13. What are the "Three Arrows" needed for entrance exams?
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1. Introduction
"One arrow is easily broken, but three arrows are hard to break"—this is a famous anecdote about the Sengoku period warlord Motonari Mori. Actually, I think this applies perfectly to entrance exams as well, so I would like to write an article about it.
When you are struggling to improve in mock exams or fall into a slump, are you trying to solve everything with just "academic ability"? But in reality, I believe that to "win at entrance exams," three powers are needed in a balanced way.
In this article, I will introduce what the "three arrows" needed for entrance exams are, and how you can strengthen them starting now. If you read to the end, you will surely see the kind of encouragement you should give your child and how you can support them as a parent.
2. The First Arrow: Academic Ability (Knowledge and Application Skills)
The accumulation of daily study becomes the foundation for entrance exams
However, be careful not to become overly focused on input
When you are struggling to improve, it is a chance to review your study methods
Support parents can provide: creating a study environment / words of affirmation and meal support, etc.
3. The Second Arrow: Mental Strength (Mental State and Self-Esteem)
The ability to recover when things don't go well in mock exams, etc.
A passionate desire for your target school
Parent: Just saying "You can do it" is not enough. "Encouragement with a basis" is effective.
Parent's role: To be a receptacle for emotions. Use "empathy" and "watching over" as a set.
4. The Third Arrow: Strategic Ability (Information, Selection, and Time Management)
How much time to spend on which subjects
Understanding the question trends for each target school
Finding a "path to victory" based on your own strengths
Parental support: Helping gather information from open campuses and information sessions, purchasing necessary workbooks, and other forms of support
5. Summary: Only when all three are gathered do they become strong
Through my experience as a parent of three university entrance exams, I felt that while entrance exams (general admissions) may seem like a battle of "academic ability" alone, there are other important aspects as well.
When "mental strength" and "strategic ability" are combined with this, the three together truly form an unbreakable "power to break through entrance exams."
Especially when your child is struggling, I hope you will watch over them from a parent's perspective and ask, "Which arrow is missing right now?"
Your support will surely become the "invisible string" that binds the three arrows together!