving Cert stories

Don’t bother telling them about when you were doing the Leaving Cert.

It’s irrelevant and times have changed.

Stay practical for them

Put key dates and times into your phone and on the family calendar so you are on top of when you need to be chauffeur outside of normal school drop offs and pick ups.

Help them get plenty of sleep (9/10 hours is ideal)

Although you can’t stop them staying up late, remind them that a good night’s sleep is really helpful for studying the next day.

Provide good meals and nutritional snacks to help them avoid sugar and caffeine

Good snacks include nuts, dried and fresh fruit, popcorn, or high fibre cereal like Weetabix with milk.

Try to free up as much time for them as you can

We have a rule in our house that our daughter doesn’t have to do chores during the week so she can maximise study time, but she has to help at weekends.

Make sure they get exercise

Whether that be gym, swim, team sports or just walking the dog, encourage them to take a break from studying and get active.

Don’t over-reassure

You might feel anxious too about the whole thing but too much reassurance can prevent them learning to reassure themselves, so it’s a balance of keeping calm and being there for them when they need to vent.

Acknowledge that they are anxious

Listen and be empathetic. This is a big milestone they are facing, and it’s understandable for them to feel nervous and unsure.

Make sure they set aside time for socialising

Obviously this won’t be a problem for every teen, but if you think your teen is spending too much time with their “head in the books” then suggest they organise some down time with friends.

Help them to get to grips with managing their time

Some people like to be rigid in their schedule, others like more variety. My daughter and I sat down the very first time she was sitting end of term tests in Leaving Cert and made a study plan together.

• YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 3 Important Study Tips Every Teen Should Know

Download

We have created this free download and print sheet that you can stick on your fridge for reference.

Download your Key Dates Sheet in PDF format.

Give me that sheet!

What Are The Big Milestones in Leaving Cert Final Year?

The really big milestones are the Mocks (February), the language orals (April) and the final Leaving Certificate state exams (June).

Then you also have CAO application time, applications open in November. If you want to avail of a discounted application fee you just need to make sure their application is done by around mid-January.

If your child is sitting the HPAT (Health Professions Admission Test) e.g. to study medicine, it’s usually takes place on one Saturday later in February.

You will need to pay for the Mocks and the final state exams as well. So ask your school at the start of the year how much to expect to pay this year if you need to budget for this.

Leaving Cert Exam Stress

As you get into the exam period, there are 3 really big things you can do for your teen to help mitigate against exam stress:

1. Ask if there’s anything you can do to help – maybe they would find it useful to run over some main points as they study, for example.
2. Make sure they are organised – so they have what they need for the exam, and all the dates and times are clear in their heads, as well as yours.
3. Deflect the pressure – encourage your teen to aim to do their best and be assured that it is the effort they make and not the result that makes the difference. Not getting a top grade does not mean failure, and tell them that you will support them because of their effort rather than the results.

• YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 9 Practical Tips to Help With Exam Stress 

The CAO and Understanding Points

Get to grips with the way the CAO application process works and how points are going to matter when they come to pick their preferred college courses. There’s a good Parents Guide on the CAO website, and here is a CAO points table that’s handy to bookmark.

Basically, the way it works is a student’s points are calculated on their six best subjects. So, a student who gets between 90 and 100 per cent in six higher-level subjects will get 600 points (100 points per subject x 6).

Or if a student got an H1, H2, two H3s and two H4s they would get 100+88+77+77+66+66= 474 points.

There are also bonus points for doing Higher Level Maths. A bonus of 25 points will be awarded for Higher Level Mathematics for H6 grades and above.

Leaving Cert Results Day

I must admit I’m not looking forward to Leaving Cert results day in August. How nerve-wracking for my daughter, never mind us!

You can get your results at your school or from 12 noon on Results day online on www.examinations.ie. To access your results online you will need your Personal Identification Number (issued to all candidates before the commencement of the written exams in June) AND your exam number.

It depends on what your teen wants. They may be comfortable with going to school where they will be with their friends and the camaraderie can help get them through the experience. Teachers and the principal will be there too to give help and advice.

But not everyone will want to be surrounded by people, so having the online option is always a good back-up plan.

Working Out Leaving Cert Points

Nerves can make it easy to miscalculate so help your teen work out their points. Here’s an online points calculator that might help.

