Last Updated on: 29th April 2025, 05:28 pm
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A joint report by FindTutors and GoStudent finds that students are increasingly overwhelmed by exam stress.
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Anxiety-related referrals for children in the UK have more than doubled since pre-pandemic times, according to NHS data.
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As Stress Awareness Month draws to a close, parents are urged to support their children through this critical academic period.
FindTutors, part of the GoStudent group, has revealed that stress management is considered by parents to be the most crucial life skill not being taught in UK schools.
The finding comes from the upcoming Education Report, compiled by FindTutors and GoStudent, which surveyed 1,000 parents and guardians to assess their concerns around exams and the wider education system.
With exam season ramping up, children and young people across the UK are feeling the pressure of revision and performance expectations – prompting calls for improved emotional and mental health support in schools, particularly during peak academic times.
Data from the Association of School and College Leaders, published in 2024, shows that 77% of teachers have witnessed mental health problems in Year 11 pupils caused by exam anxiety. These insights add to a wider national picture, as NHS statistics confirm anxiety referrals for young people have more than doubled since before the pandemic.
Tiara Junanto at FindTutors and former teaching assistant, provides five tips for both students and parents to help cope with exam stress over the coming weeks.
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Preparing for and sitting exams can be incredibly stressful, and without the right tools or knowledge to deal with this, it can quickly spiral into more serious issues.
“The most important thing by far is sleep. We’ve all been there, working on a particularly tricky subject late in the day, and it is tempting to keep going at the expense of a good night’s sleep. This is almost always a mistake, with poor quality or insufficient sleep shown by multiple studies to reduce your attention span and how effective your brain is at understanding things. Aim to get at least 8 hours a night, even on busy days.
“Alongside this comes exercise and nutrition. Grabbing the microwave meal or skipping that run to do a few extra hours of revision sounds like a good idea, but if you have weeks or months to go until the end of exam season it will quickly catch up with you. Exercise can be a fantastic stress reliever and provides your brain with a much-needed break from studying.
“As exams get closer, try and share your feelings with other students or friends, discussing your experiences can help you feel more in control of situations and hearing that others are going through a similar time can be reassuring. But make sure it doesn’t just become a competition to see who is doing the most revision, which is never helpful. Also make sure that you get help from a professional, if you need.
“On the day of, or night before, exams, try and take some time to relax. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises or mindfulness can help you feel less stressed and if you’ve already put in the work, will be more beneficial than any last-minute cramming and certainly better than a night without sleep.
“Finally, don’t discuss the exam with your friends afterward. It is very tempting to try and compare answers to reassure yourself that you have done well, but this can be unhelpful for both you and your friends when you are powerless to do anything about the outcome. This is especially true if you still have more exams to come. Try to let it go and forget about it.”
