Exam Stress: How Coaching Can Help Students Focus and Achieve

The period leading up to exams can be one of the most stressful times for students, marked by anxiety, lack of motivation, and a pervasive sense of being overwhelmed. For educators, schools, parents and those working with young people, this presents a significant challenge and an opportunity to make a real difference to their exam outcomes and future opportunities.

Coaching can provide an opportunity to support young people during these challenging times and also help them to develop strategies for resilience that move them from surviving to thriving.

Understanding Exam Stress

Exam stress often stems from fear of failure, pressure to perform, and the sheer volume of material to be learned. It can manifest in various ways, including decreased motivation, anxiety, and even physical symptoms such as headaches or trouble sleeping. Recognising these signs early is crucial for timely intervention.

How to Recognise Stress in Students

Recognising stress in students requires a keen observation of changes in behaviour, academic performance, and physical health. Students under stress may exhibit signs such as irritability, withdrawal from friends or activities, noticeable declines in academic performance, or an increase in complaints about health issues like headaches or stomach aches and even skin conditions. Additionally, changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, and a general lack of enthusiasm for school or learning can be telltale signs. It's important for educators, parents, and peers to be vigilant and supportive, creating an environment where students feel safe to express their anxieties and seek help.

Strategies for Supporting Students During Exams

Supporting students during their exam periods involves a multifaceted approach that addresses both their academic and emotional needs. Educators, parents and those who work with young people play a crucial role by helping the young person set realistic expectations and offering praise for effort rather than just achievement, helping to relieve performance pressure.

Offering Emotional Support

Being emotionally available for students during exams is vital. This can be achieved by engaging in open conversations where students feel heard and understood. Educators and parents should encourage students to express their feelings and concerns, offering reassurance and empathy. Creating a support system where students know they have people to turn to can mitigate the feeling of isolation that often accompanies stress.

Coaching techniques are pivotal in training educators, parents, and mentors on how to provide effective emotional support to young people facing exam stress. These techniques focus on active listening skills, where the coach learns to listen intently to what the student is saying without immediately jumping to give advice or solutions. This approach helps students feel valued and understood, fostering an atmosphere of trust.

Additionally, coaching uses open-ended questions that prompt students to explore their feelings and thoughts more deeply, aiding them in articulating their stresses and finding their own solutions. This empowerment aspect of coaching shifts the dynamic from one of dependency on external advice to one where the student learns resilience and problem-solving skills, crucial for handling stress and challenges independently and directly relevant to getting through the exam period.

Study and Revision Skills

Providing targeted academic support is another critical element. This might include offering review sessions, study guides, or tutoring for subjects that students find challenging. Encouraging effective study techniques, such as time management skills, note-taking strategies, and practice exams, can also bolster students' confidence and preparedness.

However, sharing these revision or study techniques can for some students 'go in one ear and out the other'. This is often due to psychological barriers to achievement caused by thoughts feelings and behaviours the young person is often unaware of that 'block' a young person from applying these techniques to their learning.

Combining coaching with tutoring, mentoring, revision or study skills helps the young person reduce their internal barriers while supporting them to take accountability for their achievement.

Stress Reduction Strategies

Incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as positive psychology practices, thinking skills, distraction techniques, or physical activity into the school day can equip students with tools to manage exam stress more effectively. Schools might consider workshops, coaching sessions or programmes that teach these skills in the lead-up to exam periods.

Overall, a supportive, empathetic approach combined with practical academic assistance can help students navigate the pressures of exam time more successfully, fostering a healthier mindset towards learning and achievement. That is where coaching can provide all of the techniques listed above and help the student develop confidence, motivation and responsibility for their learning outcomes.

The Role of Coaching in Relieving Exam Stress

Coaching offers a structured and supportive environment for students to express their concerns, set goals, and identify practical steps towards achieving them. Here are some specific ways in which coaching can address common concerns and questions raised by teachers, head teachers, school staff, and youth workers:

Reducing Stress During Exam Periods

Distraction, breathing and relaxation techniques can be effective tools for managing stress. A coach can introduce students to these strategies, helping them remain calm and focused under pressure. By learning to manage their stress, students can approach their exams with a clearer mind and a stronger sense of confidence.

