Christmas & Mock Exam Results - How to Support Your Child | Parent Centre

Below are some tips to help you support your child when they receive the results of an exam, whether it's Christmas tests, mocks or otherwise.

Talk to your child beforehand

We recommend discussing your child’s feelings and expectations ahead of time, even if they seem hesitant. Some students may try to avoid conversations about their results, which can unintentionally heighten their anxiety. They may have their own expectations about what your reaction will be to their results and cause stress for themselves as a result. Letting them know that you are there for them regardless of the results may lift any anxiety they are feeling.

Encourage them to open up about their thoughts and concerns, and most importantly, remind them that their value is not determined by their exam results.

Provide perspective

On results day, helping your child maintain perspective is essential. Remind them that exams are just one way to assess abilities and that setbacks can be part of a successful journey. 

If your child is disappointed, take time to listen and validate their feelings. Let them know it’s natural to feel upset, and provide comfort as they process their emotions. Avoid comparisons with others, such as siblings or friends, as this can undermine their confidence.

Instead, focus on their unique strengths and potential, encouraging them to see the results as a learning opportunity. Highlight the value of resilience and perseverance in reaching their goals and remind them that this is not yet the JC or LC, so there is still time to improve.

Stay positive

Your response to your child’s results plays a vital role in shaping how they feel about their achievements. Whether the results are unexpected in a good or bad way, approach the situation with patience and encouragement. Adjusting your own expectations is key—some children may have given their all but struggled due to tough circumstances like challenging exams or high pressure. Others might not have applied themselves as fully as they could have. Regardless, reflecting on the past during results day won’t change anything and may only add to emotional stress. Instead, acknowledge and celebrate their efforts, no matter the outcome. If things didn’t go as planned, focus positively on what can be improved and discuss the steps that can be taken to make results more successful the next time around.

Help to make a plan

Now that you know where things stand, look ahead and work with your child to create a realistic plan for their next set of exams. Start by breaking down their goals into smaller, manageable steps, focusing on areas where they struggled the most. 

Regularly reviewing progress and adjusting the plan as needed can help your child stay on track and feel a sense of accomplishment as they see improvements over time. It's important to set both short-term and long-term goals, celebrating small wins along the way, and reassuring them that consistent effort will pay off. Studying & exams can feel stressful because of the idea of there being too much to do, but seeing how the work can be broken down into bite-sized chunks on a plan will help them feel less overwhelmed.

You can try using some of our printable planners to help structure this.

Help to find easier ways of studying

Poor results can often be a symptom of learning in a way that isn't suited to you. Every student learns differently, and finding the method that clicks for them can make a student feel a lot better about studying.

Studyclix helps by offering many different ways of learning. For example, if your child is more visual, our video tutorials and Boost add-ons could help. Meanwhile, those who learn by doing may benefit from our interactive quizzes and past exam questions. Set up a study schedule that includes a mix of resources, allowing your child to experiment with different techniques until they find what works best. Review their progress regularly and adjust the approach as needed, helping them stay motivated and engaged.

Read more about helpful study methods here.

Reacting to good results

So far we've focused more on those who may not have received the best results, but those receiving good results also need reinforcement and support.

When your child receives good results, it’s important to celebrate their achievements while also helping them stay grounded and focused on their next steps. Acknowledge their hard work and dedication, and encourage them to reflect on their strengths and what they did well, so they can continue applying these strategies in the future.

It's common for high-achieving students to put unnecessary pressure on themselves. Consistently getting good results means getting an occasional bad one, or even the idea of it, can be quite stressful. Remind them that you are proud of them, that you recognise their hard work and that you value them regardless of what happens on results day.

Ultimately, your support & reassurance is the most important thing you can provide at this time. Your belief in their ability to succeed can make all the difference in how they approach the future.

I hope this proved helpful and that you feel equipped to support your child with their exam results.