Navigating Exam Stress and Anxiety

With statutory examinations and tests just around the corner, exam stress and anxiety levels are starting to rise across thousands of schools and homes.

The ripple effects of exam season are far-reaching, affecting not only the children and young people themselves, but also school leaders, teachers, parents, and carers. It’s vital, then, that we take a holistic approach to support over the coming months, as we help students to successfully navigate this often-challenging period.

Exam stress affects everyone

As the culmination of years of formal education, exams can often feel like the ‘be all and end all’. Students face weeks, if not months, of relentless revision, at the end of which lie numerous high-stakes tests that, for many, will shape their future choices.

Adolescence can already be a difficult period for some, so the additional stress of statutory exams can quickly leave teenagers feelings overwhelmed and anxious.

Impact on teachers and school leaders

Staff, too, are under enormous pressure during this period. For school leaders, and for teachers who work in key year groups, an unwavering focus on results means they must balance the pressure of hitting grade targets, with students’ – and their own – mental health needs.

Against the backdrop of a deepening recruitment and retention crisis, it’s more important than ever to prioritise staff’s wellbeing, so that committed practitioners feel valued and supported in their roles.

Families under pressure

Beyond the school gates, the stress and anxiety of exams can spill into homelife as well, leaving parents and carers feeling helpless. They may be stuck between trying to alleviate feelings of anxiety for their child, while also projecting their own worries about academic outcomes and performance onto them.

It can be difficult for families to know what kind of support to offer – when to get involved, and when to stand back – when they themselves are juggling multiple responsibilities.

Exam stress and anxiety-related behaviours

Of course, some children and young people breeze through their exams relatively unscathed, and successfully manage to keep feelings of stress and anxiety at bay. For others, however, a combination of external pressure to perform, and an inner drive to excel, leaves them struggling to cope, and engaging in behaviours that may be unusual for them.