I'm a straight A* student, and I feel constant pressure to achieve. My parents don't put it on me, and whenever I talk to any teachers individually they say these grades don't matter any more than a stepping stone to uni. I got 10 A*s at GCSE and am on track for 3 As at AS this year.
School never shuts up about how important these exams are, how "everything you've ever done in your life amounts to what's in that envelope on results day" (actually what the headteacher said on the first day of Year 10). It's so clear that the staff don't believe in what they're saying, but since everything is so results-orientated they have to push all the kids to breaking point to get a good reputation as a school. I struggle a lot with that, because it's hard to ignore the pushing even though it's meant for those who don't try already.
I struggle mostly with my own expectations. If I get an A in a mock, getting a B in the real thing would be me getting worse and that's not acceptable. Seeing a 69/75 on a paper is disappointing when I've got 73 on the last one, regardless of if both are A grades. It probably stems from my insecurities as an autistic person, having spent years thinking my academic skills were my only selling point, so they had to be the best out there if I was ever get hired.
Luckily I'm finding the pressure to succeed easier now my mental health's improved. I'm still seen as this robotic computer by my friends and classmates and people still assume I don't get stressed or need to revise (absolute nonsense), but I feel separated enough from that reputation to have dropped my fourth A Level to give myself more time to relax. I still panic at the thought of getting a B in an exam, but not as badly now. (and with these new A Levels, that wouldn't be too bad considering how awful the questions are worded!)