Supporting your child through exam results anxiety: a parent’s guide
By Albert Clemente, CEO at FindTutors, a leading private tuition service by GoStudent
The wait for exam results can be as challenging for parents as it is for students.
For many young people, any exam results feel like defining moments in their lives, creating significant anxiety during the waiting period. Research from Aviva UK Health (2025) shows that 79% of parents feel stressed or anxious about their children’s exams, while 66% are concerned about the impact of exam stress on their child’s wellbeing. As parents, providing the right support can make a substantial difference to how your child manages this stress.
Here are six practical strategies to help your child through this challenging time and to prepare for future exams:
Create a calm home environment. During this waiting period, maintaining a stable, peaceful atmosphere at home gives your child a sanctuary from external pressures. Minimise family conflicts and keep daily routines consistent to provide a sense of security when other aspects of life feel uncertain.
Listen more than you speak. When your child expresses worries about their results, resist the urge to immediately offer solutions or dismiss their concerns. Instead, validate their feelings with responses like “it makes sense you’re feeling anxious” or “I understand why this feels important to you.” This acknowledgement helps them feel understood rather than judged.
SPONSORED CONTENT:
At Carea, we are currently looking to share real women’s stories about fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum to offer hope and inspiration to others walking similar paths. If you’d like to share your story (even anonymously), we’d be honored to feature it in our app and on our Instagram. Simply fill out our short questionnaire to take part.
Keep perspective through conversation. Gently remind your child that exam results, while important, are just one part of their journey. The GoStudent Future of Education Report 2025 found that 59% of parents believe grades don’t accurately reflect students’ abilities. Share stories of people who found success through unexpected paths, including perhaps your own experiences of setbacks and recovery. These conversations help frame results day as a milestone rather than a final destination.
Plan meaningful distractions. Help your child occupy their mind with activities they enjoy during the waiting period. Physical exercise, creative projects, or social gatherings can provide temporary relief from rumination. Consider planning a special family day out just before results day to create positive memories regardless of outcomes.
Prepare for all possibilities. While maintaining optimism, having calm conversations about what happens if results aren’t as hoped can actually reduce anxiety. Research alternative options together so your child knows there are multiple pathways forward, and reassure them of your unconditional support regardless of the outcome.
Build confidence and resilience. If your child doesn’t get the results they want and they choose to resit their exams, look for a tutor who can support their learning and help build their confidence for the resits, which can be more daunting than the original exams. 82% of students we surveyed increased their confidence after receiving tutoring and 75% saw grade improvements, so external tutoring support can be a great option for those who are less confident and need to build resilience.
Remember that how you manage your own anxiety about your child’s results significantly impacts their experience. Finding your own support network to process concerns away from them is equally important.
By creating a foundation of emotional support, practical guidance and unwavering acceptance, you can help transform this period from one of pure anxiety to an opportunity for growth in resilience – a skill that will serve them far beyond exam results day.
When Families Fall Out: What the Beckham Headlines Can Teach Us About Repair and Mediation
When Families Fall Out explores what the recent Beckham headlines can teach us about family rupture, repair and the role mediation can play when relationships feel strained. With insight from JMW Solicitors’ family law team and child anxiety therapist Saskia Joss, it looks at why disconnection happens, how to name it, and what practical support can help families move forward with more understanding and kindness.
When Parents Split, Schools Feel It Too: The Hidden Impact on Children
Relationship expert Sally Land highlights the hidden toll that high-conflict separations can take on children — and how often schools end up caught in the crossfire. Citing research from The Parents Promise, she notes that teachers are regularly seeing the fallout in real time: slipping grades, increased absence, withdrawal, behavioural issues and worsening mental health.
Building a Brand as a Working Parent: The Bit Nobody Talks About (The Loneliness)
Building a brand as a working parent looks great on paper — flexible hours, doing something you love, creating a life that fits around family. But the reality is often messier. You’re juggling school runs and deadlines, client work and packed lunches, confidence wobbles and cash flow worries… and somehow you’re expected to show up online like you’ve got it all under control.
The Balance of Play
I hate admitting that because I value play so deeply, especially in those precious early years. It’s how our children learn, explore, imagine and build confidence. But as a mum trying to keep a household running and a business growing, it’s not always easy to appreciate those moments.
Part Time Working Mummy Interview: Rachaele Hambleton & Josh Marshall
Rachaele Hambleton, aka Part Time Working Mummy, is an inspirational mum of six. The incredible 43-year-old is a Sunday Times Bestselling Author—four times over—founder of The Patchwork House, a support and guidance service for vulnerable individuals and families, and she’s also a successful entrepreneur, which includes her own clothing brand REBL.
Introducing Amanda Marks
We’re thrilled to welcome our new columnist Amanda Marks. Amanda is a Renowned Breastfeeding, Food & Sleep Consultant
With over 40 years of experience supporting families, Amanda Marks is a highly respected breastfeeding, food, and sleep consultant. Based in prestigious locations including 10 Harley Street, London, and Alderley Edge, Cheshire, Amanda has worked with families from diverse backgrounds, including media personalities and royalty, maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality.
An Interview with English Professional Boxer Chris Billam-Smith
At BROOD, we’re always drawn to stories that celebrate not just professional triumphs, but the heart and humanity behind them. Someone who embodies this spirit perfectly is Chris Billam-Smith—a world-class athlete
whose grit in the ring is matched only by his devotion to his family.
Why Family Gardening Is Having a Quiet Comeback
There’s a noticeable shift happening in how families spend their time. It isn’t loud or trend-led, and it’s rarely documented with before-and-after shots. Instead, it’s quieter and slower, rooted in small routines and shared moments. Family gardening is part of that change.
From Parliament to the Premier League: Campaigning for survivors of domestic abuse during this #16DaysOfActivism
Our Head of Social Causes and Sub-Editor Teresa Parker was joined by BROOD Editor-in Chief Lolo Stubbs at an event in Parliament on the 2nd December 2025 to mark ten years of coercive control legislation. Teresa organised the event through her consultancy Teresa Parker Media, in partnership with Hawkins, Laxton & Co, which is run by her former colleagues Clare and Sian.
WHY PARENTS NEED A WILL (Even If You Don’t Think You Do)
A lot of people still think wills are only for the wealthy or the elderly. I hear this all the time. In reality, wills are about far more than dividing up money.
