Exam season is on the horizon and can be a particularly stressful time for students. In 2023, Childline delivered almost 2,000 counselling sessions about exam stress, an increase of 10% from the year before.
Some students worried that the disruptions to their learning during the pandemic has affected their performance and ability to cope with pressure. Therefore, in the run-up to, and during exams, it’s important to be able to spot when students might be feeling particularly stressed and need support.
To help you better support students during the exam period and identify signs of stress, we have shared a list of some of the key indicators to look out for.
Signs that can indicate a student is struggling to cope with exam pressures may include:
1 – Having problems sleeping
A common indicator that exam stress could be taking a toll on students is if they mention or display signs of having problems sleeping. Sleep deprivation and fatigue can hugely impact students and their schoolwork.
Key changes to look out for include:
- A dip in their concentration levels in lessons
- Becoming easily irritated
- Falling asleep during school hours
- Experiencing frequent mood swings
2 – Becoming obsessive with schoolwork
Naturally, students are motivated to do well and want to achieve high grades. But sometimes this can lead to them becoming overly obsessive with how much they work. This can create an unhealthy relationship with their schoolwork and can lead to greater stress levels amongst students.
In the run-up to and during exam season, students who are stressed may:
- Create over ambitious study plans
- Spend excessive time revising
- Neglect other activities or hobbies
- Become overly self-critical and self-doubtful
3 – Becoming unwell
Exam stress amongst students can sometimes lead to them experiencing serious health problems – this can include mental as well as physical health problems which require medical help.
As a result of stress, students may experience a range of symptoms, including:
- Frequent headaches
- Heightened feelings of anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Feeling nauseous and sick
4 – Experiencing changes in appetite
It’s common for stress to have an impact on appetite, so monitoring any changes to students’ eating pattern during the exam period is something to be aware of. This can mean over or undereating, or them displaying a more subtle shift in their relationship with food.
Some signs to look out for that may demonstrate pupils are experiencing a shift or change in appetite include:
- Binge-eating and overindulging in unhealthy foods
- Loss of appetite
- Skipping meals
- Becoming obsessive with eating habits and patterns
5 – Avoiding work
Stress caused by exams can often result in students feeling so overwhelmed that they end up avoiding their work altogether.
Indications that students are avoiding their workload, because of stress, include:
- A drop in their school attendance
- Procrastinating revision
- Behavioural changes, including being easily irritable
How Safeguarding Software Can Help
Recording concerns about pupils displaying any of these behaviours and signs is key when it comes to monitoring their wellbeing. It can also help to identify patterns and trends more easily, enabling timely interventions to ensure that students are fully supported in the run-up to and during exams.
CPOMS safeguarding software can help you to monitor signs of stress amongst pupils. To learn more, get in touch with our team today.
