AS the exam season looms, with SATs and GCSEs just around the corner, we are launching a competition for parents and children aged 7 to 15 to help take some of the agony out of exams by offering tips on survival and the chance to win great educational software.

We have teamed up with one of the UK's foremost educational software providers Knowledge Adventurer on this project, to offer parents a few Dos and Don'ts to help with exam preparation and to give readers the chance to win free copies of Knowledge Adventurer's Educational Software ADI - English and Maths and Smart Start French.

So how can you improve your child's chance of exam success?

Our list of tips for is published in two parts starting this week and continuing in Tuesday's NIE column next week. All you have to do to win copies of the software is to first cut out and keep both sets of tips, then you and your child should think of three other helpful exam hints of your own. Send them in to NIE Exam Competition, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn, BB1 1HT, by the closing date of Friday March 12. The competition is open to anyone with a child aged 7 to 16 and will be judged in primary and secondary age groups with one winner from each.

To enter write out your three original exam revision tips clearly and add your name, home address, telephone number and age of child.

Our usual competition rules apply, employees of this newspaper and their families are not eligible to enter.

The great first prize for each winner is a set of educational software worth about £50 selected for the winner's age group, comprising: ADI - English and Maths and Smart Start French, runners up will receive books.

Knowledge Adventurer's range of software has been developed by educationalists and psycologists and has proved an ideal revision resource for all key stages of the National Curriculum.

ADI-English and Maths is available in eight titles catering for ages 7 to 15, each covering a full year's learning and revision for the curriculum subjects. Smart Start French is suitable for 8 year olds to adults and delivers an interactive language course of 12 structured lessons together with a large selection of educational multimedia games and activities.

Now - read through this week's tips, collect next week's then think of your own ideas to win these great prizes.

EXAM SURVIVAL GUIDE - PART ONE

Our handy checklist of Do's and Don'ts will help parents to get through the stress of SAT's and GCSE revision this Easter.

DO:

Encourage a realistic revision timetable, with targets that can be achieved.

Help them to devise interesting revision notes and offer to help with testing.

Try to get hold of past exam papers so that your child is familiar with styles and questions and the number of marks given for each section.

Help to time questions or essays in conditions similar to an exam - the real thing won't be so nerve-racking if they've had a chance to practise.

Keep things quiet if that's the way your child likes it, but if he or she prefers working with music then respect that too.

Check that they have the right equipment for exams and stock up on pens, pencils, highlighters, folders and plastic wallets.

DON'T:

Don't let anxiety build up about particular subjects; if necessary talk to the subject teachers concerned to ask for extra help.

If tension is mounting, keep calm and don't rise to the bait if they need to let off steam.

Don't miss breakfast on exam days, get up a little earlier to save rushing.

Avoid too much coffee - caffeine can make you and them feel more stressed.

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