How To Support Your Teen Who Didn’t Do Well In Exams

The school year has ended, report cards are out, and for some students, the results weren’t what they had hoped for – despite their hard work and effort. Even supposedly ‘book-smart’ IP students may struggle with disappointment and underperforming. Instead of scolding or punishing them, what matters is how you support your teen from here on out – teaching them to pick themselves up, reflect, and make effective changes.
If you are experiencing this right now, here’s what our IP tutors in Singapore suggest you can do to support your teen.

Investigate what went wrong

Understanding what went wrong is the first step to improving. You might want to start by reviewing their exam papers to reveal any weaknesses in concepts and exam skills. Or perhaps, ask your teen to reflect on their study process: Did they have enough time to study? Did they have too many commitments to juggle?

Common causes of poor results include:

• Last-minute studying (poor planning or procrastination)
• Weak answering techniques (understand the content but answers poorly phrased)
• Weak time management (can’t finish the paper or rushed through)
• Carelessness
• Exam anxiety (brain fog during the exam, for example)

When you have identified some possible reasons, you can then plan some targeted solutions, such as dropping some commitments, planning to study earlier, or working on specific question types to brush up on certain skills.

Let them create their own solution

At this age, teens crave their own independence. Not many teens will enjoy having their parent micro-manage their study schedule or sit with them to study. Instead, you need to involve them in the solution.

For example, you can set out some goals with them, and then ask them to plan their own study timetable for the holidays, offering them flexibility to choose when they want to study. You could also ask them what kind of support they think they would like you to provide.

Offer practical support

Buying some assessment books and worksheets, or hiring a tutor – these are ways that you can provide very practical support to your teen. But make sure to do it as an offer to help, not ‘forcing’ them to go for tuition. You’ll be surprised that some teens will happily accept or even request for tuition of their own choice, all because they recognise that they need the extra help.

Other ways you can show your support is through actions like preparing them healthy snacks, providing transport to and from tuition, and providing a conducive study area for them at home.

Future Academy’s Booster Programme for IP Students

If you’re looking for a year-end programme for IP students, you’re in luck! Future Academy is running our holiday programmes for IP students – perfect for those needing a little bit of extra guidance in closing those knowledge gaps. Joining a small group class will provide that much-needed structure for this long holiday, plus grant you access to consultations with expert tutors.

Once you have brushed up on the past year’s content, tutors will also walk students through some introductory content for the next year – offering a helpful boost that will allow them to pick up on new concepts quicker.

Conclusion

It’s worth remembering that a poor grade is only temporary, but how you support your teen to be resilient, learn from mistakes, and work towards their goals is a valuable lesson that they can remember forever. Striking the right balance between being supportive while giving them space to be independent is key for this age.

If your child is in the IP and could use some guided support in closing knowledge gaps and regaining momentum, our Holiday Booster Programme could be the difference they need. Let us help your teen move from setback to success.

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