Whether GCSEs or just the annual end-of-year exams, most teenagers across the country will be preparing for exams which will start to be rolled out in the next few weeks.

It is an unusual student who doesn’t feel some amount of pressure, revising and going through work which they have studied over the past one or two years.  Particularly, in the case of GCSEs and A’ Levels, where the results may impact on their chances of getting a University place or being accepted into a Drama School or applying for an apprenticeship.

Of course, there are many advantages to exams – whether it is testing students’ knowledge, to determine which University places should be given, or perhaps just a useful tool for teachers in annual exams for identifying which students may be struggling.

However, examinations tend to go hand in hand with anxiety, which for some, ironically, can lead to low-scoring results and, unfortunately for many, to depression and mental health issues.

Some schools do not believe in exams and are opposed to the standard school system.  An extreme example of this is the progressive Summerhill School in Suffolk, where students are not required to sit any examinations or even study subjects which they dislike.  The school believes that their approach means students have more freedom and are more able to be themselves, as well as being more relaxed and not stressed.  The school’s ethos is that it is more important to learn life skills teamwork, co-operation, decision-making, communicating and taking responsibility rather than academic skills.  Almost all Summerhill pupils do take some exams before they leave, but there is an option for some not to take any at all.

However, for most young people leaving school without any qualifications, this attitude is disadvantageous as most further education providers and potential employers might be wary if a person has not taken any qualifications.

Nonetheless, it is most likely that your school does have examinations, so how can you avoid stress and be ready to succeed?

Studies have proven that exam stress can be alleviated by, for example, Mindfulness and other mental exercises.  An example of this is doing a FOFBOC (Feet on floor, bum on chair) which can help you in the exam room right before you start your test, or at home when revising to help you concentrate. You should sit on a chair with a straight posture, and make sure that your feet are flat on the floor. Close your eyes, then breathe in for three seconds and then out for five seconds. Do this for two minutes, and you should be relaxed and ready to continue revising or to start your exam.

Another way to eliminate exam stress is to make sure that you start to revise well in advance of your exams.  This means you do not have to do everything in one go and become disheartened.  Short periods of studying and taking time to look for gaps in your work where you may have missed or do not fully understand something, mean that you still have plenty of time to go over things again without being overwhelmed.

Don’t forget, the more stressed you become, the chances are, the worse you will do, so relax, pace yourself and Good Luck!

Some useful sites to visit with other tips to ease pressure are:

childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-college-and-work/school-college/exam-stress/

bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1HsY1X8ySjKBMVXPVCbP4qH/exam-stress

mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/14-ways-to-beat-exam-stress/#.Wud_z4gvyUk

Corey Hamilton Lane

Hampton School