Dear Parents,

The kitchen is covered in flashcards. The mood swings are sudden. And suddenly, you seem to be the one doing GCSEs all over again.
If your child is facing a wall of exams this summer, you’re probably wondering: How much should I help? How do I keep them calm? And am I even doing enough?

Good news: you don’t need to be a maths whiz or a Shakespeare expert to make a real difference. In fact, a few simple strategies at home can boost your child’s confidence, focus, and energy when it matters most.

From building the perfect revision setup to scheduling breaks that actually improve their memory, here are seven game-changing ways parents can support their teens through GCSE season — without losing your sanity (or theirs).

Here’s a practical guide to helping your teen survive (and thrive) during exam season.

The 7 Steps 📈

1. Create a calm command centre
Give your child a dedicated, clutter-free space to revise. It doesn’t need to be fancy — a quiet corner with a desk, a comfy chair, good lighting, and all the essential supplies like pens, flashcards, notebooks, and sticky notes. It can even be the kitchen table! Print off past papers and mark schemes for each subject so they can dive straight into practice without the distraction of hunting online.

2. Make it visual
Hang a large calendar or whiteboard somewhere visible, plotting out all their exam dates, revision sessions, school commitments, and — just as importantly — downtime. Seeing everything laid out helps them feel more in control and gives them small goals to work towards, rather than feeling overwhelmed by one huge exam block.

3. Past papers = gold dust
Nothing beats practicing under exam conditions. Print out full sets of past papers and make sure your child is working through them with a timer, just like the real thing. Have printed mark schemes nearby so they can self-mark and understand where they’re dropping marks — it’s one of the fastest ways to improve.

4. Stick to a sleep schedule
Tempting as it might be to let revision run late into the night, good sleep is non-negotiable. Encourage a regular bedtime, aiming for 8–9 hours of sleep. A calming pre-bed routine — like putting away devices 30 minutes before sleeping and winding down with a book or music — can really help reduce exam stress and boost memory retention.

5. Fuel the brain
Stock the house with healthy snacks: nuts, fruit, yoghurt, and plenty of water. Try to avoid letting revision be powered purely by caffeine and sugar. Balanced meals with slow-release energy (think oats, whole grains, and leafy greens) can help them stay sharp for longer revision sessions. Keep the treats for a post revision session reward in front of a TV show or film to decompress.

6. Prioritise downtime
It’s easy to think they should be revising every second, but building in proper breaks actually improves productivity. Schedule short walks, movie nights, or even just time to do absolutely nothing without guilt. It gives the brain a chance to consolidate learning and keeps motivation high. Let them have 30 minutes on their phone doing whatever they want but make other breaks about connection, getting out of the house and letting go of stress. Sport can be great for this.

7. Be the calm in the storm
GCSEs are stressful enough without extra pressure from home. Keep encouragement front and centre: celebrate effort, not just results, and remind them that exams don’t define their worth. A steady, positive presence will make all the difference when the going gets tough. As a parent you might find your self screaming into your bedroom pillow more often during exam season but as long as on the outside you are calm and collected you child will be able to use you as an anchor for support.

🔑 Key Takeaway

At the end of the day, GCSE success isn’t just about memorising dates or formulas — it’s about creating an environment where your child feels supported, steady, and strong. Your encouragement, structure, and belief in them could be the quiet superpower that gets them through.

You’ve got this — and so do they.

Claire
National Tutors