A survey by online education platform SaveMyExams has revealed that 85% of UK students experience exam anxiety, with 71% of them not seeking any support.

The figures, based on responses from 1,000 students, indicate that one third of children describe anxiety as a constant presence in their lives. One quarter of students said their anxiety levels were above 8 (on a scale of 1 to 10) suggesting the level of stress is severe.

Only 29% of respondents report seeking help, citing ‘talking to friends’ as the most common way of coping. Sadly, only 14% of students said they received assistance from parents during exam preparation.

So how can parents support a child experiencing exam anxiety?

Look for the signs

It's important to be alert to any mental health changes in your child. Exam anxiety in children typically manifests through physical and emotional symptoms. Physical signs include stomach aches, headaches, nausea, sweating, and rapid heartbeat, as well as difficulty sleeping or a loss of appetite.

Emotionally, they might express excessive worry about failing, become more irritable, and have trouble concentrating on their studies. Some may cry easily, show perfectionist tendencies, or attempt to avoid school.

These symptoms can appear weeks before an exam and will likely get more intense as the exam date approaches. According to psychotherapist, Tina Chummun, it can be helpful to normalise these symptoms in a compassionate way: “Acknowledge their feelings without judgement and reassure them that it’s okay to feel this way. This is because it is a natural response to feel this way no matter what society tells us about anxiety!”

Talk about anxiety as a friend, not a foe

As adults we know how distressing it feels to be overwhelmed with worry, but we also know that anxiety is a normal – often helpful – human experience. “Help your child understand that anxiety is their body’s way of signalling the need to focus and prepare,” says Tina.

“Explain how it provides energy to tackle challenges. Encourage them to name their feelings, even giving their anxiety a name, normalise their experience and brainstorm coping strategies together.”

Remind them that although they may feel helpless, they are not alone and can come to you any time. You may also want to connect them with trusted friends and family members for the moments when you are unavailable, so they feel assured that they always have someone to turn to.

Make a plan

Often, anxiety can ease off slightly when children have a structured revision plan in place that shows them they are taking steps in the right direction.

“Work with your child to break down their study tasks into manageable chunks using a timeline or spreadsheet. Plot revision sessions, exam practice, and rest periods over a long period of time so that the time pressure doesn’t feel overwhelming,” says Tina.

Try to break down the concept of hard work as a process, not something that happens overnight. “For example, if they love reading fiction books, writing a successful book like Harry Potter wouldn’t have been created in one day and the author must have gone through many days of anxiety and writer’s block, especially when numerous publishers declined to publish her work before it became successful!”

Help them relax

Be sure to reiterate the importance of regular breaks and encourage light physical activities like walking, dancing, or helping with household chores to reduce stress and enhance focus. Tina says that you should try to prioritise brain-boosting foods like nuts, berries, and complex carbs, as well as ensuring they get adequate sleep. She also suggests introducing them to mindfulness practices and EFT tapping.

“Plus loads and loads of big hugs and regular communications of 'I love you' and 'keep calm and keep going' will really help to reassure and empower your child too.”

If your child’s anxiety begins to interfere significantly with daily life - affecting sleep, eating, or their ability to enjoy activities - it might be time to consider child counselling.