Often students are told that their future will majorly depend on the exams they take at just 15/16 years of age, even though many will not have even an inkling of what they want to do later in life.

The ever-growing high expectations of exam results combined with strict coursework deadlines and regular pieces of homework creates an unnecessary amount of pressure for today’s year 10 and 11 students, sometimes leading to mental health issues.

This includes panic attacks, anxiety, depression and even suicide.

So why, knowing the risks of it, is the pressure applied to school pupils still continuing to grow as exam season approaches us every year?

Many would agree that this is true, the pressure on school pupils does continue to increase, not only in the Isle of Man but in other places around the world, such as the UK, America and Australia, especially as the top grades become harder and harder to achieve.

Research from UK children’s charity NSPCC alarmingly revealed that childline delivered 3,135 counselling sessions to pupils in 2016/17 before and after exams.

This is an 11% rise over the previous two years.

It supports the idea that perhaps the amount of pressure today’s students receive is excessive due to the increase of mental health issues apparent among students.

However, despite evidence proving that exam pressure is often too much, the exams keep becoming more difficult.

An example of this is in core subjects such as science and maths, where on multiple exam boards students are expected to memorise the endless lists of formulas.

Yet, just a few years ago all formulas were given to the student within the paper.

Having to memorise formulas may sound like a small task, but it does take extra time which a student needs to relax and take a break, just like everyone does.

All of the extra challenges (big or small) added to the exam papers and coursework each year add up, and leave the majority of school students feeling like they constantly have to be working towards their final grade for their GCSEs, with no time for a break at all.

Consequently, this leaves a shocking number of students feeling extremely stressed, and even causes some to hate the school environment.

By reducing the huge amount of stress that occurs every exam season, students will feel happier and more relaxed.

Some may argue that this will lead to worse exam results and students not working to the best of their ability.

However, to me it seems that sometimes students are pushed past a fair amount of pressure today.

School pupils should be able to have a balance between school and home in their life so that they can have a good night’s sleep as well as go out and enjoy themselves.

This way students can work to the best of their ability to achieve a good grade, but also remain happy, in and outside of the school environment.

Nevertheless, as a year 11 pupil myself, I can say that school is not all bad and personally I feel that I do quite well at keeping my life balanced with school work.

Music and dance are two ways in which I relax.

They are hobbies of mine that I love doing and if I am feeling pressured because of school, I know I can turn to dancing, playing the piano or listening to music.

For me, this shows how it’s important to have other hobbies or projects in your life as ultimately they will help to balance it all out.

So, even if the pressure is excessive at school you can turn to something you love to help yourself.

Emily is a pupil at Castle Rushen High School.