With summer approaching, many kids are excited for time off school and the chance to relax with friends, enjoying the freedom of no lessons, teachers or early mornings. However, for most high school students and older teens, the reality is far different – the pressure of upcoming exams takes over, leaving little room for relaxation as anxiety and stress overwhelms them.
It can seem like nobody else is feeling this way – maybe friends seem to be more confident for exams than children that are struggling, and they feel like they’re falling behind while everyone else is breezing through. Now more than ever, it’s crucial for parents to offer their support and understanding, given the stress and anxiety your child is most likely trying to hide. A listening ear can make all the difference.
The Hidden Toll of Exam Stress
This type of stress is deeper than just feeling nervous on the day of the exam. It can also be how a child feels leading up to the exams, during classes preparing them, and waiting for results. Schools often drill into students that their results will determine their futures, influencing key life decisions like career paths and university choices, making it impossible for any normal child to feel at ease knowing this is like a make-or-break time of their life.
While a degree of stress can be motivating and seem normal, prolonged or intense exam pressure can lead to:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Sleeping and eating disturbances
- Mood changes
- Reluctant to attend school
- Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Parents are in a unique position to spot these signs of exam-related stress in their children, but it might be the case that your child won’t open up about their issues. Research by SaveMyExams, which surveyed 1,000 UK students, found that 8 in 10 students have felt the pressure of exam anxiety. While many students face this emotional burden, the survey revealed a concerning staticly: just 14% of students receive exam revision support from their parents, and 7 in 10 students choose not to seek help at all. These figures reflect a significant gap in support systems during one of the most stressful times in a student’s life.Â
This emphasizes how important it is for parents to be proactive in offering support – whether it’s encouraging open conversations about stress, creating a peaceful studying environment or offering reassurance that their child’s worth isn’t determined by exam results. By recognizing these signs early and responding with empathy, parents can help alleviate some of the pressure their child may be feeling.
How Parents Can Help
Having a support network plays a vital role in helping children cope with exams. Here are some practical ways a parent can support their child during exam season:
1. Create a calm environment
Encourage a quiet, organized space for revision. It can also be useful to reduce any distractions, such as a TV or your childs phone – any typical teenager will probably get bored after 10 minutes of work and proceed to get lost in doom-scrolling for a ‘quick’ break.
2. Promote healthy habits
Good nutrition, regular sleep and physical activity can greatly influence mental wellbeing. Make sure they’re getting 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night, as well as allowing them to wind down with a quick walk in nature every so often to break up their day, ensuring they don’t feel overwhelmed.
3. Listen without judgement
Let your child express their worries – its normal to feel anxious, and nervousness is a natural reaction to exams. The key is to put these nerves to positive use. Help your child face their fears rather than avoiding them.
4. Do not add to the pressure
Some children feel like pressure at exam time comes from their family just as much as it comes from the exams themselves. Parents might not realise this, but they might be adding to the stress without realizing, and it mainly comes from the fact parents underplay how hard these exams really are for children. Every child is different, and just because you might’ve breezed through exams like it was nothing, you can’t expect the same from your child.
5. Speak to a counsellor
Professional help can make all the difference – as a parent, it can be crucial to encourage speaking to a counsellor if your own advice and support isn’t quite getting through to your child. At Little Lives UK, we encourage support for children through our Someone To Talk To program, which offers free, accessible therapy sessions for young people in need. Since COVID-19, Childline reported a 10% increase in counselling sessions related to exam stress, highlighting the impact academic pressure really has on children. A 2025 survey found that 62% of schools offer counselling services, with higher percentages in secondary schools – for parents, this will hopefully put your mind at ease and reassure you that there is someone who will support your child in an environment where you might not be able to.
Helping Your Child Thrive
Exams matter – but not more than your childs well-being. While academic success opens doors for the future, it should never come at the expense of mental health. Staying connected, offering reassurance and maintaining open lines of communication as parents could be all it takes to ease the stress your child is facing.
Childline has reported a 10% increase in counselling sessions about exam stress since the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK.
References
https://www.firstresponsetraining.com/10-increase-in-children-struggling-with-exam-stress/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/05/nhs-teams-helping-pupils-manage-stress-ahead-of-exam-season/
https://education-today.co.uk/new-data-reveals-85-of-uk-students-experience-exam-anxiety/
https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/campaigns/school-counselling/
