How Can I Help My Teen Thrive During June Exams? Academic & Wellness Tips for Success

Written By Julie Diamond

By Julie Diamond, OCT

June marks a critical time in your teen’s academic journey—final exams. With the school year winding down and pressure building, exam season can feel overwhelming for students and their families. As a parent, you play a powerful role in helping your teen prepare not just academically, but emotionally too.

This updated guide offers practical strategies, mental health tips, and go-to resources to help your high schooler navigate exams with confidence, calm, and focus.

1. Create a Realistic, Personalized Study Plan

Final exams often cover large amounts of material. A personalized study plan brings structure and helps your teen manage their time and energy wisely.

How to Build a June Exam Study Plan:

  • Start Early: With exams starting next week, your teen should already be thinking ahead and reviewing each subject's key units and exam formats.

  • Set Clear, Measurable Goals: For example, “Finish all chemistry review questions by June 15” or “Practice 3 English essay questions this week.” Check out our blog on effective goal setting to learn more about SMART goals.

  • Use Exam Schedules: Incorporate actual exam dates into the plan to prioritize based on timing.

  • Balance Weak Spots and Strengths: Allocate more time for subjects they struggle with, but review everything regularly.

  • Use Visual Tools: A printable calendar or apps like MyStudyLife and Trello can help organize study blocks, breaks, and goals.

Bonus: If your teen benefits from structure and accountability, consider working with a tutor. At Diamond Teachers Group, we specialize in creating tailored study plans and can provide 1:1 support during this critical time. Check out more about our strategic test prep and study skills coaching [LINK HERE]. 

2. Lean Into Active Learning (Not Just Reading)

Passive reading won’t cut it during high-stakes exams. Active learning helps teens retain and apply information.

Try These Active Strategies:

  • Past Papers & Practice Tests: Mimic real exam conditions to build stamina and familiarity.

  • Verbal Recall: Encourage your teen to explain key concepts out loud as if they are teaching it to you.

  • Flashcards with Spaced Repetition: Apps like Quizlet use smart algorithms to improve memory retention.

  • Timed Writing: For essay-based exams, have your teen practice writing within a time limit to build confidence.

Pro Tip: Active learning boosts engagement and reduces anxiety because your teen knows what to expect and how to respond.

3. Optimize the Study Environment for Focus

A peaceful, organized study space can make a world of difference. Check out this blog post of ours for tips on how to create an effective study area. 

Set the Stage for Success:

  • Choose a Quiet, Well-Lit Space: Avoid bedrooms if possible—create a dedicated "exam zone."

  • Declutter Daily: Encourage your teen to reset their workspace at the end of each study session.

  • Use Tools Like:

    • Noise-cancelling headphones or calming music (like binaural beats or lo-fi).

Encourage consistency: Same space + same tools = less resistance to starting each session.

4. Teach Time Management (Without Micromanaging)

With multiple exams, effective time management is a must but teens often need help building this skill.

Help Them Master Their Time:

  • Use the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of focused work + 5-minute break. Repeat.

  • Build Weekly Schedules Together: Include school, tutoring, meals, breaks, workouts, and downtime.

  • Set Checkpoints: Celebrate progress each week (this keeps momentum high).

  • Avoid Overloading: Don’t cram six subjects in one day. Limit to 2–3 focused topics.

5. Support Emotional Well-Being & Manage Exam Anxiety

Exam stress is real. Teens may feel overwhelmed by pressure - academically and socially. Recognizing and addressing their mental health is just as important as reviewing notes.

Mental Health Tips That Help:

  • Validate Their Feelings: Acknowledge anxiety instead of brushing it off. Let them know stress is normal but manageable.

  • Encourage Self-Care Breaks:

    • Walks outside (Notice: 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste)

    • Short naps

    • Listening to music

    • Art or journaling (try colour by numbers or adult colouring pages)

  • Teach Calming Strategies:

⚡ Mental Health Resource: If your teen is feeling persistently anxious or overwhelmed, check in with their school guidance counselor or a local youth mental health service like Kids Help Phone.

6. Prioritize Healthy Habits All Month Long

Teens can’t perform their best if they’re sleep-deprived, underfed, or overstimulated. Good habits fuel success.

Healthy Habits to Maintain During Exam Season:

  • Sleep: 7–9 hours per night. No screens for 30 mins before bed.

  • Hydration & Nutrition: Water, fruits, protein-rich snacks. Limit caffeine and energy drinks.

  • Movement: Encourage daily activity - even 15 minutes helps clear the mind.

Help your teen avoid all-nighters and normalize asking for support. Resilience isn’t just about grinding - it’s about rest and recharge too.

Final Thoughts: Guide, Don’t Overload

Your support - emotional, practical, and compassionate - can make a massive difference during this high-pressure season. Stay connected, check in without hovering, and help your teen build a balanced approach to exams that values their well-being just as much as their grades.

If your teen would benefit from academic coaching or personalized exam support, our exam prep tutoring is still available through late June. We also offer mindfulness-based sessions to reduce anxiety and build study confidence.

Our summer sessions can also help your teen plan ahead for next year - our tutors will review concepts they struggled with in the course this year and also introduce them to concepts they will see next year. This helps close learning gaps and build their confidence. 

Let’s help your teen shine - this June and beyond.

Julie Diamond
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