What parents should watch for, do to support Year 12 students during QCAA external exam block

A psychologist has warned parents to watch for signs their child is becoming overwhelmed by the stress of the QCAA exam block - which has reached the halfway point.

At the halfway point of the 17-day Year 12 exam block, involving almost 40,000 Queensland students, parents are warned to watch out for signs their child is being overwhelmed by the stress of external exams.

A psychologist and parenting expert has emphasised how parents can deal with and support their child during this crunch time to hopefully make a positive difference to their exam performance.

Dr Alan Ralph, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Queensland and head of training at parenting program Triple P, said it is important parents keep their cool.

Dr Alan Ralph – Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at UQ. Photo: Supplied.

“Don’t ramp up the pressure regarding marks and university ramifications they may have. Don’t raise the stakes, accept that it is what it is, and they will get what they get,” he said.

“It is also important that parents keep a look out for behavioural changes in their child – sleep, diet, or exercise. These could indicate stress overload starting to kick in.”

Dr Ralph said managing their child’s routine to ensure they get through all of the material they need to is also crucial for parents.

“They need to create an environment at home where the child feels they can ask or say anything without judgement – whether it be about anxiety or stress or fear of failure,” he said.

“Taking breaks is also very important – ensure the student schedules time for study, but also for catching up with friends, and family time too. Breaking the days up into small chunks of different activities also creates variety.”

Brisbane mother Belva Zhuang has her eldest daughter, Jane, in Year 12 at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School in Corinda.

Sherwood mother Belva Zhuang and her daughter Jane Song, who is in Year 12 at St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School. Photo: Liam Kidston.

She had English, Mainstream Maths, Specialist Maths, Chemistry, Accounting and Chinese exams on her QCAA external assessment block agenda.

“She has been working hard, even in the school holidays she started to prepare for the exams – she wants to do a good job,” Ms Zhuang said.

“It has actually surprised me, my daughter has become very independent, she doesn’t need my supervision. She studies in her room, controls her schedule, she asks me not to interfere.

“She said: ‘You will see the results if you let me keep doing what I’m doing’.”

Ms Zhuang said Jane hopes to study a Bachelor of Commerce at UQ – which carries an ATAR threshold of 84 – or an Engineering degree.

“I don’t want to stress her out. When I ask her how she feels, she says: ‘They are exams just like the previous ones’. For her, they are not that different,” she said.

“She spends most of her time on studying, but she also chats with her friends in her room, sometimes plays video games as relaxation, and some days if movie is coming out she will go out with her friends to watch it.”