Managing Stress

It's totally normal to feel like class is going way too fast. Sometimes when you miss one lesson you fall behind and never manage to catch up.

Don't give up - even if you're not understanding things at the moment, with a bit of work you'll be back on track. The moment when you decide to not even try since you're struggling is when you actually get left behind.

Organise a tutorial with your teacher. This is the best way to fill in your knowledge gaps.

Grab notes off other people in your class and arrange a tutorial session with a student tutor if you need.

Make sure you don't fall behind again by staying focused in class and completing homework. You'll thank yourself in the long run!

It's so easy to get distracted, especially if part of you is actually trying to ignore schoolwork.

Often when work piles up, it is difficult to know where to begin. The best way to tackle this is to write a to-do list. Make each task specific (not just 'maths', but 'Exercise 3a questions 1-7'), then decide which ones you have to do most urgently.

Make a time-bound schedule, check our 'Study Schedules' page!
eg. 4:30-5:00 finish reading chapter 3
5:00-5:30 complete worksheet from geography

Remove distractions. Put your phone in the room next door.

Another technique that is surprisingly useful is recording a timelapse of your studying. It stops you from using your phone and you feel better after watching all the stuff you've completed at the end!

You're juggling five or six different subjects, plus extracurricular activities, all while trying to maintain a social and personal life. It's okay to feel overwhelmed!

Prioritise! Know your limits. Don't try to pack in more than you can handle - you're allowed to say no to some things.

Don’t feel that you need to revise a whole topic in one go. Breaking up revision and study into sections make it manageable and less overwhelming.

You might just need a small break. Especially if it's late an night, get a good night's sleep and go back to the topic the next day.

Allow yourself some fun-time each day to relax

Eat sensibly – your brain cells need energy to function well. Make sure you drink plenty of water!

It is natural to feel nervous before an examination. The more prepared you feel, the easier it will be to conquer your fears.

Use your revision plan to help you feel in control of the process.

Target gaps in your knowledge - this will make you feel more confident.

Find out what is involved in each exam:

Where and when it will take place?

How much time is allowed?

How many questions you need to answer?

What equipment will you need to bring?

Think positively – you CAN do well

Keep the exam in context – even if you do badly, there will be other options open to you and you have lots of time to improve before your next exam

This is a common one, especially around mid-year and exam season.

It might feel like school is generally pointless, and you're not enjoying much.

This is just a brief reminder that the work you put into learning will pay off at some point! Keep your sights set on the big picture.

It really helps to SET GOALS. Whether that's getting an endorsement on NCEA, or a certain grade in Cambridge, or some number of credits, or just to pass English,

Even if you're in Year 13 and feel like grades don't really matter for wherever you're going next, your learning at school will still be building connections in your brain, developing problem solving or communication skills,