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Emily Halderthay
13 August 2024 12:06
Mental Health Problems

Dealing With Exam Results Anxiety

Exam Results: Keeping Calm and Keeping Options Open

The cramming is done, the late nights over, and the textbooks closed. Now all that awaits is results day and the whirlwind of emotions that it brings. While the anticipation can be exciting, it’s also perfectly normal to feel stressed and anxious, and everyone’s experience is personal.

Perhaps you need particularly high grades to continue onto your next chapter, or maybe you felt that some of the papers didn’t go your way.

Whether you’re waiting for your own results or supporting someone else, here are some tips to navigate this important, but often daunting, period.

For those awaiting results:

  • Don’t go it alone! Have a support system in place. Whether it’s a parent, guardian, sibling, friend, or teacher, surround yourself with someone who can offer a listening ear, reassurance, and help you navigate your options regardless of your results.
  • Open your results on your own terms. There’s no pressure to compare yourself to others. If you prefer privacy, collect your results and open them at home or use online resources your school or college may offer.
  • Remember, results are just one piece of the puzzle. Social media can be a breeding ground for comparison, so consider taking a break for a few days. Judge your success based on your own effort and journey.

Supporting someone experiencing exam stress:

  • Be a source of encouragement, not pressure. Let them know you’re there to support them regardless of the outcome. Celebrate their hard work and effort, not just the grades.
  • Keep things in perspective. Exam results are just one milestone in a long journey. Help them see the bigger picture and emphasise that their capabilities extend far beyond these tests.

Remember:

It’s important to acknowledge that receiving disappointing results can feel like a setback but often, it presents other unforeseen options and a different path, it’s not the end of the road.

SWWMind offers a range of support services

For anyone struggling with exam stress or related anxieties. We encourage you to reach out and explore how we can help:

  • GAMME – Groups, Active Monitoring and Mentoring for children and young people living in Warwick.
  • Active Monitoring – One-to-one self help support with a trained practitioner, taking place in GP surgeries.

Additionally, here are some resources that might be helpful: