Let's face it.
The job market is getting tougher every day.
Computerization is making many jobs redundant.
The Internet and modern telecommunications have allowed companies to outsource jobs to third-world countries where wage costs are much lower.
In fact thousands of jobs have already been shed in the United Kingdom as several major banks have outsourced their call center operations to the Indian subcontinent.
Other companies are following suit, sending their back- office and Information Technology jobs the same way.
This is a major trend that's only going to accelerate.
Have you ever wondered how your kids will get on when it's time to look for a job?
With the population increasing and with more people competing for fewer jobs, companies can now pick and choose from the very best applicants.
But wait a moment....
What do we mean by "the best"?
Whether you like it or not, "best" generally means the best qualified.
Employers, of course, have always used academic qualifications to shortlist job applicants for the interview stage.
But what is emerging now is a reliance on exam results for even seemingly ordinary jobs.
For example, did you know that the average call center employee in India is educated to degree level?
Qualifications are becoming more important than ever before.
And while not everyone is a natural-born exam prodigy, there are steps parents can take to help their kids gain better exam passes.
Here are 5 tips to get you started:
#1. Make learning enjoyable
We all do things better when we enjoy them, so bring out the joy of learning for its own sake.
One way to achieve this is by having family discussions about exam-related topics. Try to inject some drama (or at least some interest!) into the topic.
Another way is to embrace different technologies outside of the classroom. The Internet, multimedia CD-ROMs, and TV services like The Discovery Channel all help to liven up learning.
#2. Develop problem-solving skills
Practicing mental activities like quizzes - continued below ...
