Exam season can feel like a pressure cooker – not just for students, but for the educators supporting them. While it’s tempting to focus solely on revision timetables and exam techniques, emotional resilience and mental wellbeing are just as critical. Coaching strategies, when used thoughtfully, can provide exam stress support for students and build their confidence throughout this intense period.
Here are three ways coaching tools can help boost student wellbeing when it’s needed most:
1. Normalise the Stress – and Help Students Name It
One powerful coaching strategy is simply creating space for students to reflect. Asking open-ended questions like “How are you feeling about the upcoming exams?” or “What’s one thing that’s feeling hard right now?” validates their experience. When students are able to name and describe their stress, they’re better equipped to deal with it.
Use group check-ins or individual conversations to invite emotional honesty. Try questions like “What’s in your control this week?” or “What’s one small win you’ve had?” This gives students ownership of their responses and creates a non-judgmental space – key ingredients for effective exam stress support.
2. Encourage Micro-Planning and Celebrate Progress
Big goals (like “do well in exams”) can quickly become overwhelming. Break them down into micro-goals and use coaching prompts to guide students in doing this for themselves. Try:
This kind of thinking builds metacognition and self-awareness – helping students understand how they learn and make better decisions about their revision. Celebrating small milestones also reinforces motivation and supports long-term wellbeing.
3. Build Self-Regulation Into the Routine
Coaching isn’t just about asking questions – it’s also about helping students notice and regulate their energy. Encourage routines that build in breaks, movement, hydration, and rest. Use coaching-style reflection to help students figure out what actually works for them, not just what they think they should be doing.
Questions like “What do you notice when you take a proper break?” or “What helps you feel calm before you study?” can guide students toward sustainable habits — ones that support wellbeing, not just productivity. These small habits create a foundation of exam stress support that students can use independently when the pressure hits.
In the exam season rush, it can be easy to overlook emotional support. But coaching strategies create space for connection, calm, and confidence — all of which are essential for thriving under pressure.
