Hi there
Thank you for getting in touch with me. You have said that you have already started your GCSE’s and that as the difficult topics are approaching, you are beginning to worry. You also say that you really want to do well on your exams and I understand that they are important to you and you take them seriously.
You say that you feel like you panic when put under pressure and you feel like you forget things when the pen is actually in your hand. It sounds like you are feeling very anxious at the moment, but it is important to make sure that you are looking after yourself around exam time too. Making sure that you are getting enough sleep and eating properly can be very helpful. It is a good idea to try and de-stress before you go to sleep, especially the night before an exam and some people find that doing something that they enjoy, listening to soothing music or having a bath before they go to bed works well for them.
If you feel stressed or panicky during the exam, you can try and calm yourself down by taking some slow deep breaths. Try to focus on one question at a time. Some people find it really useful to do a quick spider diagram of all the information they know about a certain topic before they begin to plan their answer, as this can help you not to forget things whilst writing something else down.
You might also find it helpful to take a look at the 'beat exam stress' page in Explore and the ChildLine School / College message boards, where young people can share their experiences and advice.
You've said that you think that the exams you've had so far went fine. That is great to hear and I am pleased that you feel confident about how you did. It is important to remember that you can only do your best. Also, I am wondering how you coped with the exams you have done already, and what things you found helpful that might make you feel more confident about the ones coming up.
I know that this can be a very difficult time for a lot of young people so I think it is great that you are contacting me for support. If ever you feel like you want to talk to a counsellor about how you are feeling you are always welcome to contact ChildLine either by phone on 0800 1111 or using our 1-2-1 chat service (like msn).
Take care
Sam