January is an important part of the exam calendar with four weeks of GCSE and A level units sat starting on the 9th January. 

Recognising that revision is the last thing on the mind for many people over Christmas, Edexcel has issued some  top tips for parents about how best to support their sons’ or daughters’ revision programme over the holiday period.    There are also tips for students by students, and for students from the examiners.  The information is available at: www.examzone.co.uk.

Ten top revision tips for parents

1. A dedicated quiet space with good natural light or lighting is best for studying, with no distractions.  If you have other children who are not studying for exams, make sure that they know the importance of revision time.

2. Ensure that your son or daughter has one evening a week away from their studies. It’s also important that they take regular breaks during the study periods.

3. Be around as a 'feeding station' – feed your child lots of healthy food and proper meals - not too many sugary snacks and junk food.

4. Offer to help with testing or ask if there is something that you can do for them – reassure them you are concerned about their welfare more than the results.

5. Know your son or daughter's revision timetable. Encourage them to tell you about what they are studying.  If you know that they are not at their best first thing in the morning, encourage them to rest then and work when they are more lively. They should choose their weakest/sleepiest time of day to be sociable and go out, or watch TV at those times.

6. Make su re that you and your child knows exactly the date, time and location for each exam and incorporate this into the revision plan.  Make sure that they have the correct equipment they need for the exam (calculators, rulers etc).   Importantly, you shuold ,know what they are not allowed to take in to the exam (mobile phones, pagers, text messagers etc) as this could lead to their exclusion from the exam.

7. If your son or daughter has a medical condition, eg diabetes, hay fever, make sure that the school knows about it, especially if it flares up around exam time.

8. If there is a family crisis, for example divorce or bereavement, again ensure that your son or daughter's teacher knows about it since the additional stress can affect your child's exam performance.  Special Consideration could be applied for the student in many circumstances, but this has to be done by the school.

9. Make sure that your child is using the internet to study and not as a resource to give the appearance of study!

10. Tell them that they can only try their best and even if they don't do as well as you hope, you still love them just as much.

Jerry Jarvis, Edexcel’s Managing Director , Edexcel, said: “Students and parents need advice and guidance during what can be a stressful time.  Examzone will help them find the information they need and steer them in the right direction.  It will help people understand the process and equip them with the knowledge so they can follow the correct channels.”

The January 2008 series of exams begins on the morning of the 9th January 2007 with AS Human Biology and finishes on the 1st February.