Priceless time management tips for Olympiad aspirants

Parents of all school students know that their children would one day have to compete with the rest of the country. School leaving exams can be stressful, and preparing for them might seem to be an impossible task to complete a never-ending syllabus. Perhaps that’s where the experience of an Olympiad can come in handy. Take the HT Olympiad for example. School kids of Grades I to XII will be competing with others beyond their classroom from March. For them, it’s more relaxed than board exams, and feels more like a large-scale game than something scary. So, trying out the HT Olympiad can be a good idea. But how do you prepare your kid without running out of time, all the time? Here are some practical tips.  

Begin with an organising drive   
Normal school life can’t halt just because your kid is about to appear for the Olympiads. The first thing you need to do, as parent, is go on an organising spree. It includes making sure the children’s desks and room are clutter-free, they are in good health, and fully aware of everything they have to do. Do not stress your kid at the last moment. If you start preparing for an Olympiad at the beginning of a school semester, the kid will not need to put in more than a few hours every week, but it will be spread over 6 months, so the entire schedule, form test prep to school to playing will fit in place.  

Make kids familiar with the syllabus and previous question papers  
Olympiad syllabi are always available on the website or with the school authorities if you have enrolled through them. Old question papers are also available for all school level Olympiads, including international ones. Get these as soon as you register your kid.  

Start tracking study hours and mock tests 
Are the kids sticking to the schedule you set them? To ensure that, track both study hours and mock tests. Timing it from the beginning will mean your kid is never rushed.   

Teach kids to complete mock tests on time  
Here are some quick tips to complete mock papers on time:  

• Ask children to read the paper thoroughly before starting, ticking off the questions in the order they will attempt them
• Ask them to first attempt the questions they know  
• They should take a guess if there is no negative marking  

Though simple, these suggestions can help your kid prepare better for Olympiads.