GCSE Stress

12

Hey everyone.
My exams begin tomorrow, and I am unbelievably stressed. It's got to the point that I can't sleep until midnight (I go to bed roughly 8 - 9) and I just keep breaking down in front of my friends and family. I worry that I might just fail, and I have no idea why I have this mindset. I have a conditional offer at another school, and I am stressing that I might not meet that criteria. Can anyone help me? What's wrong with me?

Reply 1

BethanyTess

9

I’m exactly the same when it comes to exams, I was like that at gcse and now I’m the same with A levels. It’s because you care, which is a good thing! On the flip side obviously too much of that mindset creates a situation like you’re in, where you’re terrified of failing and can’t sleep. It’s so hard to achieve a good balance and a positive mindset in this situation and I’m still working on it, I just keep reminding myself that it doesn’t actually matter what happens, it feels like it does, but it literally doesn’t. You can only do your best and that’s all that matters. And if you do your best then even if you don’t pass any of your exams you won’t have failed. All the adults in my life can barely remember what results they got, that’s how little it matters.
I’m a Christian so I just hand everything over to Jesus and ask him to take care of it, and that really brings me peace, if that’s something you believe in I’d suggest trying that as well.
I’ll say a prayer for you, remember all you can do is your best, and if you do your best you can’t fail! That’s the mindset to try and aim for. I know how hard it is though! Good luck and God bless xxx

Reply 2

barca_fan

OP

12

Original post

by BethanyTess

I’m exactly the same when it comes to exams, I was like that at gcse and now I’m the same with A levels. It’s because you care, which is a good thing! On the flip side obviously too much of that mindset creates a situation like you’re in, where you’re terrified of failing and can’t sleep. It’s so hard to achieve a good balance and a positive mindset in this situation and I’m still working on it, I just keep reminding myself that it doesn’t actually matter what happens, it feels like it does, but it literally doesn’t. You can only do your best and that’s all that matters. And if you do your best then even if you don’t pass any of your exams you won’t have failed. All the adults in my life can barely remember what results they got, that’s how little it matters.
I’m a Christian so I just hand everything over to Jesus and ask him to take care of it, and that really brings me peace, if that’s something you believe in I’d suggest trying that as well.
I’ll say a prayer for you, remember all you can do is your best, and if you do your best you can’t fail! That’s the mindset to try and aim for. I know how hard it is though! Good luck and God bless xxx

Thanks man. This really helps. Amen :smile:

Reply 3

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

18

Original post

by barca_fan

Hey everyone.
My exams begin tomorrow, and I am unbelievably stressed. It's got to the point that I can't sleep until midnight (I go to bed roughly 8 - 9) and I just keep breaking down in front of my friends and family. I worry that I might just fail, and I have no idea why I have this mindset. I have a conditional offer at another school, and I am stressing that I might not meet that criteria. Can anyone help me? What's wrong with me?

Hi @barca_fan,

There’s nothing “wrong” with you. What you’re feeling is a complete normal response to pressure and uncertainty. You care about your future, and when something feels like it’s on the line, like doing well in exams, your brain goes into overdrive trying to protect you from the “what ifs.” It can be very overwhelming and very common among students like us.

I think it's important to acknowledge that being stressed doesn’t mean you’re not going to do well. Lots of people perform well under pressure — adrenaline can actually help you focus once you're in the exam. It's okay if you're not feeling 100% relaxed. However, focus on what you can control: you can’t control the result right now, but you can control how you breathe, how you take breaks, how you speak to yourself, and how you get through today. One day at a time.

Your offer, your grades, your future, they don’t hinge on one single day or one single exam. You are more than your performance. If things don’t go perfectly, there are still paths forward!

You’ve got through every exam season so far, you can do this too :smile:

Rooting for you!
Danish
BCU Student Rep

Reply 4

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

18

Hello there!

It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed before your GCSE exams.
You're not alone, and there are ways to manage this stress.

Here are some practical steps that could help you:

-Talk About It
Sharing your feelings with someone you trust can reduce the stress.

-Establish a Relaxing Bedtime Routine
Aim to wind down before bed by avoiding screens and engaging in calming activities like reading or listening to music.

-Practice Breathing Techniques
Techniques such as box breathing can help calm your mind. Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four. Repeat as much as you need it.

-Create a Realistic Study Schedule
Break your revision into manageable chunks and include regular breaks.

-Maintain Perspective
Remember, your exam results do not define your worth. There are multiple pathways to achieve your goals.

It's okay to feel stressed, but remember that this period is temporary.
Focus on doing your best, and take care of your mental and physical well-being.

I hope this helps!

Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador

GCSE Stress

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