Are exams becoming more stressful?

According to the Guardian newspaper, more than ever, schools are noting an increase in students who are anxious about exams as well as students who request adjustments such as seperate rooms to take their exam in.

In some ways, this is actually a postive step for us. Educators are more aware of the needs for each individual student. Students feel more comfortable asking for help when they need it. While it can feel like things are getting worse, I’d like to argue it also reflects a postive shift in the way we all view mental health. However, many of us in education still feel that students seem more stressed than ever.

Assisting students in this area will require a range of solutions. There is no real substitute for support from mental health professionals for serious anxiety, of course, but many students can benefit from learning how to balance responsbilities. A great start is to keep track of how much outstanding work you have, and decide on what days to complete it. This allows us to get more work done and not feel guilty about work we are not doing.

At Momentum Tutoring, a key focus of getting better at studying also means learning how to NOT study. We try to help students to focus their revision in short, efficient sessions, giving them time outside of school and homework to relax more.