The National Parents’ Council post-primary helpline will be in operation on the day to provide support to students and parents alike. The freephone helpline will be on the go for six days, and can be reached at 1800 265 165.

• YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Tips for Parents on Leaving Cert and CAO

Leaving Cert Celebrations

As well as a school graduation ceremony, there are other celebrations during final year of Leaving Cert.

The big celebration is Debs, in the majority of schools the Debs is held in the autumn after the final year.

In some schools, before the big ball, there is a smaller ball known as Pre-debs or Grads. Final year students in my daughter’s school organised grads for pre-Christmas which was quite a good idea as it was out the way early and was a nice Christmassy celebration too.

Grads tends to be less formal dress-wise, whereas Debs is the formal ball for students so expect long prom-style dresses and tuxedos.

You can of course rent both tuxes and dresses. Girls will probably have higher costs due to needing shoes, clutch and jewellery, as well as hair and makeup.

It’s not compulsory to go with a date, often people attend with their friends or in groups.

Then just before the end of 6th year, the school will organise a graduation ceremony for you to attend with your teen to formally graduate them from school.

And Finally…

Remember (not that you’ll ever forget!), it’s a big year for your teen so the more you are prepared and know what to expect the better.

Try to keep calm yourself as the stress levels will rise. I know, it’s hard not to get annoyed by a grumpy teen having a go at you, but bite your tongue…and deep breaths are always helpful!

• YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 8 Things I Didn’t Expect with My Teen Leaving Home for University

The post A Parent’s Practical Guide to Surviving Leaving Cert appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Sign up for our free Newsletter stuffed full of ideas, competitions and offers. PS Did we mention it’s free?

According to Dr Paul O’Dwyer, group clinical adviser at Dental Care Ireland: “Teeth grinding, mouth sores, dry mouth and gum disease are just some of the ways that stress can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. Throughout the busy exam period, it is vital to ensure a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and maintain a basic oral health routine.” Here are 6 tips to help maintain a stress-free smile during exam times.

#1. Book A Check Up With Your Dentist

Prevention is better than cure, and regular dental check-ups are the best way to avoid unnecessary pain and reduce disruption to important study time.

Regular attendance allows your dentist to detect conditions such as tooth decay, teeth grinding and gum disease at an early stage. Your dentist can also check for signs of wisdom teeth, which typically appear between 18 – 24 years, and can cause some discomfort. Inflammation and infection around wisdom teeth, known as pericoronitis, can be painful and distracting during exam season.

You May Also Enjoy – 9 Practical Tips For Dealing With Exam Stress

#2. Stick To Your Routine

Stress can impair the immune system’s response, resulting in inflammation of the gums, as well as unexpected mouth sores such as ulcers or cold sores.

Throughout the exam preparations, it is important for students to continue with a basic dental routine at home. Ideally, brush twice per day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, and drink plenty of water.

You May Also Enjoy – 10 Do’s and Don’ts of Exam Technique and Studying for Exams

#3. Maintain A Well Balanced Diet

It can be difficult to maintain a well balanced diet during exam times. But, a balanced and varied diet is essential for maintaining a healthy mind and mouth.

Fresh fruit, vegetables and milk are rich in vitamins C and D, which are necessary for keeping minds and gums healthy.

Try to avoid drinking fruit drinks and smoothies too frequently. These can appear to be healthy drinks but many tend to be high in sugar and therefore impact on dental decay. They also increase your blood sugars for a short period of time resulting in low energy levels as they leave your system. Instead, opt for water or milk if possible.

You May Also Enjoy – The Challenge Of Parenting Teens: 9 Hurdles Every Parent Faces!

#4. Be Aware Of Teeth Grinding

Increased anxiety and stress can lead to teeth grinding or clenching, also known as bruxism.

Common symptoms of bruxism include worn, damaged or sensitive teeth, soreness around the jaw in the morning, and making a grinding sound while asleep.

Your dentist can examine the mouth and jaw for signs of bruxism, help to work out possible causes, and suggest appropriate treatments, such as a mouth guard.

You May Also Enjoy – 6 Ways to Help Avoid Exam Stress

#5. Drink Plenty of Water

Stressful situations such as exams and presentations can result in a dry mouth, causing a lack of saliva, which increases the risk of tooth decay.

