Surviving the HSC: A practical guide for parents

The HSC is thought to be more of a marathon than a sprint. But at this stage of the race, HSC students have entered the stadium and are making their way towards the final home stretch. The finish line is in sight and it’s time to ramp up the pace.

As students gear up for their final exams, they are bound to experience an increase in stress. But it’s not just students that feel the pressure. Family members may also feel helpless or overwhelmed when trying to support their child who may be experiencing stress and anxiety during this time.

How to create a supportive environment for you HSC child:

·       Provide a suitable place for study. Ideally this place should be quiet, comfortable in temperature, ventilated, have adequate space and be free from distractions such as TV, phones or other siblings.  Research has shown that students who use social media sites while studying (even if only in the background) can get 20% lower marks than students who don’t.

·       Feed them with nutritious and well-balanced meals, and keep up the hydration

·       Encourage sleep hygiene.

·       Encourage physical activity and a balance between study and leisure. Planned leisure is an essential component of a good study program.

·       Talk to them. This may be easier said than done as teenagers aren’t always the most communicative. One strategy may be to go for a drive, car travel and during other activities that don’t require having to make eye contact, may help teens to open up.

·       Talk to them about their hopes and fears. A common fear for teens is not so much around the exams, but of disappointing their parents.

·       Highlight strengths and successes, reframe ‘failure’ as mistakes to be learned from.

·       Encourage the use of all available resources, this includes teachers, school counsellors and online communities that have a HSC review focus.

·       Appreciate that most students are experiencing high levels of stress. For many students, the HSC may be the most stressful event in their young lives.

·       Be aware that emotional outbursts are common for stressed students, unfortunately family members are usually the recipient.

·       Provide reassurances to promote confidence.

·       Be realistic in expectations, not all students are able to hit those high bands and that’s okay. Trying their best is the goal, and is good enough.

·       Make some concessions, such as release from some chores as study programs become more demanding.

·       Get them to teach you. Being able to explain a concept to someone else is an important teaching and learning strategy.

·       Know who to call if unforeseen circumstances arise. It’s important to know who to contact at school if something comes up. The HSC is the domain of the Board of Studies and there is no rescheduling. The school can help with paperwork if something comes up.

·       Recognise that it is just a test. More emphasis is placed on the HSC now than ever before but sitting and passing a three-hour exam is not a measure of a student’s worth or character. If they don’t get the grade they need to get into a particular university course, there are other options. They can do a generalist degree and transfer, they can get a job, save, travel, get an apprenticeship or go to TAFE.

·       Lastly, as a parent, if you need support, please talk to friends and family, or see a psychologist.

Written By: Kara Binstadt