How to deal with exam stress

GCSEs are on the horizon for me, and I'm about three weeks into my revision now. Pressure is mounting at school and teachers are constantly reminding us of what little time we have left before we take our actual GCSEs.

Exam stress is something every student has to deal with at some point during school. As a particular sufferer, I have had to work very hard during the exam period to stay calm and happy whilst working hard.

Here are some tips I have found useful:

Make a plan - For me, there is nothing worse than the panic you experience when you realise that you are not prepared enough to take an exam. To avoid this and to have peace of mind right from the get-go, the best thing you can do is to make a plan. Schedule revision AND relaxation into your day and don't forget to take a ten-minute break in between subjects.

Stay calm - It can be so easy to panic at even just the word GCSE, but it is so important to just breathe and stay calm. As long as you are doing some revision and preparing for your exams, you have absolutely no reason to panic.

Stop worrying - No matter how big and scary GCSEs seem, over-worrying does not help anyone - if anything, it makes things much worse. Try to calm your mind and focus on positive things, like what you want to achieve in your exams.

Ask for help - If you feel yourself struggling with either the work or emotionally, ask for help. That is what your teachers are there for! 99% of teachers will be more than happy to help you, the only thing you need to do is ask!

Take a break - When doing exams, there is no way to avoid revising. You can't. It's just something you have to do. But, it doesn't have to be your whole life. Taking a break and doing something to help you relax will do you the world of good.

An excellent video about relaxation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyEdZ23Cp1E

Keep on revising and pushing through!

Lily Johnson xx