Exam time can be challenging for young people. The pressure to manage revision, perform well, and meet expectations can be scary, bringing up feelings of anxiety, stress, self-doubt, and fear for the future.
As parents or carers, it can be difficult to know the best way of approaching these periods. You might want to encourage your child whilst also respecting their space, or keep things in perspective without diminishing their worries.
This guide is designed to help you support your child during exam season. Written with the input of other parents and carers, it will offer you advice on recognising signs of stress, practical strategies around revision, and tips on keeping communication open.
It also looks at how to manage more serious mental health issues during periods of exam stress, and the impact exams can have on the wider family.
Things your child might be feeling
Exam time can be intense for many young people. They are trying to manage pressure from school, peers, and themselves. They may be feeling physically exhausted. Or they might not know what their future looks like and feel overwhelmed.
Your young person might:
- Feel anxious about failing or worried about disappointing others
- Feel stressed about the amount of work they have to do
- Struggle with concentration, memory or sleep
- Become withdrawn, irritable or upset
- Compare themselves excessively to peers or siblings
- Seem unmotivated or disinterested in their studies.
These feelings are natural. It can make a big difference to your young person if you acknowledge them, rather than dismissing them or expecting them to ‘push through’ to focus on their work.
Small gestures like asking how they’re feeling, validating how much effort they’re making, or simply sitting with them while they work can make a big difference.
Impact on the family
What can help
There are a number of things that can help with wider family dynamics during exam time:
- Talk openly as a family about how everyone is feeling, including siblings who are not taking exams.
- Acknowledge the effort everyone is making, not just the person taking the exams.
- Share out responsibilities, making sure that one person is not carrying everything. Seek additional help from wider family, support systems, or services where available and appropriate.
- Young people sitting exams may need a bit more flex or less duties over this period so they can concentrate on revision – be clear about communicating this to other family members.
- Keep routines where possible to keep a sense of stability.
- Put time aside for shared meals, walks, or film nights to maintain family connection and a sense of “life beyond exams”.
Stress, stress, stress - everyone is stressed! Young people are stressed by revision, and parents are stressed by getting the kids to exams on time, and making sure the house is clean and food is ready.
Creating a supportive home environment
One of the main things parents and carers told us about exam periods was how important it was to create a supportive home environment.
Having a safe, calm space at home can make a big difference to how young people cope: as one parent put it, creating “an oasis of calm in a sea of chaos” can help children feel better able to both rest and focus.
Of the parents we spoke to, many of the same basics came up:
Cooking easy, nourishing meals and having plenty of snacks on hand. Many parents mentioned meal prepping so that young people were always nourished.
Encouraging regular sleep and rest by reducing screen time late at night. “We turned the Wi-Fi off at 9.30pm and my children deleted TikTok and Instagram for the exam period. What a difference!”
Maintaining a tidy, comfortable study space and peaceful home.
Encouraging short walks, time outside, or just moments of fun or distraction away from revision. Chunking revision time can help young people who may struggle with concentration and retaining information.
It may also be helpful to:
- Focus on routine rather than pressure
- Step back from constant checking and trust that they know what they need to do
- Model calm behaviour. Your tone and pace can help set the mood for the house.
- Prepare for wobbles. When motivation dips, a snack, chat, or bit of humour can work better than a lecture.
How to talk to school about your child’s mental health during exams
Schools play a crucial role in supporting young people’s wellbeing during exams. If your child is struggling with their mental health, keeping open communication with their school can make a big difference, both for managing immediate stress and arranging the right support.
What schools can do:
- Provide a safe, quiet space for students who need to step out during exams.
- Arrange extra time, rest breaks, or smaller exam groups.
- Offer counselling, mentoring or access to mental health support teams.
- Work with parents to ease transitions, for example returning after time off.
- Contact the right person. Start with their form tutor, head of year, or pastoral lead. If your child has a SENCO (special educational needs coordinator) or wellbeing officer, involve them too.
- Come prepared. Explain what you’ve noticed at home, such as changes in sleep, appetite or mood, and how it’s affecting your child’s ability to cope.
- Use clear examples. "They’re finding it hard to get to school some mornings due to panic attacks" or "They’ve stopped eating from exam stress."
- Ask about support options. Schools can provide access to counsellors, alternative exam arrangements, or flexible timetables.
- Request regular check-ins. Agree on a contact plan so you’re kept updated about how your child is managing at school.
- Try to involve your child in the process so they feel heard and empowered.
What to do when exam results are disappointing
No matter how hard your young person works, sometimes exam results aren’t what they hoped for. This can be extremely disappointing, and some parents told us that this disappointment turned into self-doubt, shame, or intense fear about the future.
How you respond in the first few days can have a big impact on how a young person processes their setback.
It’s important to make them aware that exams do not define them as a person. You will be proud of them whatever grades they get.
Initially:
Take a pause before offering advice or interpretation.
Your child might cry, withdraw or be angry. Let them feel disappointed without rushing to offer solutions.
Tell them: "we’re proud of how hard you worked, no matter your grades."
Your young person will already be comparing themselves to siblings or friends. Avoid bringing up others’ results, as this can intensify shame and isolation.
If your child is disappointed with their results, they might also be embarrassed. Agree how they want their results discussed with family and friends, if at all.
Recognising and responding to a mental health crisis
While exam stress is common, for some young people it can escalate into more serious poor mental health. Parents described experiences of acute anxiety, panic attacks, self-harm and suicidal thoughts emerging during exam periods.
Possible warning signs include:
- Talking or writing about feeling hopeless, trapped, or like a burden
- Self-harming or seeking means to do so
- Major changes in mood, appetite, or sleep
- Withdrawing completely from friends, family, or usual activities
- Intense irritability, anger or restlessness
- Expressions of wanting to disappear or not wanting to live.
Where to get further help
While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.
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Exam Results Helpline
Provides careers advice to help young people and their families decide on options following GCSE, A Level and Nationals results days.
Usually available through August. Opening days and hours may vary each year - check website for details.
If you live in Scotland, call 0808 100 8000.
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YoungMinds Parents Helpline
We support parents and carers who are concerned about their child or young person's mental health. We can provide detailed information and advice, emotional support and signposting.
You can speak to us over the phone or chat to us online. When we’re closed, you can still leave us a message and we'll get back to you in 3-5 working days.
- Opening times:
- 9.30am-4pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; 9.30am-6pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
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National Careers Service
Provides information, advice and guidance to help young people make decisions about learning, training and work.
Webchat available via the website homepage.
- Opening times:
- 8am - 10pm, 7 days a week
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Student Space
Student Space is run by Student Minds.
Provides information and advice for students on looking after themselves at university.
Offers a directory to find out what support is available at your university.
This page was reviewed in November 2025.
It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person around counselling and therapy.
We will next review the page in 2028.
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Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.
Please be aware that this form isn’t a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.