With the 2024 GCSEs coming up, exam preparation has become a source of stress for many students. So, in order to clear up confusion or worry, I have asked for information and advice from three Yr11 students to ease your worries going into the exams.

Why is revision so stressful? One student believes that “lots of pressure is put on your average student”, and another says “the constant nagging from teachers can cause students to give up”. It is also noted that such pressure is increased for students who are “high achievers” or have learning disabilities. One students specifies that being low on motivation can have an impact on ability to revise, whilst a long commute stresses another. So a range of factors cause a great deal of pressure to build up for students, depending on a range of factors.

The students have also offered their own advice on how to revise. One says that “doing past papers seem to show where I go wrong and can help”, as it is an accurate representation of the exams. Others believe flashcards are most effective, but putting less emphasis on how you revise but on how you take care of yourself- “keeping a healthy sleep schedule” seems to be favoured. The general tone of the advice was to prepare in advance, including doing homework when set or knowing how you are going to do your revision before you have to. This will mean you feel more confident in yourself, reducing the stress that can decrease the quality of your work and focus. It is also recommended that you put your phone away or turn it off to prevent distraction.        

There are also some tips on calming down from revision and separating your school and personal lives. “I listen to music as I revise”, a student comments, “throwing music into the mix can increase your motivation”. She adds, “After revision I tend to complete some form of physical exercise to calm down.” This is not typically advised but classical or lo-fi music can be helpful. Another student suggests that you “go ahead and do something else like play an instrument, draw or just watch something on YouTube” after you have revised. Not only is relaxation important in separating school life from personal life, it is also an essential part of being a human, and taking care of your welfare even without exam stress.

There you have it- advice from Yr11s on how to get over exam stress and make the most of your revision. Good luck to all students taking the exams, ending with on a positive note from one of the interviewed pupils:

“Once I think of the future in general, I feel much more positive with the knowledge that I’m going to become completely independent for quite a lot of decisions in my life.”