How to Gear your children for the competitive exams?

Rise and compete

The competition is tough, are you up for the challenge?

Want to crack competitive exams? Here’s how you can prepare for the best results…

Every child’s potential is distinct, dynamic and diverse, hence the careers they pursue should reflect their interests, aptitude and potential.

Expecting the same result from every child is like expecting all the fruits to taste like mango. Having said that, in a highly competitive world of ours where future is generally decided on the results of competitive exams, it is our responsibility as parents and teachers to help our children identify their fields of interest and realise their full potential.

If dreams are to be pursued and futures are to be shaped through the results of competitive exams then it is our responsibility as elders to facilitate the preparations of our children and help them excel in exams.

Parents and teachers are key to shaping the personalities of the children, they are the sculptors who mould the imaginations of the young minds and help them pursue their dreams and aspirations. Having said that, we have to bear in mind that competitive exams are not the panacea for all ills, not cracking the exams is not the end of the world.

We have to give our best shot, make the best of preparations, and employ the best of strategies, but more importantly, we have to make sure our expectations are realistic.

Right Choice

But, even before that, we have make the right choices, not based on peer pressure or market trends, but purely based on our knowledge and interest in the subject.

Research shows that interest plays a great role in success. Higher the interest in a subject, greater the chance of the child working hard and succeeding.

In the Indian culture, parents or family members are known to be pushing children in a particular direction, in many cases forcing children to choose subjects they are not interested in, nor they are good at, the result of this is usually disastrous.

In cases where children even succeed to crack the exams, pursuing subjects they are not interested in, they have seen to be disoriented and disillusioned, eventually ending up as a failure.

Elders have a great role to play in this regard. Children posses a delicate and developing mind and on many occasions, specially under pressure, they are unable to process a lot of information and take the right decisions. Under these circumstances parents and teachers need to step in and reassure the children, giving them the much needed confidence to pursue their dreams!

Often, ahead of exams, parents worry more than the students, which adds more pressure on children. Parents have to make things easy for the children rather than making it harder.

Family Affair

In fact, exams should be a family affair, not in the way of becoming a burden on the children, but in the way of facilitating and taking care of the children’s needs.

What we mean is that the family routine should take into consideration the needs of the child’s preparations.

Family members, wherever possible, should help in the child’s learnings. Family members should also make sure the atmosphere at home is relaxed rather than intimidating. All of this helps children in having a greater focus and taking things easy.

But, before getting into the details of how to prepare, let’s try to understand what competitive exams are.

What are competitive exams?

Competitive exams are nothing but a process of assessing a candidate’s aptitude for a subject or a set of subjects. Whatever the subject, these exams are based on a certain standardised questionnaires, testing the child’s ability to understand, process and apply the relevant information.

So, to excel in these exams one has to prepare and perform in a way that you demonstrate to the examiner that you have the aptitude to excel in the subject and you are good enough to understand and master the field, whether it is medical, engineering, business or humanities.

Know the exam

Plan your study

Get the right resources

Practice leads to perfection

Warrior, not worrier

Comparison leads to depression

Pressure not, treasure

Your time is their life

Reduce the distractions