Stress happens to everyone.
Whether the pressure comes from school, parents, friends, or even from within yourself, it can feel overwhelming at times. And even if no one around you is actively pushing you, the desire to make them proud can still add to the weight on your shoulders. Understanding these feelings is the first step toward managing them and knowing you’re not alone can make all the difference. 

Always remember: YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE.
Being in U6th Form, I remember the copious amounts of stress and anxiety when entering my first GCSE exam.
You feel like you’re about to be sick, everyone around you frantically flicking through their notes. But the first thing to remember is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Everyone gets that fluttery feeling in their stomach, the urge to squirm around in their chairs subtly looking around, checking if everyone else is in the same position as you. By remembering that you are not the only one feeling this way, it helps to settle your nerves.

And after the first exam, the rest is easy. You get in the flow of sitting in exam conditions and your confidence rises. When they are over, you start to miss them a little, you miss comparing your answers with your friends after an exam, and you will definitely start to miss the proud feeling after you know you aced an exam. I know I do.

Your Future Does NOT Depend on One Exam.
The next thing to remember is that the rest of your life does not depend on these exams. One of the worst feelings is walking out of an exam thinking you didn’t do well. That sinking feeling, that inner voice whispering that you’ve failed, many students know it all too well. But it’s important to remember that one exam does not decide your entire future. Even at A Level, where grades can determine university offers, there are always other pathways. You can take a gap year, re-take exams, apply through clearing, or even pursue apprenticeships. No result is the end of the world, your life does not end with one disappointing grade.

Smart Revision Beats Last-Minute Cramming
Lastly don’t cram your revision. GCSEs and A Levels are not easy exams, they require a lot of time to remember the content and preparations for exam techniques. Although cramming the week or even a day before may feel productive, it rarely helps long-term understanding. Be prepared a couple months in advance. Start early. Even 20 minutes a day of reviewing notes or practising exam questions can make information stick. By building habits over months rather than days, you massively reduce stress when exam season truly hits.

Final Thoughts
As we move into exam season, remember that stress is a shared experience, not a personal flaw. Everyone around you is feeling the same pressure. Always remember this: stress is normal, you are capable, and you are absolutely not alone. Prepare steadily, believe in your abilities, and know that there are countless ways to succeed, no matter what your results sheet says.

Good luck to everyone this exam season!

Arisa A., U6th Form