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Wellbeing

How to cope with A-level stress

Revision timetables, sleeping, finding a balance... We've compiled our list of tips so you know how to cope with A-level stress.

Eleanor Foulds
by Eleanor Foulds
Last Updated:
19 Dec 2023

Create an A-level revision timetable


Your first step, before you start revising, should be to make a plan. Do so by creating a revision timetable. You can plan exactly what you need to cover in your study and know what you’ll be physically and mentally able to stick to.

Make sure to plan study time around your hobbies and social life. Don’t make unrealistic plans to revise for seven hours straight on a Saturday. Productivity apps like Trello or a study planner tool from sites such as getrevising.co.uk are useful for creating your revision timetable.

Start early and don’t cram


Space out your study sessions rather than attempting to learn everything at the last minute. Your revision will be more effective when spread over the course of a few weeks and you’ll commit more information to memory.

Little and often is the best way to prepare for any assessment. Starting early and giving yourself plenty of time to revise will avoid stress and panic induced by last-minute study.

Balance your work and play


You need to balance study time and free time. You’re not expected to study during all waking hours of the day, so be kind to yourself when planning your revision.

Remember to take breaks. Don’t revise for hours on end without stopping. It can sometimes help to briefly step away from your revision when faced with a challenging piece of work. This allows the mind to rest and you can re-approach the problem with a fresh mindset.

How long should you break for? Try the Pomodoro technique. This revision technique involves studying in 25-minute chunks, with little breaks of three to five minutes in between. Once you’ve repeated this four times, take a slighter longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

Eat well


How you feel on a day-to-day basis is heavily dictated by what you eat. You don’t need to completely eradicate bad foods, but you should prioritise healthy eating. Sugar-heavy food will only make you crash a few hours later (and possibly fuel a sugar-craving mood swing).

Eating a balanced, varied diet is key. Include plenty of brain-boosting foods such as fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. It’s also vital that you drink lots of water to sustain your energy levels.

Move about


Exercise has long been known as a powerful tool to combat stress and boost mood. It also has the added benefit of helping you get to sleep at night.

Combining your exercise with getting fresh air is a win-win. Research suggests that spending time in nature increases energy levels in 90% of people. You’ll have improved concentration, increased motivation and be able to tackle your study in new, creative ways.

Sleep


Sleep will directly impact how much A-level stress you feel. A lack of sleep will only make your revision more difficult, leaving you more stressed. Sleep helps both our bodies and minds recover from the day, while also consolidating to memory what you learnt while revising. Aim to get seven to nine hours each night.

Talk to someone


Make use of your support network. Talk one-on-one with teachers who can offer you the most relevant advice and reassurance. Chat with your parents, guardians or even your friends as they’ll understand the stress you feel.

If you can find a productive way to do so, a joint revision session with friends could be really beneficial. It’ll remind you that others are in the same boat, rather than you feeling as though you’re suffering alone.

Don’t beat yourself up


Missed your 2pm business studies session? Move it to an hour later. It’s no big deal, as long as you make the effort to catch up.

If you don’t get all the questions right on a past paper, don’t let it knock your confidence. Learn from your mistakes and move on. Believe in your own abilities and reassure yourself that you're capable of achieving great grades.

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