Does your child blank out during exams?

Your child is the pride of your life, and with them, they carry both their own hopes and dreams, as well as those you hold for them. This can create a stressful burden, leading to struggles during exams. Blanking out during exams can be distressing, preventing your child from showcasing their full potential. Fortunately, there are practical steps you can take to boost their performance and alleviate any stress you may feel about the situation.

Our essential strategies can help you effectively manage blanking out during an exam and build your child’s confidence. Together, we can create the foundations of a successful academic life for your child.

What Causes Blank Out?

“Blanking out” refers to a sudden and temporary loss of focus, memory, or mental clarity, where a person momentarily forgets what they were doing, thinking, or even how to perform a task. Children often experience this when they are stressed or lack enough sleep. It can also be a sign of underlying mental health issues or low confidence.

Preparing your child before an exam

Encourage your child to be specific about the content they must study for a particular exam. Adequate preparation can prevent stress-related anxiety and blanking out.

Prepare your child with time-related exercises and mock exams to get them used to answering questions promptly. If you can mimic the environment of an exam room, your child will feel less like they’re going into a new environment when they enter.

Spend time helping your child visualize and approach the exam calmly and composedly. Use positive reinforcement, such as phrases like “I’ve got this!” to calm your child’s mind.

Ensure that your child schedules breaks for physical activities such as sports or hobbies that may help them relax and balance their minds. Take time to get outdoors into nature, even if it’s just for 10 – 15 minutes. Healthier snacks like fruit, smoothies, or nuts, rather than sugary treats, can help sustain concentration throughout the exam.

Supporting your child through exam stress can take a toll on your well-being. It’s essential to manage your stress and emotions, ensuring that you’re providing a calm and supportive environment. Some good techniques you can implement are sharing your concerns with a support network, engaging in relaxing activities, or seeking guidance on managing your child’s educational journey without overwhelming yourself.

Effective ways for your child to approach an exam

An exam is not a life-threatening situation. Reiterate to your child that whatever happens, you will still love and support them. 

Breathing techniques can help relieve anxiety during an exam. Help your child by teaching them simple, breathing-in and breathing-out before starting the paper. This will also improve their focus and exam performance.

Encourage your child to skip questions that they are blanking out on. Marking and returning to the question later can help them build momentum and confidence. An effective way to combat blanking out is to circle the questions you are most confident about and complete those first.

 

What can be done after an exam?

If your child has suffered an episode of blanking out and is upset, there are many constructive ways to rebuild their confidence. Remind them that beating themselves up about it is not constructive. Talk to your child to find out why they think the blanking out occurred.

Understanding your child’s feelings is vital. Exam pressure can lead to embarrassment, frustration, or even guilt when blankouts occur. Creating a safe space for them to express these emotions is essential. Reassure them that blanking out is a common experience and doesn’t define their intelligence or future potential.

Once the possible causes have been identified, list them, and next to each one, note down strategies that could help conquer each potential cause.

Beyond academic performance, instil the belief in your child that effort and resilience are more important than results. Celebrate small wins and progress in their study habits and approach rather than focusing solely on grades. Remind them that challenges are a part of growth and learning and that each exam — successful or not — is a step towards mastering the subject.

How a tutor can help prevent your child from blanking out

A tutor can share valuable tips and strategies to ensure the best possible exam preparation. Specific attention can be given to practising under exam conditions, and a more foreign environment can help your child work through their anxiety effectively.

Your child’s study skills and organisational techniques can be assessed and improved professionally. A holistic approach, such as a skills study crash course, will reap massive benefits in focus and exam performance. 

A Canadian tutor service can also help identify and direct you to professional help if they pick up on underlying causes. Often, these issues are not picked up in the classroom, and special attention and help can be given if you tackle them early.

How can BrightSparkz help? 

If you feel that a tutor can help your child with knowledge gaps that have caused blanking out in the past, or if you have heard about how BrightSparkz can support your child, please don’t hesitate to connect with one of our consultants.

If your child is struggling with a particular subject or even a specific topic or unit, a hand-picked tutor is the best option to help your child catch up or close any knowledge gaps before exploring more in depth learning support options. Tutors have been through it all and bring so much benefit and perspective!

Our team loves nothing more than to see students succeed, and would love to do the same for your child.