Exams and Stress
Identifying the signs
Signs of academic stress can sometimes be difficult to identify. Children and young people may not want to talk about stress they are experiencing.
Children and young people who are affected by anxiety and stress about tests and school work may:
- Complain of physical health problems (e.g. stomach aches, headaches etc.).
- Not be sleeping or eating properly.
- Have mood changes, such as being tearful, angry or withdrawn.
- Be reluctant to attend school or talk about tests and exams.
- Spend too much time on their work or alternatively avoid schoolwork.
- Be overly self-critical of themselves and of any mistakes they make.
- Become obsessive in the way they work – unwilling or unable to break off.
How to manage stress
- Prioritising your time, subjects and workload can make a big difference and help to reduce your anxiety levels. You'll be able to ensure that the really important stuff is covered – and at the right time.
- Make a table with the dates of each exam and how many topics need to be covered for each. This will give you a clear idea of how much time you need to dedicate to each exam topic and when you need to start revising.
- As you progress through your revision, tick off the topics that you've completed. This will give you a small sense of achievement, knowing that you're making progress.
- Make a revision timetable
- Remember to factor in regular breaks. You could maybe try having a break for at least 10 minutes every hour and a half or so, if not more.
- Exercise and eat healthily
- Exercise gets your blood flowing and your heart pumping. It's a proven stress-buster as it helps to produce endorphins. So, once you stop working out, you can feel a lot more alert than you had been earlier.
- Eating the right foods during stressful times is also absolutely crucial for mental health and well-being. Not only can these snacks reduce stress, but they can also increase brain power. Win-win.
- Stepping away from social media while revising will do wonders for your stress levels.
Resources to help with exam stress