Exam students advised good eating and sleeping routines best options

Good sleeping and eating routines are among the key last-minute tips from experts to thousands of students counting down to Wednesday’s start of this year’s exams.

With about 52,500 Leaving Certificate candidates and 60,000 due to sit the Junior Certificate, second-level principals say late-night study should be avoided and eating well is hugely important before and during the exams.

English is first on the timetable for Junior and Leaving Certificate students and some of the 2,853 completing the Leaving Certificate Applied programme.

National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) director Clive Byrne said student should avoid skipping meals, especially breakfast and lunch, and to bring enough healthy snacks, water, and pens to their exam centres.

“This can be a stressful time for students. But our advice to students is to make sure they get enough sleep, eat well, and take one exam at a time.

“Students should avoid late-night study, and allow time to wind down before going to bed. If you are feeling anxious, try proven relaxation techniques, such as measured breathing and slowing down your pace of thought.”

Mr Byrne said it is important to stay in touch with family and friends without creating too many distractions, as staying calm and focused are important.

Parents are advised of their key role too, with psychologist Aidan Moran of University College Dublin offering some ideas of how they can support their children approaching major exams.

“They should encourage students to regard exams as opportunities to gain marks rather than as tests designed to find out what they don’t know.

“Second, parents should avoid doing post-mortems with their children after the exam, it’s neither helpful nor accurate as students don’t always remember what they wrote. Finally, parents should praise their children for doing their best and for staying in the exam until it’s over.”

The Leaving Certificate continues until Jun 21 for students of religious education, applied maths and technology, with Italian and ancient Greek bringing an end to the Junior Certificate a day earlier.

*Other tips on www.psi.ie