It’s More Than Just Exams: GCSE Stress, A Levels and Anxiety in Young People

As May and June arrive in the UK, so does exam season. For young people sitting GCSEs or A Levels, this can feel like one of the most pressured times in their lives. And for parents and carers watching on, it can be hard to know how to help.

Behind every revision timetable, practice paper and mock exam result, there is a young person who may be feeling anxious, under pressure, or even a little lost.

As a counsellor working with both young people and adults, I often hear how exam season can heighten feelings of stress, low self-esteem and emotional exhaustion. I also see how having the right support can help young people feel more understood and less alone in what they are carrying.

The Weight of Expectation

GCSEs and A Levels can feel like more than just assessments. For some young people, they can feel like a judgement on their intelligence, identity, or future.

A few disappointing grades can trigger spirals of negative thinking:

"I am failing."
"I am not good enough."
"I am letting everyone down."

These thoughts do not only come from exam papers themselves. They can be shaped by school expectations, peer comparisons, family pressures, and internal pressure.

When self-esteem is already fragile, exam stress can deepen the sense of not being enough.

It Is Not Just About Exams

For many young people, there can also be uncertainty about what comes next.

Moving from school to college.
College to university.
Apprenticeships.
Work.
Or simply not knowing what they want to do yet.

These transitions can feel significant, particularly when young people may feel pressure to have everything figured out.

For some, exam stress is also tied to fear about the future.

For Parents and Carers: A Moment to Reflect

It can help to pause and remember your own experiences.

Perhaps it was your GCSEs, A Levels, driving test, university exams, job interview, or another moment where you felt pressure to perform.

Can you remember the nerves, racing thoughts, or fear of getting things wrong?

Reflecting on this is not about comparing experiences. It can simply help create empathy for what your young person may be feeling.

Exam pressure is not new, but social media, academic expectations, and constant comparison can make it feel even harder to switch off.

The Ripple Effect on Families

Exam stress rarely stays contained to revision.

It often follows young people home and can impact the wider family.

You may notice:

• increased tension at home
• arguments around revision
• withdrawal
• irritability
• emotional outbursts
• your young person seeming quieter than usual

You may also feel unsure whether to step in or give space.

Sometimes being calm, present and available can be more helpful than trying to solve everything.

Helping Young People Feel More in Control

Anxiety often grows when things feel uncertain or outside of our control.

Helping young people focus on smaller, manageable steps can sometimes help reduce pressure.

You might gently explore questions such as:

• What would make today feel slightly more manageable?
• When do you feel most focused?
• What helps you feel calmer when things feel stressful?

Small choices can help young people feel more in control during a period that may feel uncertain.

When Additional Support May Help

Every young person copes differently, but signs they may be struggling can include:

• changes in sleep
• changes in appetite
• avoiding revision or school altogether
• tearfulness
• headaches or stomach aches
• negative self-talk
• perfectionism
• withdrawing from friends or family

If these feelings begin to impact daily life, additional support may be helpful.

Sometimes young people find it difficult to talk openly with those closest to them, particularly when they do not want to worry anyone or feel pressure to appear as though they are coping.

Counselling can offer a safe space to talk openly, make sense of difficult feelings, and feel heard without judgement or pressure.

Support for Young People in Ash and Online

I offer counselling for young people aged 11+ in Ash (GU12), near Aldershot, as well as online across the UK.

If you feel counselling may be helpful for your young person, please feel free to get in touch to arrange a free introductory call.