Exam results don't need to define you (Bonus Piece)

Students in the UK have received their GCSE exam results today. Well done to everyone who has been anxiously waiting to receive this news. I know you have been told that so much of your future depends on how you performed this summer.

But here’s a few things to remember

• It’s not possible for everyone to pass the exams

Dr Naomi Fisher (Clinical Psychologist) writes extensively about this. 30% of students will fail their exams each year, because the results are compared to previous cohorts of students. The system has been built for it to be this way. Which if you ask me is terribly unfair !

• You can get into college without any GCSE’s

Depending on what course you want to do, you could study an access course to get you ready for college, or you could study a Functional Skills course to cover your Maths and English.

• Exam anxiety is real

For some students, exam anxiety is crippling and means that they were not able to show off the knowledge and expertise that they actually have, due to feeling “psychologically frozen”. It is not their fault. These exams are super stressful and students are told that so much hinges on how they perform in one summer, aged 16. When life is much bigger than just one summer.

• Your results don’t show ALL of who you are

These exams are a measure of what you can put on to paper, so that people that don’t have a clue about you, can read it and see what you know. These markers don’t know the sound of your laugh, what your favourite football team is, how much you love your nan, or what movie is the one that you cry at every time you watch it. You are so much more than your grades.

• You can resit if needed

Even if you do this much later in life, perhaps even as an adult learner. You can resit them, the window for doing so doesn't suddenly close as soon as you leave school, or college.

Be kind to you today, you did your best. I hope you can be proud of that, regardless of your grades.

Sending love !

Kelly Taylor