The Upsides of Stress: A Reflection from GCSE Season
Lately, I've been spending time with Year 11 students as they navigate the intense landscape of GCSEs. It’s a period that tends to be synonymous with stress—long revision sessions, high expectations, disrupted routines, and the looming uncertainty of what comes next. Understandably, stress gets a bad reputation. But working with these students has got me thinking about the other side of the coin. Because while chronic or overwhelming stress is something to take seriously, not all stress is harmful. In fact, there can be some surprising upsides.
Stress Shows Us What Matters
When students tell me they’re stressed about a particular exam or subject, it usually reveals something important: that they care. Stress is often a signal of investment. It arises when we’re facing something that feels meaningful or consequential. For Year 11s, this might mean wanting to make their family proud, achieve a personal goal, or keep future options open. Stress can act as a compass, pointing us towards what we value.
It Gets Us Moving
Stress is energising—literally. It activates the body’s sympathetic nervous system, preparing us to respond. In measured amounts, that can be incredibly useful. It sharpens our focus, boosts motivation, and can even enhance memory formation. I’ve seen students harness this to revise more effectively or stay alert during an exam. The body is gearing up to rise to a challenge—and when we recognise that response as purposeful rather than paralysing, it can feel empowering.
Stress Can Connect Us
Shared experiences of stress—like revising with friends or commiserating over a tricky paper—can create a sense of community. I’ve noticed that many students feel less isolated when they realise their peers are going through similar things. Talking about stress, especially in a non-judgemental environment, can be a bonding experience. It can also encourage young people to practise asking for help, learning that vulnerability doesn’t diminish strength—it deepens connection.
It Builds Resilience
Navigating a stressful period like exam season is a chance to build psychological strength. Coping with deadlines, managing anxiety, and coming through the other side—these experiences are formative. Of course, support is vital. No one needs to go it alone. But with the right scaffolding in place, overcoming challenges becomes a source of confidence. Many of the Year 11s I’ve worked with are already reflecting on how much they’ve grown in recent months, even if they didn’t realise it at the time.
None of this is to say that stress is always good, or that we should glorify it. Chronic stress, especially without support or relief, can be damaging. But by recognising that stress is not inherently a villain, we open up space for more nuanced conversations. We can learn to notice our stress, get curious about what it's telling us, and find ways to use it—rather than fear it.
As the GCSE season winds down, I hope students (and the adults around them) take a moment to acknowledge what they’ve been through—not just in terms of academic achievement, but in how they’ve responded to challenge, managed pressure, and learned about themselves. Those are lessons that last far longer than any exam paper.