Drinking plenty of water helps to promote the healthy production of saliva, which washes away leftover food particles. To prevent dry mouth, sip tap water frequently.

#6. Chew With Caution

In the midst of exam stress, students can be inclined to develop habits such as nail biting or chewing on a pen. Aside from the risk of plastic splinters in the mouth, this type of habit can also result in chipped teeth or damaged fillings.

Wishing all students the best in their upcoming exams and a stress free smile with healthy mouth and gums.

The post Stressed Out Students: 6 Tips to Maintain a Stress-Free Smile During Exams appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.

If you have been getting frustrated, remember that not every child is a natural learner. And yelling at your child in frustration to get them to study just won’t work. You have to find a way of motivating them. Here are some tips:

How to Motivate Your Child to Study

#1. Identify Why Your Child is Unwilling to Study

Most of the time, the problem with children who are unwilling to learn or study has different roots. For instance, they might be too distracted by family dynamics, they might be bullied, or they might encounter difficulties concentrating on one subject.

Don’t get angry with them for that – ask them what’s wrong.

Try to find the cause of the problem, don’t stop at noticing the symptoms. Here are some good questions to ask:

• Is everything at school all right?
• What do you find tricky about this subject?
• What could we do to make the learning more interesting?
• What do you think about doing your homework by yourself?
• How does it make you feel having finished that homework now?

Show empathy by asking how you can help.

#2. Help Them Set Goals

For some kids, the main problem is that they don’t really see the purpose of studying. They would rather play with their friends and hang out around the neighborhood than do a math problem. And who would blame them? It’s much more interesting hanging out than studying.

In this context, your role as a parent is to help them set goals. Ask them, “What would you like to be when you grow up?” Whatever their answer, whether it be “an astronaut!” or “a train driver”, you can give them compelling arguments on why studying is important for becoming whom they want to become.

#3. Make Study More Pleasant

Studying is just so much easier if

• your child is not hungry or thirsty
• there’s a nice space to study in without distractions
• they know you are around to help if needed
• they have the tools they need – keep a drawer or jar with pencils, erasers and sharpener handy

You Might Also Enjoy How to Keep Your Kids Focused With a Homework Station

#4. Help Them Study Smarter

If you see them struggle with their homework, help them be more efficient. Show them the shortcuts. School does not facilitate learning – quite the opposite, school makes learning even harder.

If they are stuck in the same learning routine, show them other ways of studying the same concepts. You could find interactive ways of learning, or design funny games. Don’t be afraid to be innovative!

You might also enjoy reading How to Help with Homework

#5. Give Them The Confidence They Need

Show your children that you believe in them. If they get a lower grade on a certain test, don’t show disappointment or sadness. Tell them that next time, you’re sure they are going to do better. Be open-minded and help them instead of being cross at them. Kids need support, love, and a caring parent figure to comfort them.

If they show bad results constantly, it’s maybe time then to start a talk with them, and ask what’s wrong. Make sure to talk to their teacher too and work out a strategy together with their teacher to support their learning.

#6. Think About Your Own Attitude

Are you putting too much pressure without realising? Always consider your attitude when dealing with your child. We live in an interesting, yet brutal society, that promotes talents and geniuses. Not every child is academically minded but every child has their own talents, some of those may be hidden at the moment but trust me, they will reveal themselves. Maybe they have an extremely developed emotional intelligence, or maybe they possess artistic and creative skills.

Watch your tone and language whenever you interact with them – leave them space to develop, and see what they are good at. If intense learning is not their thing, don’t force them.

#7. Celebrate Achievements

No matter how small, recognising and celebrating your child’s achievements is good positive reinforcement to help with motivation to study and learn. That’s not to say we should praise mediocre performance, but just recognise when they have worked hard.

It doesn’t always have to be rewards for passing tests, although if they do well on a school test you might have some ice cream to celebrate. It’s good to recognise hard work put in, so e.g. finishing a project they have worked on might deserve a special treat – maybe they could pick the next family movie to watch together or they get to do no chores that day since they worked hard. Positive reinforcement is a good tool to motivate your child to study.

Motivating children to study by applying pressure on them is not smart. Give them the chance to express themselves properly, identify the causes of their problems, help them study smart and set goals, give them the necessary confidence, and reward them when they’re on the right path.

