Talking Point: Do young people know how to deal with the stress of exams?

As exam time looms, many young people will be feeling the pressure. Their performance in the next couple of months could help decide their future. How much do young people know about dealing with exams?

Encourage a discussion about exams and revision. Remember, young people approach revision in different ways. Some young people may be more susceptible to stress. Others may not worry about exams at all. It's good to know which young people are taking exams and when, so support can be offered.

During exam time, think about making a chillout zone or a quiet area at your youth club for young people to take a break from revision. Consider arranging some different activities that allow young people to let off steam.

How are young people coping with revising and preparing for exams? Do they have any revision strategies or helpful tips? Ask them to share these with the group. Discuss how everyone learns in different ways and at different speeds, so it could be unhelpful for young people to compare themselves to their friends.

Talk about ways of beating exam stress. Getting organised with revision should actively reduce stress. Discuss creating a study schedule by setting out the subjects young people need to revise and breaking them down into smaller topics. They should find out how they will be tested in the exam and what topics will be covered. To avoid panic on the day, young people should know exactly when and where their exams are.

Consider how regular exercise can help young people when revising. A recent study published in the Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology journal showed that exercise can improve young people's exam results and levels of concentration. Talk about getting a balance between revision and day-to-day life. Young people should take regular breaks and get plenty of fresh air. Discuss the importance of a healthy diet when revising: oily fish, nuts and seeds will feed the brain and could improve revision sessions. Young people should be aware that caffeine-fuelled energy drinks might increase their anxiety levels.

Discuss other ways of staying on top of revision. How important is it to get enough sleep during exam time? Remember that there are many other people in the same boat, and everyone handles exams and stress in different ways. It's important to keep things in perspective.

Encourage young people to do their best.