How Teachers and Schools Can Help Students Manage Exam Stress

Exam season can be a challenging time for students. While a certain amount of pressure can help pupils stay focused, too much stress can affect their wellbeing, confidence and ability to perform at their best.

Teachers and schools play a vital role in helping students feel prepared, supported and able to cope during exams. From creating calm classroom routines to spotting signs of anxiety early, there are many practical ways schools can help reduce exam stress and promote positive mental health.

What Is Exam Stress?

Exam stress is a natural response to pressure. Students may worry about achieving certain grades, meeting expectations, remembering information or what their results could mean for the future.

YoungMinds explains that exam stress can affect anyone and may show up in different ways, including anxiety, low mood, irritability, sleep problems, changes in eating habits, difficulty concentrating or feeling physically unwell.

The NHS also advises adults to look out for signs such as worrying a lot, feeling tense, headaches, stomach pains, poor sleep, irritability, changes in appetite, low mood and feeling hopeless about the future.

For teachers, recognising these signs early can make a real difference. A pupil who seems withdrawn, distracted, unusually emotional or avoidant may not simply be “not trying”; they may be struggling with exam pressure.

Create a Calm and Supportive Classroom Environment

A calm classroom can help students feel more in control during exam preparation. Teachers can support pupils by keeping routines predictable, explaining expectations clearly and giving regular reassurance.

Simple approaches include starting lessons with a clear plan, breaking revision into manageable sections and allowing time for students to ask questions. It is also helpful to remind pupils that exams are important, but they do not define their worth, ability or future potential.

The Ofqual guide for students highlights that high exam anxiety can often be linked to negative beliefs, such as worrying that failing an exam means future failure. It encourages replacing these thoughts with more realistic, positive beliefs. Teachers can reinforce this by using calm, encouraging language and helping pupils focus on what they can control.

Teach Practical Revision Strategies

Many students feel stressed because they do not know how to revise effectively. Schools can help by teaching practical revision strategies, rather than simply telling pupils to “revise more”.

The Ofqual guidance recommends structured revision, including creating a plan, setting manageable targets, checking progress and testing knowledge through practice. YoungMinds also recommends breaking revision into chunks, creating a timetable and being realistic about what can be achieved in a day.

Useful strategies for teachers to model include:

• Creating realistic revision timetables
• Using past papers and mark schemes
• Practising retrieval through quizzes or flashcards
• Breaking topics into smaller sections
• Revisiting topics more than once
• Encouraging students to review what is working
• Building in regular breaks

When pupils understand how to revise, exam preparation can feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

Encourage Healthy Routines

Good wellbeing habits can support concentration, confidence and resilience. Schools can encourage students to look after the basics: sleep, food, movement and rest.

The NHS advises that most teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night and notes that sleep is usually more beneficial than last-minute panicked revision. It also highlights the importance of eating well and staying active during exam periods.

Teachers can support this message through tutor time, assemblies and conversations with pupils. Gentle reminders about sleep, breakfast, hydration, fresh air and taking breaks can help students approach revision in a healthier way.

Schools may also choose to share wellbeing advice with parents and carers, so pupils receive consistent support at home and in school.

Normalise Conversations About Exam Stress

Students may feel embarrassed or worried about admitting they are struggling. Schools can help by making conversations about stress normal, open and judgement-free.

YoungMinds reminds young people that they do not have to tackle exam stress alone and encourages them to talk to someone they trust, such as a teacher, friend, family member or carer.

Schools can support this through:

• Tutor check-ins
• PSHE lessons on exam wellbeing
• Assemblies about managing pressure
• Clear signposting to pastoral support
• Encouraging pupils to speak to trusted staff

It is important that students know exactly who they can go to if they feel overwhelmed, whether that is a form tutor, subject teacher, pastoral lead, SENCO or school counsellor.

Support Students With Additional Needs

Some pupils may need additional support during exam periods, including students with SEND, mental health needs, English as an additional language, medical needs or challenging circumstances outside school.

YoungMinds advises students to speak to their school, college or university as early as possible if they may need access arrangements, such as extra time, assistive technology or breaks during an exam.

Schools can help by identifying pupils who may need support early and ensuring that reasonable adjustments, access arrangements or pastoral plans are in place where appropriate.

Clear communication is especially important. Students who understand what support is available, where they need to be and what will happen on exam day are more likely to feel calm and prepared.

Help Students Manage Exam-Day Nerves

Exam-day anxiety is very common. Even well-prepared students can feel nervous before entering the exam room.

Teachers can help by explaining what pupils should expect before the day arrives, including:

• Where the exam will take place
• What equipment they need
• What time they should arrive
• What to do if they feel anxious
• Who to speak to if there is a problem

The Ofqual guide recommends deep breathing as a way to manage physical reactions to anxiety, explaining that slow, deep breathing can help students feel calmer and more in control. YoungMinds also suggests breathing exercises and grounding techniques to help reduce stress before an exam.

Schools can introduce these techniques in advance, so pupils have simple tools to use when nerves appear.

Work With Parents and Carers

Families are an important part of exam support. Schools can help parents and carers understand how to encourage revision without adding unnecessary pressure.

The NHS advises parents to listen, offer support, avoid criticism and remind young people that failing is not the end of the world. It also recommends focusing on what went well after an exam, rather than dwelling on difficult questions.

Useful messages for families include:

• Praise effort, not just results
• Avoid comparing students with others
• Encourage breaks and downtime
• Keep routines as consistent as possible
• Notice changes in mood, sleep or behaviour
• Contact school if they are concerned

When schools and families work together, students are more likely to feel supported both in and out of the classroom.

Celebrate Effort and Progress

Exam season can feel heavily focused on final grades, but students also need recognition for effort, resilience and progress.

Teachers can help by celebrating small wins, such as improved confidence in a topic, completing a revision task, asking for help or showing determination after a difficult mock exam.

This type of encouragement helps pupils see that progress is possible and that their hard work matters.

Know When to Seek Further Support

While many students can manage exam stress with reassurance, structure and healthy routines, some may need additional support.

The NHS advises seeking help if a young person’s anxiety or low mood is severe, persists and interferes with everyday life, suggesting that seeing a GP can be a good place to start.

Schools should follow their safeguarding and pastoral procedures if a student appears persistently anxious, withdrawn, overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Exams can be stressful, but students do not have to face that pressure alone. Teachers and schools are in a powerful position to create calm environments, teach effective revision habits and remind pupils that they are more than their exam results.

By combining practical preparation with emotional support, schools can help students approach exam season with greater confidence, resilience and wellbeing.

Looking for Support During Exam Season?

At Flourish Education, we understand how important it is for schools to have reliable, supportive staff in place during busy and high-pressure periods.

Whether you need supply teachers, teaching assistants or long-term education staff, our team can help you find the right people to support your pupils and keep learning on track.

Get in touch with Flourish Education today to discuss your school’s staffing needs and find out how we can help.