Brain Hacks to Help Your Child Thrive During Exams

Feeling the exam stress creeping into your home? 

You're not alone. Whether it's GCSEs, A-Levels, or end-of-year tests, this season can bring slammed doors, frayed nerves, and more late-night scramming than we care to admit.

As a parent, you want to help but sometimes the best support isn't another practice paper... its science backed, simple brain hacks to keep them calm, focused, and performing their best.

Here are 6 brain hacks to help your teen sail through exam season:

SET A SLEEP CURFEW

Sleep isn't a luxury; it's an exam performance tool. Encourage your child to stop revising by 9pm, wind down tech-free, and get a solid 7-8 hours. Deep sleep sharpens memory, improves concentration, and helps regulate emotions. 

Just 15 minutes of extra sleep can make a measurable difference. 

A recent study by the University of Cambridge and Fudan University found that children who slept just 15 minutes longer showed better brain function and cognitive performance in tests for reading, vocabulary, and problem-solving. Despite the small time difference, those with the most sleep had larger brain volume and stronger mental performance which is proof that even a little extra rest can give kids a sharper edge during exam season.

REF:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/22/sleep-exams-cambridge-brain-development/

CREATE A POSITIVE TRIGGER

Smell a lemon, massage an earlobe, or even hold a lucky charm. Associating a sensory trigger with calmness trains the brain to access that state during exams. 

TAME THE NERVES

Feeling nervous? This is a good sign. Butterflies in their stomach is their body getting ready for action. Positive affirmations like "I'm prepared. I can do this" can massively improve performance. 

SHIELD AGAINST NEGATIVE VIBES

Advise them (and yourself) to avoid boastful or negative friends before exams. Protect their bubble of calm. 

MOVE BEFORE YOU MEMORISE

Exercise before or after revision boosts brain function. A short evening walk, gym class, or stretch session can clear the mind and enhance learning. 

MASCOT MAGIC

Imagining a personal 'mascot' (an animal, superhero, or fictional guide) by their side in the exam hall can be incredibly grounding acting as a playful, psychological boost to nudge them towards success. 

Dreem's Calm Essentials for Exam Season:

- The Z's Bath Soak - packed with CBD and magnesium to calm an overstimulated nervous system.

- Bed Balm - ease tight shoulders and racing minds naturally.

- Night Drops (16+) - help reset sleep rhythms and encourage deeper, more restorative sleep. And what's more, no grogginess.