Guidance
Coping with exam pressure - a guide for students
Advice and guidance for students on how to cope with pressure associated with test and exam anxiety.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Support for managing exam stress
Our student guide, Coping with exam pressure, has been developed in collaboration with Professor Dave Putwain, a researcher at Liverpool John Moores University and former school and college teacher. This resource provides practical strategies for GCSE, A level, and vocational students experiencing exam-related stress.
Expert mental health resources for exam candidates
Access these trusted organisations for additional exam stress support:
- The Student Room: connect with other students facing similar exam pressures and access peer support forums
- Childline: free, confidential helpline providing advice on managing exam anxiety for students
- NHS Exam Stress Guidance for Parents: strategies to help parents support their children through exams
- Mind’s Young People’s Guide to Exam Stress: a mental health charity’s dedicated resource for exam-related wellbeing
Ofqual blog posts
Explore our collection of specialist blog posts on exam anxiety management:
- Understanding Test Anxiety in Students: research-backed insights into the causes and symptoms of exam anxiety
- School Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety: practical approaches for educational settings to support anxious students
- Effective Communication About Exam Anxiety: guidance for teachers on discussing anxiety with students
- Results Day Stress Management Techniques: coping strategies for the period before and after receiving exam results