Exam stress

It’s really normal to feel stressed about exams. In fact, a bit of stress can actually boost your motivation. But when exam stress becomes too much, it can have a pretty big impact on your performance, results and mental wellbeing. Whether you’re at school, uni, TAFE or elsewhere, this collection offers up practical tips, real-life stories and helpful guides that'll help you find the support and strategies you need to manage stress before, during and after exams.

Student sitting down at desk in lecture hall

How to deal with exam anxiety

Most of us experience some level of exam anxiety. But sometimes it can become too much. Learn what exam anxiety is, what causes it, and some tips and strategies for getting on top of it.

An illustration of a young person reading a text book with their phone face down on the table. The phone is set to mute. Another illustration shows a young person next to a giant clock. One quarter of the clock is labelled as "most productive".

How to manage your time while studying

Study smarter, not harder, with these big-picture and day-to-day strategies for time management.

An illustration of a young person wearing a t-shirt that says "do not disturb" sits cross-legged on the floor surrounded by books and notes. They look relaxed and content.

How to nail your study–life balance

If you find it tricky and stressful to balance your time between study and the rest of your life, try these strategies.

Quiz: Are you burning out?

Do you feel drained, run down and unmotivated? Take this quiz to help figure out if you’re burning out and what you can do about it.

Young man using phone and drinking coffee

Wellbeing and productivity apps to help you manage study stress

There are plenty of apps out there to help you with studying. But which ones will be the most helpful when it comes to managing the whole study and exam experience? We’ve done the research for you. Give these apps a try and see what works for you.

ReachOut's exam checklist

Got an exam tomorrow? Our handy exam checklist will help you prepare for it – both the night before and on the day – so you can tackle your exam with confidence and peace of mind.

Illustrated thumbnail that shows the quiz title 'WHAT'S YOUR AT-HOME STUDY STYLE' surrounded by home study items like a lamp, a bin full of paper, books and a laptop.

Quiz: What's your at-home study style

Take this quiz to understand your study style and get the most out of your at-home study.

Why you shouldn’t cram before exams (and how to study properly instead)

Cramming for exams is pretty common, but it’s not the best way to study. Get tips on what you can do instead.

How to handle fear about the future: A guide for year 12 students

Knowing what to do after Year 12 can feel pretty stressful. Here are some tips for handling fear about the future.

Foods that help our brain study

Did you know that the food you eat can have an impact on your exam results?

Top 5 motivation boosters

Are you lacking motivation at the moment? These tips will help you to stop procrastinating and get stuff done.

School stress and how to deal with it

Ignoring school and exam stress tends to make things worse, but it's hard to know how to deal with it. Check out this comic to find out how to live with stress.

Study hacks

Need some study tricks and tips? Amy, Philip, Calypso and Christo serve up a bunch of genius hacks to get your study habits in shape.

What does stress do to the body?

How does stress affect your body? It's normal to feel stressed, but if you always feel this way it can have negative impacts on your mind and body.

How Christo didn't care about the HSC

Christo knew that the HSC wasn't really for him, but he still found himself getting stressed out about his future.

Friendships and exam stress: 5 tips for keeping things positive

Is study stress affecting your friendships? Discover our 5 practical tips for maintaining strong friendships during exam season.

uni isnt for everyone how amy found her own path through the year 12 exams

How Amy found her own way through the year 12 exams

Here's how Amy kept her motivation for her final exams, despite not needing an ATAR.

Disability, exams and Philip's epic focus

Having muscular dystrophy meant that Philip got more time to complete his exams. Here's how he developed his epic focus and organisational skills.

Jack's tips for overcoming exam stress

Jack from Dubbo finds exams super-stressful, so he’s developed some ways of coping. Here’s his four-step guide to dealing with exam stress.

Advice for those about to do year 12 exams

Get some good advice from those who’ve been there. We asked four recent year 12 grads to share their best tips for making it through the final exams and surviving year 12.

How to get a good night’s sleep

Sleeping well is a huge part of feeling well. Check out these strategies and tips for improving your sleep hygiene and getting a good night’s sleep.