3 simple habits that make exam season less stressful

Exam season doesn't have to mean tears at the kitchen table. The parents we work with see real change when they help their children build three simple habits — not bigger workloads, not more tutoring, just better habits.

1. The 25/5 Rule

It sounds too simple to work. Study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. Repeat.

The reason it works is that brains focus better in short bursts. After about 25 minutes of sustained effort, attention drops sharply. A short break resets it.

How to start: Pick any timer. Kitchen timer, phone, oven clock. Have your child work for 25 minutes, then break for 5. During the break, get them out of their chair — water, snack, look out the window. Don't scroll a phone.

2. Teach it back

If your child can explain what they've learned in their own words, they actually understand it. If they can't, they don't — even if they can write the answer.

This is one of the strongest predictors of learning. It's also why our tutors spend half of every session asking questions, not giving answers.

How to start: At the end of each study session, ask your child to explain one concept. "Tell me what a fraction is, like I'm five." If they can do it simply, they understand.

3. Sleep beats cramming

Eight hours of sleep consolidates memory better than an all-nighter. This is not a metaphor — it's measurable in brain imaging research.

A child who sleeps well the night before a test will retain more than one who stayed up late "revising." Rest is part of studying.

How to start: Two weeks before exams, set a lights-out time and stick to it. Pull screens out of the bedroom. The improvements in tracking help you understand that your child is recovering, even if they feel like they're missing study time.

"The 25/5 rule changed our evenings. We used to do two hours of fighting. Now we do four short bursts and everyone's calmer." — parent, Vic Park

What we don't recommend

Don't load extra worksheets on top of school work. Children who are already struggling at school usually need fewer problems, not more — and someone patient to walk them through the why.

That's what Homework Club is for. If you'd like a free 30-minute assessment with one of our tutors, we're across Perth in Vic Park East, Willetton, and Stirling.