How to Support Your Child on Mock Exams

Mock exams are practise tests that help students prepare for the real exams. Schools use them to check progress, highlight gaps, and build exam confidence. You may already know this from our detailed blog on mock exams.

Mock exam season can feel intense for children and parents often feel that pressure too. It’s normal to worry about how your child is coping and whether they’re doing enough. The good news is that your support makes a huge difference.

This guide will show you how to support your child in practical and emotional ways. We’ll cover revision habits, healthy routines, how to talk about results and when extra help might be useful. The aim is to make the whole process smoother for you and your child.

Understanding How Your Child Feels About Mock Exams

Before you step in to help with revision or routines, it’s useful to understand what your child might be feeling underneath it all. This makes your support more thoughtful and helps your child feel understood, not pressured.

Why Mock Exams Feel so Intense?

Mock exams can feel heavier than normal tests. Many students worry about their predicted grades and how they compare with those of their friends. Some feel pressure to “prove” themselves before the real exams. Others fear disappointing teachers or parents. These feelings are common and they can make mocks feel more serious than they actually are.

Signs of Stress to Look Out For

Every child shows stress differently. You might notice changes in sleep, eating habits, or mood. Some children become quiet or withdrawn, while others get irritable or overwhelmed. A drop in motivation, avoiding revision, or worrying too much about small mistakes can also be signs that they’re feeling the pressure.

How to Talk About Mocks Without Adding Pressure

The way you talk about mock exams can help your child feel calmer. Try to focus on effort, learning and progress instead of grades or perfection. Use gentle, open questions like “What part feels hardest right now?” or “How can I help today?” These questions create space for honest conversations without making your child feel judged. When they talk, listen closely and reassure them that mock exams are simply practice, not a final verdict.

Practical Ways to Support Your Child Before Mock Exams

Supporting your child before mock exams doesn’t need to be complicated. Small, steady changes at home can help them feel more organised and less overwhelmed. Here are some simple ways to make their preparation calmer and more effective.

Create a Calm and Comfortable Study Space

A good study space helps your child focus. Choose a quiet spot with enough light and a tidy surface. Keep distractions low by removing phones, games or background noise. A simple, comfortable setup can make revision feel less stressful.

Build a Simple and Realistic Revision Plan

Sit down with your child and plan their revision in small chunks. Use short sessions with regular breaks, rather than long hours of cramming. Try to balance schoolwork, homework, rest and hobbies so the plan feels manageable. A routine that fits their day makes it easier for them to stick with it.

Encourage Effective Revision Habits

Help your child use revision methods that actually work. Past papers are great for getting used to the exam style. Flashcards and quick quizzes help with memory. You can use websites, such as Quizzlet or Kahoot!. Active recall also helps when they explain ideas in their own words. Short timed questions also help them practise working under pressure.

Stay in Touch With School

Schools often share helpful information before mock exams. Keep an eye on key dates, revision resources and topic lists. Some schools run extra support sessions too. Staying informed helps you guide your child and know exactly what they should be focusing on.

How to Support Your Child on Mock Exam Days

Mock exam days can feel tense, but a bit of support from home can make them much smoother. Small, simple actions can help your child feel calmer and more prepared from start to finish.

Mock Exams – The Night Before

Keep things light the night before each mock exam. A quick review of key notes is fine, but avoid heavy revision or cramming. Encourage your child to wind down early, switch off screens and get a good night’s sleep. Feeling rested will help far more than squeezing in extra study at the last minute.

The Morning of the Mock Exam

A calm morning sets the tone for the whole day. Give your child time to wake up, have breakfast and get ready without rushing. If they feel nervous, remind them that these are practise exams and not the final ones. A few encouraging words can help them walk into school feeling steadier and more confident.

After Each Mock Exam

Once the exam is over, avoid asking too many questions straight away. Your child might still be processing how it went. Instead, let them take a breath. When they’re ready, ask gentle questions like “How did you feel in there?” or “Is there anything you want to change for next time?” This keeps conversations open and supportive without adding pressure.

Mock Exams – When to Consider Extra Help?

There may come a point when your child needs more support than you can offer at home, and this is completely normal. Signs often appear slowly, such as persistent gaps in understanding, ongoing stress, low confidence, or repeated battles over revision.

Extra help can make a big difference during mock season, especially when difficult topics or exam skills feel overwhelming. A tutor can explain difficult ideas in simple ways, build strong exam technique and mark practise papers so your child gets clear feedback they can use straight away.

They can also help create a personalised revision plan that feels manageable and structured. If you decide tutoring might help, look for someone with good subject knowledge, experience with the right exam board and a calm, supportive style your child feels comfortable with.

Conclusion

Mock exams are practise, not a final judgement on your child’s ability or future. They are a chance to learn what is working, where the gaps are and how to improve before the real exams arrive. When you see them this way, it becomes easier to stay calm and help your child do the same.

Your support matters more than perfect grades. Kind words, simple routines and a steady approach at home can make a big difference to their confidence. Small actions, like helping them plan their week or giving them space to rest, show that you are on their side.

If the workload starts to feel overwhelming, you do not have to manage it alone. Online tutoring can give your child structured help with tricky topics and exam skills. With the right support, mock exam season can become a useful stepping stone rather than something to fear.