You May Also Enjoy 41 Revision Techniques to Help Kids Study Smarter

The post How to Motivate a Child to Study Without Forcing Them appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Sign up for our free Newsletter stuffed full of ideas, competitions and offers. PS Did we mention it’s free?

Studying and knowing the material is clearly essential, but taking an exam entails a lot more. Managing time, reading the question clearly, answering what’s actually being asked, and dealing with distractions are just some of the exam preparation tips your teen needs to know.

You May Also Enjoy 5 Tips to Help Your Teenager Survive Exams 

Exam Preparation Tips: The Do’s

#1. Get Your Timings Right

One of the biggest challenges facing students every year is getting the timing right so that there is enough time to answer all questions needed. Come up with a clear time guide and write it on the front cover of your exam paper showing the actual time you should be starting each question. Then, in the middle of the exam you will be able to look at your watch and easily see how many questions you should have done at that time.

#2. Bring Everything You Need

It may sound simple but a lot of stress can be avoided by making sure you have everything you need to do the exam. Make a check list the night before each exam, then go through it before you leave home and again before entering the exam hall.

It’s a good idea to bring some snacks in to the exam hall. Bananas and cereal bars are good. Avoid bringing noisy foods such as crisps that will distract everyone else.

#3. Get the Basics Right

Okay, you’ve heard it a million times before but make sure you get the basics right. Read the questions carefully, underline key parts, and put your exam number on your answer booklet. Get familiar with the layout of the exam paper. Some papers are tricky and complicated instructions could throw you on the day. Know the meanings of the key question words.

#4. Read the Whole Paper Before Writing Anything

One of the most important exam preparation tips to drill in during the run up to exams – read every question before you write anything!

Don’t get stuck in straight away. Read the paper from start to finish at least once before you begin writing. There are often choices to be made within the exam, so planning before you start is the best idea.

#5. Do the Easiest Questions First

There is no reason to do the questions in the order they are printed in the exam. There are a couple of reasons for this: firstly, getting the first question done well will help calm you and get you focused for the rest of the exam.

Secondly, often you will get an easy question done quicker so you will be ahead of schedule form the start. It also means that by the end of the exam you will likely have more time to spend on the difficult questions.

#6. Jog Your Short-Term Memory

The night before the exam is not the time to be trying to get your head around new concepts. Instead, work on cramming keywords to jog your memory. Hopefully you will have distilled your notes into a couple of summary sheets. Go through these and try and tie the information together.

#7. Prepare Your Body

Two 3-hour exams a day, day after day, will leave you feeling drained both mentally and physically. You need to prepare your body as well as mind for a lot of activity.

Stuffing yourself with high sugar drinks and sweets will give a sugar rush, but then leave you completely out of energy by the middle of the exam. Instead, try to eat slow energy release foods such as bread, pasta, porridge and fruit.

#8. Ask the Invigilator

If you’re stuck on the meaning of a word or can’t understand what a question requires you to do, put your hand up and ask the invigilator who is supervising the exams. More often than not they’ll help you or point you in the right direction.

#9. Look at the Marking Scheme

Keep an eye out for the marking scheme that shows how many marks are being awarded for each part of a question. If there are only a small amount of marks going for a part of a question, refrain from giving it the majority of your time. Instead, allocate your time to give you longer for the parts with higher marks.

#10. If You’re Running Out of Time

If you find yourself with time for only one question but two questions are left to do, the best thing here is to do the first half of both questions. Often, you gain more marks in the first half of a question than at the end. Also, if time is tight, bullet points can be a great way of getting the information down as quickly as possible.

You May Also Enjoy 3 Important Study Tips Every Teen Should Know

Exam Preparation Tips: The Don’ts

#1. Don’t Panic

Easier said than done we know, but it’s important to try and keep level headed throughout the exam. One of the main reasons for stress at exam time is the lack of control. Students get stressed because they don’t know what is coming up.

One of the best things you can do to calm yourself is to visualise yourself in the exam hall. Reading the paper and picking out the questions you are going to do early on will help calm you, as it removes the stress caused by the unknown of what’s coming up.

#2. Don’t Worry About Being Penalised

Lots of students worry about making mistakes and worry about spelling words incorrectly. Remember, you’re being marked positively not negatively so everything you write is getting you marks.

