Confidence isn't a personality trait — it's a habit set. Here are five that genuinely help, backed by sports-psychology research.
1. Rehearse the routine, not the content
The week before the exam, practise the morning routine — wake time, breakfast, walk-out time. Familiarity calms the nervous system.
2. The "two-minute slow start"
Tell your child that their first two minutes of the paper are deliberately slow. This stops adrenaline-driven mistakes on the easiest questions.
3. Score recovery rehearsal
What does your child do if a question stumps them? Have an answer rehearsed: "I move on, I'll come back". Practice now a timed mock to drill this.
4. Visualise success — briefly
Twenty seconds of imagining "doing well" before bed the night before. Longer than 20 seconds becomes anxiety.
5. The post-exam plan
Have something specific to look forward to after the exam — a film, a meal out. Knowing it ends helps children stay in the present.