The Summer exams experience can be a stressful time, so it's good to know there are many resources to help you cope and manage anxiety stage by stage... helping you to revise well, perform at your best, manage uncertainty and plan next steps once the results are in. Whatever your situation, helps is at hand!
Check out the categories below to support you on your journey or the HYCS' A-Z Directory including helpful sections such as Careers and Student Life.
Contact the exam results' helpline for help and support to chat through your results or what to do next. Careers advisors also ready to help on Twitter, Facebook and The Student Room by using #examresultslive with your question.
Download the HYCS Exam Stress pocket guide here for top tips to help you navigate exam stress.
HYCS' Self Care Kit - check out our self care kit packed with ideas to help you stay calm and deal with panic or worry. Check out our 'calming and grounding tips' here or try out the worry buster ideas here.
ANXIETY UK
Download their free Exam Anxiety Guide - Link here. Or read Anxiety UK's Top Tips for Managing Exam Stress - link here.
Top tips for managing stress and anxiety from Anxiety experts to help you manage your worries and focus on getting the best results you can.
BBC SOUNDS - Bitesize Exam Survivors
From how to stay focused during revision to getting the best out of exam day, our experts and exam survivors bring you a toolbox full of tips to help you keep calm and study on.
BBC BITESIZE
Advice, plans, revision tips - everything you need to improve your revision technique for exams.
BBC BITESIZE Revision App
for 14-16 year olds - see App Zone
CENTRE 33 - Exam Stress Guide
Download a useful guide to managing exam stress here. Please also see their guide to support resources for results day here.
CHARLIE WALLER TRUST
- Looking After Yourself During Your GCSE's leaflet (order hard copy or download free
This guide is part of a series about taking an emotionally healthy approach to GCSEs. This is the pupil guide, and others are available for teachers, parents and carers. The guides are packed with practical tips and ideas to support young people before, during and after exam time. Although written in reference to GCSEs, the content can be applied to any exam.
MIND - Guide - 14 ways to Manage Exam Stress
Tips to help you manage your wellbeing during exams.
OFQAL Guide - Coping with Exam Pressure
A guide to help you if you are worried about exams and experiencing stress.
QUIZLET App (Free with in app purchases)
Create your own flashcard sets or choose from millions created by other students. Test yourself with practice problems and seven study modes that can help you feel more prepared. Solve the toughest textbook problems with Quizlet explanations, millions of step-by-step textbook solutions written by experts and double checked for accuracy. Get personalised study paths and track your progress with the Quizlet Learning Assistant.
STUDENT MINDS
Students' mental health charity who offer resources for dealing with exam stress.
TES 2022 Guide to GCSE's
Exam dates, timetables and key information such as what to do if you are ill/miss an exam, appeals process and more.
YOUNG MINDS - Coping with Exam Stress Guide
Pressure to do well in exams can be overwhelming and affect your mental health - link above to go Young Mind's Exam Stress advice if it's all getting a bit too much.
Recommended Reading:
- Yes You Can - How To Ace Your Exams Without Losing Your Mind by Natasha Devon
Mental health campaigner and exam expert Natasha Devon uses her expertise to show you not just how to stay calm in the face of exams, but also how you can absolutely smash them.
* Learn how your brain works – understand the point of stress and sort and tackle your anxieties
* Take a quiz to find out what kind of learner you are and tailor make your own revision schedule
* It's not all about work. Plan your study breaks with tips on baking, doodling, dancing and relaxation techniques
* Deal with exam days with the help of mindfulness, power poses, recall and planning techniques.
- Starving the Exam Stress Gremlin by Kate Collins-Donnelly
A workbook based on CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) - the exam stress gremlin feeds on fears and worries - the more of these you feed him, the bigger he gets and the more stressed you become.
6 August - SQA results (Scotland)
15 August 2024 - for AS/A-levels
15 August 2024 - for Btec
22 August 2024 for GCSEs.
GCSE Grading Levels Explained:
GCSE Grades are categorised from Grades 1-9 as follows (image source - Copyright Ofqual):
BBC Bitesize
Read this article and watch the podcast by Natasha Devon packed with tips about how to get yourself ready for results day and how to cope on the day and post results.
BBC Mindset - Dealing with Anxiety About Results
Savethestudent.org
Guidance for students expecting A Level results.
Young Minds - Advice for young people.
Childline - Advice for young people.
HYCS' Self Care Kit - check out our self care kit for a wide range of calming practices including breathing and grounding exercises to help support you leading up to the day and beyond.
If you feel unhappy with your results, your school or college should be able to support you in considering options such as resitting, appealing or applying to uni through clearing.
National Careers Service
NCS offer an exams' helpline 0800 100900 or web chat service.
Gov.UK - How to Appeal a Grade (GCSE, A Level or other qualification)
You can challenge a grade or the result of a qualification if you think there’s been a mistake links are listed below by region:
- the appeals process in England
- the appeals process in Scotland
- the appeals process in Wales
- the appeals process in Northern Ireland
Other Options include:
Re-sitting the Exam - you may be able to take the exam in the new academic year either when school/college reopens in the Autumn or in 2023.
