Exam pressure: What to do when you've left it too late, and how parents can help

When students feel behind, anxiety can quickly turn a manageable workload into something that feels impossible.

“The starting point is an honest look at the time that remains and the work that still needs attention,” says
Shuttleworth.

“Panic often tells students that they must cover everything immediately, which makes beginning even harder.

Choosing the most important topic and working through one small section is a more workable first move.”

Instead of staring at an entire textbook or syllabus, break it down.

Try this:
-Work out exactly how much time remains.
-List the subjects or topics that still need attention.
-Identify the areas that are most important or carry the most marks.
-Choose one manageable section to tackle first.
-Build the next study session from there.

When time is running short, students can fall into the trap of spending hours rereading notes because it feels productive. But simply looking over the same material repeatedly isn't necessarily the best use of limited study time.

“A manageable task can help restore some sense of control,” says Shuttleworth.

“Active methods such as answering questions, testing recall and checking mistakes are likely to be more useful than repeatedly reading the same notes.”

That could mean closing the textbook and trying to recall what you've just learnt, answering questions without looking at your notes, or working through a past paper and then analysing the mistakes.

Think: learn → recall → check → correct → practise.

When students feel behind, sleep can seem like an easy thing to cut. But staying awake into the early hours doesn’t necessarily translate into better preparation.

“The plan still needs to include breaks and sleep,” Shuttleworth says.

“Giving up rest may create more study hours on paper, but those hours are not always productive.”

So, even during the final stretch, build rest into the timetable.

“The belief that it is ‘too late’ often comes from anxiety rather than from a careful assessment of what is still possible,” Shuttleworth explains.

“The student may not cover everything perfectly, but meaningful progress can still be made.”

The goal isn't necessarily to master every single page of every textbook but to make the best possible use of the time that remains.

“If choosing where to begin feels impossible, a teacher, parent or counsellor can help sort the work into what is essential, what is useful and what can be left for later,” she says.

For parents, exam season is stressful too.

Watching your child struggle, fall behind, or become overwhelmed can create an understandable urge to step in with advice. But sometimes the most useful thing a parent can do is listen first.

“Parents can begin by listening before moving into advice or problem-solving,” says Shuttleworth.

“A student may need to say what feels frightening or overwhelming without immediately being told what to do.”

Exam season can easily make conversations at home revolve around marks.

• How did you do?
• What did you get?
• How much have you studied?
• What did your friend get?

But Shuttleworth says parents should also make room for conversations that have nothing to do with academic performance: “It also helps when conversations at home recognise the student's interests and strengths beyond
marks.”

Comparing a student with siblings, classmates or family friends can add another layer of pressure. Instead, parents should recognise effort and improvement, focusing on what students can actually influence.

Sometimes practical support can make a bigger difference than another motivational speech.

Parents can help by creating a reasonably calm place to study, helping establish realistic goals, and making sure that basic needs –including meals, breaks, and sleep – aren't forgotten.

And there's another important conversation worth having: ask the student what kind of support would actually help.

“In conversations with families, I often find that parents are trying to motivate a student, while the student hears the same comments as criticism,” Shuttleworth explains. “A parent may keep asking about marks because they are worried; the student may hear that approval depends on performance.”

Her advice?

“It helps when parents say clearly that their concern comes from care, and then ask what kind of support would actually be useful.”

If a student has fallen behind, parents don't need to become substitute teachers overnight. Sometimes their role is simply to help the student take the next step.

That might mean sitting down together and working out what remains, helping prioritise subjects, contacting a teacher, creating a quieter study environment, or simply reminding them to eat and sleep.

If you're reading this and thinking, ‘Okay, but I really have left it late ’-start small.

1. Work out what's left

Look at the actual time available and the topics that still need attention.

2. Prioritise

Separate what is essential from what would be useful and what can wait.

3. Pick one thing

Don't try to tackle the entire syllabus at once.

4. Test yourself

Use questions, recall exercises, and past papers rather than relying solely on rereading.

5. Learn from your mistakes

Use incorrect answers to identify exactly where another round of studying is needed.

6. Take breaks

Short breaks can help you return to the work with more focus.

7. Sleep

More hours awake don't necessarily mean more useful studying.

8. Ask for help

A teacher, parent, counsellor, or another trusted person can help you decide where to start when everything feels overwhelming.

Most importantly, don't confuse ‘I haven't done enough yet’ with ‘I can't do anything now’.

There is almost always something useful you can do with the time that remains.