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According to leading adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, many students and their families are given a distorted view of the importance of the final exams, leading to unrealistic expectations and extraordinary pressure on the students. In Surviving Year 12 he shows both students and parents how to keep the exams - and the year in general - in perspective.

'Parents should focus on the student's emotional wellbeing,' he says, 'rather than on the quantity of work being done. In this book I offer the best advice from successful students I taught at university - the secrets of studying smart.'

Using his distinctive mix of humour and worldly wisdom, Dr Carr-Gregg discusses the most important skills for creating a successful year. He provides practical advice on how to:

• Study smarter Deal with stress and anxiety
• Get enough sleep (the best study too of all!)
• Set and achieve your goals
• Maintain your emotional health and your social life 'manage' your family
• Develop good exercise and diet regimes, and
• Cope with the exams themselves.

Surviving Year 12 includes a special section for parents on how to help the whole family get through the year as well as comments from students. teachers and principals - all designed to help you keep you sanity intact.