For University Applications - If applying to university and you don't have the grades you need to attend your chosen university, talk to you first choice university first and you may also wish to consider the Clearing process (see separate section below).
BBC Bitesize
A look at possible options if you are unhappy with your results.
UCAS
Advice on all aspects of uni' application including the clearing process and other options.
'Clearing Choices Show' Podcast Series with Kate Thistleton
Listen to our studio podcasts about all things Clearing, results day, and how to take control of your future with guest panelists including Natasha devon.
UniGuide
Take a look at this article from UniGuide 'You've got your A Level results - what next?'- click here.
Gov.UK
Click on the image below to read the official government student guide to Post-16 qualifications:
Student Room
Choosing what to do after your GCSEs is a really big decision. It can all feel pretty overwhelming so Student Room have put together a guide to take you through some of the main options and to work out what might work best for you.
Whether you decide to take the academic route with qualifications like A-levels or a more vocational path such as BTecs or an apprenticeship, you’ve got a bit of freedom when it comes to choosing how you’d like to learn.
Complete University Guide - Applying to University as Care Leaver
Information about the support available, including financial and other support, for those leaving care if applying for university.
UCAS Care Leavers | Applying To University | UCAS
Information about support available.
If you are unsure about your future careers options or are interested in Apprenticeship options, check out the organisations below who can offer helpful advice and information about careers, apprenticeships and more.
Careers Wales - 0800 028 4844
For careers advice and guidance in Wales. Lines are open Monday to Thursday: 8am – 6pm and Friday: 9am – 4:30pm
Find An Apprenticeship
Search and apply for an apprenticeship in England using this link.
Fire It Up National Apprenticeship Service - 0800 150 400
Twitter - @Apprenticeships or @FireItUp_Apps
Find out what you need to do to become an apprentice.
Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Information
Check here to find out about new apprenticeship standards
Local Village Network
LVN are a charity who run a series of programmes in schools and youth clubs across London, offer online mentoring via our app, and have a database of over 2300 opportunities and activities for young people listed on our app and website. Includes mentoring schemes to help 14-24 year olds find work including help with CV's.
My Big Career
A charity dedicated to providing careers advice and support to young people, from disadvantaged backgrounds. If you are aged 16-21 and would like to speak to someone about your educational or employment pathways such as help creating a good application for uni or an an apprenticeship or creating a CV contact MyBigCareer - simply fill in a form on their website to request help - link here.
National Careers Service - 0800 100 900
Provides a free service offering face to face help and support on training, learning and work to people in England.
Princes Trust - 0800 842 842 or live online chat
A charity that helps 11 to 30 year-olds to find the tools and confidence to try free courses and start careers. Open to 11-30. year olds across the UK no matter if they have been facing some serious issues such as homelessness or if they've been in trouble with the law.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) - 0800 917 8000 (General)
0808 100 8000 (Results Day Helpline)
Available with support for, and around, results day.
UCAS
UCAS is the undergraduate admissions portal. Here you can also find career ideas by exploring different jobs, taking the UCAS career quiz, or looking at volunteering, apprenticeships, or starting your own business.
Youth Employment UK.
An independent organisation giving young people skills, careers support and tools to fulfil their potential. A Skills and Careers Hub provides 14-24 year olds with free resources, advice and guidance with practical tools to support young people through education, transition into employment and beyond in a process of lifelong learning.
UCAS - About Student Finance
Information about undergraduate tuition fees and student loans. How much are tuition fees and how are you going to pay for them? Find out how to fund your studies and how to apply here.
Gov.UK - How to Apply For Undergraduate Student Finance
Check if you’re eligible for student finance, find out how much you can get, how to apply and when you start repaying.
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
Government website explaining how you can get financial help via the DSA if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability. Check eligibility and how to apply here.
Complete University Guide - Applying to University as Care Leaver
Information about the support available, including financial and other support, for those leaving care if applying for university.
National Debtline - Student Money Advice
Advice and information for anyone facing money problems with advice for students.
Applying to university through Clearing
Clearing is how uni's and colleges fill any places they still have on their courses.
Find UCAS clearing information and advice here or here.
CWT Results and Clearing Guide
How to cope for the wait for results or how to cope with change if you need to alter your plans.
UniGuide Support Videos
The Uni Guide team in association with Student Room have asked university admissions experts for their advice on finding a place on a degree course through UCAS Clearing - watch the UniGuide videos explaining the clearing process, just click here.
National Careers Service
Offer an exams helpline 0800 100900 or web chat service.
UCAS
Advice on all aspects of uni application including the clearing process and other options.
'Clearing Choices' Show Podcast Series with Kate Thistleton
Listen to our studio podcasts about all things Clearing, results day, and how to take control of your future with guest panelists including Natasha devon.
Not sure what to take when you head off to uni? Take a look at our handy kit list guide to give you some ideas... includes the sorts of things you may want to take with you - customise it to make it your own, whether you want to travel light or really make it feel like home.
Check out the wide range of resources to support all aspects of student life listed within our A-Z Directory under S for Student Life here.
Contact mybigcareer.org to book an online appointment with their expert team of volunteer 'future-makers' - limited slots are still available for 16th and 19th August!
