This month has seen the start of students being allowed back into examination rooms to sit exams such as GCSEs and A levels. This is the first time in 2 years that actual exams have taken place rather than teacher assessment and classwork going towards a student’s final grade.
For some this dramatic change has heightened their anxiety and it has been hard to adapt back to the standard exam setting. To add extra uncertainty, they are now saying that there may not be enough exam invigilators available due to worries over exposure to Covid being in different schools. Some schools are even asking parents to help out and diverting teachers from their usual roles to monitor exams instead.
It is expected that this year’s exam results will suffer because of these factors, with lower-than-average grades predicted. So now more than ever its important that we encourage positive mental health for young people. Along with reassurance that these exams are not the be all and end all and you can have a successful career even if you struggle with exams. Maybe the pandemic has highlighted that the old-style exam process is simply not fit for purpose in this modern age.