Helping Your Child with Exam Stress

Exams can be a stressful time for children and parents alike. As the pressure builds, it’s important to ensure your child feels supported, heard and prepared. Whether they’re sitting SATs, GCSEs or A-levels, here are some practical ways you can help ease their stress and guide them through exam season with confidence.

Recognise the Signs of Stress





Exam stress can present itself in many ways. Some children may become irritable or withdrawn, while others might experience headaches, trouble sleeping or changes in appetite. Like this prep school in Chelmsford, understanding how your child reacts to pressure is the first step in offering meaningful support. By creating a calm and open home environment, you encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling without fear of judgment.

Encourage a Balanced Routine

While revision is important, balance is key. Encourage your child to take regular breaks, eat nourishing meals and get enough sleep. A structured daily routine that includes time for studying, relaxing, exercising, and socialising can work wonders for their mood and productivity. Sleep, in particular, plays a crucial role in memory retention and focus, so try to limit screen time in the evenings and stick to a consistent bedtime.

Offer Practical Help

Help your child break down their revision into manageable chunks. This might mean creating a timetable, prioritising subjects they find more challenging, or using tools like flashcards, past papers and mind maps. Some children benefit from revising aloud, while others prefer writing or drawing – encourage them to discover what works best for their learning style.

It can also be helpful to offer your assistance – whether that’s quizzing them, helping organise their notes, or simply being present in the room while they work. Small gestures like bringing them a snack or offering a quiet space to revise can go a long way in showing your support.

Promote Positive Thinking

Children often put enormous pressure on themselves to succeed. Remind them that their self-worth is not defined by exam results. Encourage a growth mindset by celebrating effort rather than perfection, and help them reframe negative thoughts. Instead of saying “I’ll fail this exam,” they could try, “I’ve worked hard and will do my best.”

Try to keep the atmosphere light at home – laughter, encouragement and positive reinforcement can boost resilience more than you might think.

Stay Calm and Supportive

Your own emotions can have a big impact on your child. If you seem overly anxious or critical, they may mirror those feelings. Be a calming presence. Listen without interrupting, validate their feelings and avoid comparing them to others. Let them know that whatever happens, you’re proud of them.

Helping your child with exam stress doesn’t mean removing all pressure – some stress is natural and can even be motivating. But by showing empathy, encouraging healthy habits and offering practical support, you can help them feel more in control and less overwhelmed.

At the end of the day, remind them that exams are just one part of a much bigger journey. With your support, they’ll get through this – and come out stronger for it.

*Collaborative post