1. Tips for Parents and Carers
Managing Exam Stress
Tips for Parents and Carers

2. Revision is key because:
Young people need to revisit learning from the classroom several times be able to then recall it in the exam
Good revision means that even if they are really anxious in the build up to the exam the learning is solid
Some topics they have covered will have been completed several months before the exam

3. Top 10 things YOU can do to help manage exam stress
Encourage your child to complete homework & coursework on time.
Encourage them to rest, have fun and enjoy their hobbies.
Ensure your child is eating and drinking well, and getting a suitable amount of sleep.
Encourage your child to engage in activities that involve going outside and avoid overuse of screens.
Encourage your child to talk if they seem stressed or anxious about their GCSEs.
Attend any meetings the school invites you to about GCSEs. Hear from the teachers about how, where and when the exams will take place, so you can support your child to be prepared for what’s happening.
Spend time with your child to understand what concerns them most about GCSEs. If your child can pinpoint what’s bothering them most, you can take steps to help them.
Plan something nice for the weekends before, during and after GCSE season. This could be something as simple as going out for a walk or inviting friends round for some time off.
Praise them for what they do well, and encourage them to keep trying
Is there anything else going on at home which may be contributing to your child’s overall level of stress?
Top 10 things YOU can do to help manage exam stress

4. but there is a tipping point. Watch for signs of stress.
It would be unnatural for GCSEs not to trigger a certain degree of worry or anxiety
but there is a tipping point. Watch for signs of stress.
Children and young people who experience
stress may:
worry a lot
feel tense
get lots of headaches and stomach pains
not sleep well
be irritable
lose interest in food or eat more than normal
not enjoy activities they previously enjoyed
seem negative and low in their mood
seem hopeless about the future