#3. Don’t Leave Out Questions

From experience, the main reason students underperform in exams is not because they answer questions badly, but because they leave out questions. As a rule of thumb, every long question you leave out will drop you by a grade.

#4. Don’t Run Out of Time

Managing your time in the exam is vital if you are not to leave out questions. Your teacher will probably give you a breakdown of how much time to spend on each question.

A good trick is to write your question schedule with actual times onto the cover of your answer book while the papers are being handed out. This way, if you look at your watch and it’s say 11:10 you know exactly how much of your exam you should have done. Then, make sure you stick to your schedule – so many students run overtime perfecting answers maybe gaining five marks at the expense of not doing a whole 50-mark question.

#5. Don’t Be Tired

Staying up late the night before an exam is not a good idea. You’ll end up so tired in the exam you won’t be able to work anything out. Try and keep a regular sleep cycle so that you’re fully awake and ready to work when the exams start each morning.

#6. Don’t Get Stuck On a Question

If you get a particularly hard question, don’t sit there panicking about it. The best thing you can do is having a quick think about it, mark it with a highlighter and move on to another question.

The chances are that by the time you come back to it, your subconscious mind will have already set you up to make an attempt at it.

#7. Don’t Bother Looking Around the Exam Hall

One of the most common things students do, especially in exams they find difficult, is look around and try to see how their classmates are doing. There is really no point in doing this and it is likely that seeing others furiously writing away will only serve to stress you further. Concentrate on your own exam and try and keep your focus on your own paper.

#8. Don’t Dwell

Once you finish an exam don’t spend half the day worrying about what went wrong and how you could have improved it. Chatting to friends after every exam will only fill you with frustrating regrets. When you hand up your paper, forget about that subject. Your next focus is tomorrow’s exam.

#9. Don’t Leave an Exam Early

There is always something you can do to improve your answers. Read back over your work and make sure you’ve answered all parts of all questions. Try to read your answers as if you were the examiner and you were correcting someone else’s work. Remember, the changes you make in these last few minutes could bring you up a grade.

#10. Don’t Panic

This tip is so important we’ll say it again. If a really hard question or paper comes up it’s likely every other student in Ireland will find it hard too. Very often the marking scheme will be made easier for harder exams. Stay positive and give each exam your best.

You May Also Enjoy 41 Revision Techniques to Help Kids Study Smarter

The post Exam Preparation Tips: 10 Do’s and 10 Don’ts of Exam Technique appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Sign up for our free Newsletter stuffed full of ideas, competitions and offers. PS Did we mention it’s free? 

At Savvy Teen Academy we have talked to lots of teens over the years about tackling exams and here are 3 important study tips that should help!

#1. Time Management

Start practicing time management as early as you can.

The English Leaving Cert exam is notorious for putting students under pressure – you might feel like you have to write until your hand falls off, or worry you will run out of time before getting to the end of discussing your poet.

However, time management isn’t a star that some lucky people are born under: it’s a skill that can be practiced and perfected.

• Set yourself a reasonable time limit, using the timer on your phone, to do this evening’s homework and try to beat it.
• If you found that you needed longer, jot down the reason why:
  – Did your concentration wander?
  – Did you need to look up something you were unsure of?
  – Did you set yourself an impossible task and need to adjust your expectations?
• Learn from this experience and do it again tomorrow night.

You will be surprised at how quickly you learn to estimate how long individual tasks take and how quickly you can take control of the clock.

BONUS: if you spend an optimum amount of time on study and homework that is more focused, this will leave you with a lot more free time!

You might also enjoy reading 41 Revision Techniques to Help Kid Study Smarter

The Savvy Teen Academy offers a five day – Monday to Friday – Summer Camp for Teenagers entering 5th or 6th Year. In an intense week, this turbo-charged, hands-on learning camp offers transformation from shy to confident, with plenty of fun and new friendships to made along the way. 

After five days at Savvy Teen Academy, students will be armed with a panoply of practical tools they will be able to use in many life situations: passing exams, applying for jobs, networking and confidently taking their life in the best direction. Courses take place in Dublin. 

#2. Teachers Are Your Allies

Treat your teachers as your allies, not your enemies.

At the beginning of secondary school, it can feel like your teachers are out to get you: they give you lots of homework and then punish you if it isn’t done.

