Tips To Deal With Exam Results Stress

Results day is almost round the corner, stress, nerves and worry can start to kick in. It is completely normal and it happens to almost everyone. Here are our tips to help with anxiety and stress leading up to results day and on how to manage any disappointing exam results. 

Make a Plan

One of the biggest stresses of results day is, what are you going to do if you do not get the results you wanted. This is why having a backup plan or two, is extremely helpful, as at least you are not going to be scrambling around last minute trying to figure out what you are going to do. Having a 2nd or 3rd choice for after GCSE’s and A Levels, is a great way to make sure you have all your bases covered. If you have your eyes on going to university, you should also research an apprenticeship or careers that suit your wishes.

There are a couple of tools you should get yourself up to speed with, pre-results day, such as clearing or adjustment. The UCAS website describes Clearing as, “how unis and colleges fill any places they still have on their courses. From 5 July – 18 October, you can apply for a course using Clearing if you’re not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places.” 

How To Deal With The Stress Pre-Results Day

• Exercise regularly
• Meditation
• Try to meet people and enjoy yourself, rather than isolating yourself
• Talk about it with people who have gone through it before, to help reassure yourself
• Get plenty of sleep
• Go outside and get fresh air to clear your mind
• If you have already planned a back up plan, then fill your schedule with fun things to do, to help distract yourself

How To Deal With Stress On Exam Day

• Don’t go alone
• Have something positive planned after
• Speak to teachers about the next steps
• The earlier you go the better, don’t try avoiding going until the last minute. This not only will build up stress, but it also gives you less time to plan for what’s next
• Remember not achieving everything you wanted, is not the end of the word

Get Support 

UCAS have a helpline for students needing support with the clearing process, they can be contacted on 0371 468 0468. 

There is plenty of support out there to support young people struggling with exam stress or disappointing results. Young Minds have a great list of helplines which can be contacted to discuss exam results or anything else that is worrying you. Remember you are not alone. 

There’s No Such Thing as Failure 

Although you may not achieve your required or wanted results, not reaching grades can still have positive outcomes and may lead you on another path. You might find a different path that is fulfilling, that otherwise you may have never found, or realised you are good at. Many famous entrepreneurs and other successful people are not educated to degree level and they have still led extremely successful and fulfilling lives. You can also still develop new skills post education or even go back to study subjects you did not pass, or get the grade you wanted in the future. 

Celebrate Success

Taking exams is a huge achievement in itself and you should celebrate all successes however, big or small. It is easy to focus on the negatives and although you may not have achieved all the results you wanted but you will have still had positive outcomes which should be congratulated. 

If you are looking to go into teaching and specifically STEM subjects, check out our recent blog on Bursaries and Scholarships Available to Teach STEM Subjects.