Article by: Richard Cleeve

Learners are currently returning to exam halls, giving teachers fresh challenges that they haven’t needed to address throughout the schooling year. With many students taking tests and exams running until the beginning of December, here’s how teachers can support pupils in the weeks ahead. 

One way to support students is to acknowledge the challenging nature of exams, as this also helps to normalise some of the anxiety that they are facing. It can also be helpful to encourage them to take regular breaks during revision periods and to emphasise the importance of sleeping and eating well.

Guidance for your students

It’s essential to note that the exam period is slightly more extended than usual as part of efforts to mitigate the potential impacts of Covid-19. In some subjects, there will be at least a 10-day gap between exams to ensure that pupils will not miss all tests in that subject. Teachers should look to reassure pupils about the processes associated with exams and should check the relevant exam boards for the latest information, as this can then be relayed to students.

How exam grades will be decided

Exam boards are also set to be more lenient when deciding grade boundaries this year, designed to alleviate some of the anxiety faced by pupils who feel they have lost out on education. Be as supportive as possible when any questions are asked and remind pupils of the ways they could break down challenging questions to make them more understandable.

Changes to exams and how they work

It is vital to note that there have been some adjustments to how the exams will work, including more information being provided to students on what to revise, fewer topics needing to be learnt and the use of support materials. Be sure to give all the information that you can to your students.

Source: Pearson, 2022