Now that you’re a young adult, I’m sure you can see that your teachers are simply guiding you optimally through your course, so that you get a little bit closer every day to your best exam result – the one that will open the path you want to take after school.

Teachers have signed up willingly to help you progress and if you take the attitude that they’re on your side, it will make your relationship with them so much easier.

Get as much help as possible from them by asking questions in class. If you don’t understand something, then you have options:

• One, you can do nothing, and let misunderstandings accumulate until you get that sinking feeling when you look at an exam paper: never mind thinking of an answer – you don’t even understand the question.
• Two, you can spend a lot of time and energy trying to figure it out on your own.
• Three, you can cut to the chase and ask questions in class (or after class if you’re worried about others seeing that you don’t know something).

Every time you hesitate to ask a question in class, remember that at least five of your classmates are struggling with exactly the same issue, so go for it.

Believe me, you will get the credit for making a move when others aren’t brave enough to, and they will all be secretly relieved that someone asked that question.

It’s time to leave first year thinking behind!

#3. Look on the Bright Side

It’s easy to spend time feeling sorry for yourself when you’re looking at your bag full of homework after a tiring day in school, but there are so many things that you have to look forward to!

Take five minutes to write down all those things that you’re grateful for, like:

• Friends that you get to see every day.
• Teachers to help you understand new concepts and to speed up the process of learning.
• Future opportunities in college and work.
• The week-end when you can lie in.
• Your favourite TV programme that you watch on a Sunday night.
• Snapchat/Viber/WhatsApp so that you can send messages to your friends for free.
• Team sports, where you can catch up with other people and focus on something that isn’t school.

If you adopt a positive perspective on time spent in school and study, life will be so much easier. Instead of thinking of all that you have to do, think of all the things you get to do!

As you look forward to a brand new day, think about all that you have on your side: you’ve got skills and abilities, people who dedicate their career to helping you, and you even have control over your attitude.

It’s called the “growth” mindset and it has been confirmed by research. Adopt a positive mindset that you can tackle all this, and you will!

You might also enjoy reading: 6 Best Tips to Help Avoid Exam Stress

Over to you! Do you have any more invaluable study tips? Share them with us in the comments below.

The post 3 Important Study Tips Every Teen Should Know appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Sign up for our free monthly newsletter stuffed full of ideas, competitions and offers. PS Did we mention it’s free?

Explore Future Careers Before Doing Your CAO Application

While some students make career choices even before their Junior Cert, others can find the process overwhelming and end up leaving the decision until the last minute.

Parents can play an important role in supporting their children when it comes to CAO applications by familiarising themselves with the variety of third-level courses available and the areas of greatest opportunity in terms of career prospects.

Why consider a career STEM?

Third-level courses in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM) are unique in that they offer a gateway to almost every kind of industry and some of the country’s most promising companies.

Ireland is at the heart of the global technology revolution and is now firmly established as a centre of excellence for scientific research.

STEM graduates are required to fill jobs in these ever-expanding sectors and career opportunities will only continue to flourish as new industries emerge in areas such as Big Data Analytics, Robotics and Cybersecurity.

Did you know that…?

• All of the top 10 multinational technology companies including Google, Microsoft and Intel have a significant presence in Ireland;
• 9 of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies operate in Ireland, with 24,500 people directly employed by pharmaceutical companies and a further 24,000 who are indirectly employed providing support services;
• The government agency, Science Foundation Ireland invests €150 million a year in science. That’s not including the money that comes from industry;
• According to Morgan McKinley’s Salary survey, an IT graduate earns double what a financial services accounting graduate earns!

This year there was an increase in demand for Science and Business courses through the CAO, a sure sign that students and parents are seeing the potential STEM careers have to offer.

Is your child considering a career/embarked on a career in STEM ? Let us know your thoughts in comments below.

The post Filling in your CAO? Consider a Career in STEM appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Don’t miss the chance to have your say! We’re looking for parents to get involved and give their feedback on all aspects of family life. Find out more here.

As a parent, you can also help your child do a great job by creating the right environment for studying at home, and ensuring that he or she is eating right, and getting enough sleep.

Here are 41 Revision Tips on a cool infographic created by Essay Writing Service UK.

Over to you now. Do you have any tips for revision techniques? Tell us in the comments below.

The post 41 Revision Techniques to Help Kids Study Smarter appeared first on MyKidsTime.