It is normal to want the very best for your child’s future and to therefore feel a little anxious about their exam results. Stress is normal but it's not good for you or your child to be worrying. In this blog we're going to give you some top tips on how you can ease your own stress and help your young person on results day. 

1. Get a good nights sleep 

We can often find it difficult to sleep if we have worries playing on our mind but a nice sleep the night before will put you in a good frame of mind for what lies ahead. Sticking to a normal routine will also help to keep things as worry free as possible. If you are well rested emotions are less likely to boil over due to tiredness.

 2. Be prepared for 'Plan B' 

If the results don't go the way you're hoping for or aren't what you expected, encourage your young person to think about other options, for example looking at different courses/universities through Clearing. 

3. Keep calm and don't panic 

Try to remain calm and encourage your child to stay calm and not to worry if they don't get the results they need or would have liked. Encourage them to take deep breaths and to relax as it will make it easier to process everything and think through their next steps. 

4. Remember to reassure 

Try to promote the positives regardless of the results. Your young person will probably worry about letting you down so reassure them that they won't be letting anyone down and that you will be there for them to work through the next steps. 

5. Take your time 

Encourage your child not to make decisions too quickly. Sit with them to discuss what they want to do next and weigh up the options. Clearing opens in the afternoon and so gives you time to prepare and reassess the situation before starting the process.

What can my child do to reduce exam results stress?

Below are a few things you can do to make you and your child feel more at ease before results day

• Worrying won't change the result to try and make sure everyone in the house feels relaxed. 
• Go for a walk to take their mind of things
• Spend time with good friends
• Enjoy a treat to reward them for their hard work regardless of results
• Read a good book
• Encourage your young person to stay off social media, others posting about their anxiety might make them feel worse
• Have a family movie night or watch their favourite TV show
• Have a nice, healthy meal together

If you are feeling anxious or your young person is anxious and feeling disappointed with their exam results there is help and support available. Parents can give us a call on 0808 8010 722 or have a chat with us on Web Chat.