Fostering Effective Planning and Focus

One of the keys to overcoming exam stress is effective time management. Through coaching, students can learn to prioritise their revision tasks, break down their study material into manageable chunks, and set realistic goals. This not only mitigates the feeling of being overwhelmed but also instils a sense of control and progress essential for the development of wellbeing.

Encouraging Academic Achievement

Coaches help students to align their study efforts with their academic goals, fostering a sense of ownership and intrinsic motivation. Whether it's achieving a specific grade or simply improving upon past performance, coaching empowers students to work towards their own definitions of success while feeling proud of the progress they are making.

Implementing Strategies for Healthy Balance

Wellbeing is critical during the exam season. Coaches can share strategies and encourage the young person to use strategies for maintaining a healthy balance, such as incorporating breaks, engaging in physical activity, and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule. These practices support not only academic performance but also the overall mental health of the student.

Positive Psychology Strategies for Wellbeing and Resilience

Positive psychology strategies are central to coaching methodologies focused on student wellbeing and resilience, particularly during exam periods. These strategies emphasise the cultivation of positive emotions, resilience, and a growth mindset—crucial elements for academic success and personal development. By integrating practices such as gratitude journaling, coaches can encourage students to focus on positive aspects of their life and studies, fostering a more optimistic outlook that can buffer against stress.

Goal-setting techniques, where students identify and plan steps towards achieving their goals, can also play a significant role. This not only boosts motivation but also helps in reducing anxiety by creating a mental pathway to success. Additionally, coaches employ strengths-based approaches, helping students identify and leverage their personal strengths in their studies and exam preparation. This approach shifts focus from what students lack to what they inherently possess, building confidence and a sense of capability.  

Navigating Setbacks and Overcoming Failure

Finally, coaching provides a framework for dealing with setbacks and failures. Rather than viewing them as insurmountable obstacles, coaches help students see these moments as learning opportunities. This resilience-building is invaluable, not just for exams, but for life.

Understanding the importance of failure in the development of resilience is a key component of effective coaching. Failure, often perceived as a negative outcome, is actually a critical stepping stone on the path to success. It offers invaluable lessons in perseverance, problem-solving, and the art of bouncing back stronger. By reframing failure as an essential part of learning and growth, coaching helps students to internalise that setbacks are not the end of their academic journeys but rather important experiences from which to learn. This shift in perspective is crucial for developing resilience, as it encourages students to approach challenges with a growth mindset, viewing obstacles as opportunities to improve their strategies and efforts. Through this understanding, students learn to persist in the face of difficulties, emerging more capable and resilient in their academic pursuits and beyond.

Case Studies of Success

Specific examples highlight the efficacy of coaching in managing exam stress. For instance, one student was able to overcome chronic procrastination and anxiety by working with a coach who helped them develop a personalised study plan and relaxation techniques. Another student found that coaching sessions improved their motivation to study, as they set personal achievement goals and learned to celebrate their progress, however small.

These case studies illustrate that with the right support, students can learn to manage stress, stay focused, and achieve their academic goals. It's about building resilience, motivation, and a positive mindset towards exams and challenges beyond.

Conclusion

For those of us in education and youth work, the wellbeing of our students is a top priority, especially during the challenging exam season. By incorporating coaching into your offer of student support, you can provide the support and strategies students need to manage exam stress effectively. It's not just about helping them through their exams; it's about equipping them with skills and mindsets that will serve them well into the future.

In the face of exam season, remember, it's not only about surviving but thriving. With the right strategies and support, our students can face their exams with confidence and emerge stronger on the other side.

Find out how we can support you with our programme of coaching interventions here.

Learn to become a coach to support young people not only deal with exam stress but also navigate the challenges in life to become resilient and develop wellbeing access our Free Introduction to Coaching Young People Course or apply to join our Coach Training programme.

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