Helping SEND Students Manage Exam Anxiety and Build Confidence
For many students, exams are stressful, but for young people with additional needs like Dyslexia, ADHD or Autism, they can be especially overwhelming. The pressure of timed tasks, unfamiliar rooms, strict instructions and high expectations can trigger intense anxiety, even in students who otherwise cope well in lessons.
As a former teacher with 30 years’ experience, I’ve seen first-hand how hard this can be for students, families and schools. Teachers want to help but are often stretched thin, and parents are left trying to manage their child’s growing stress at home. That’s where one-to-one tutoring can make a real difference, not just academically, but emotionally too.
In this blog, I’ll explain why exams can be so challenging for SEND learners, and how targeted support and tutoring can help them manage their anxiety, feel more in control and approach exams with greater confidence.
Why Exams Feel Different for SEND Students
Most school exams are designed for a one-size-fits-all system, and unfortunately, that often means students with Dyslexia, ADHD or Autism face extra difficulties, including:
Working memory challenges (struggling to hold instructions or plan essay structures under pressure)
Processing speed difficulties (finding it hard to read questions quickly or write answers in time)
Sensory overwhelm (loud exam halls, ticking clocks, and the pressure of silence)
Difficulty interpreting abstract questions or understanding exactly what’s being asked
Fear of failure from previous negative experiences in classroom assessments
This combination can cause students to panic, go blank, or refuse to attempt questions they’re more than capable of answering in a calmer environment.
How Anxiety Affects Exam Performance
Anxiety doesn’t just make students feel nervous, it affects their working memory, attention span, reading comprehension and decision-making. In exams, that can lead to:
Rushing through questions without reading them properly
Missing key instructions
Forgetting planned answers or quotes
Struggling to organise thoughts clearly
Giving up before completing tasks
This is why even bright, capable SEND students sometimes underperform in formal assessments. It’s not about ability, but about anxiety and the conditions they’re placed in.
How One-to-One Tutoring Can Help
One-to-one tutoring provides a safe, supportive space where students can:
Practise exam-style tasks without the pressure of a large group
Learn anxiety management strategies tailored to them
Develop a toolkit of coping mechanisms for stressful situations
Rebuild confidence through praise, encouragement and small achievable steps
As a tutor, I focus not only on academic content but also on:
Breaking down exam questions into manageable steps
Teaching students how to manage time calmly and effectively
Helping them rehearse what to do if they get stuck or panic
Working on mindfulness, breathing or grounding techniques for use before and during exams
Normalising exam stress and offering practical, achievable ways to manage it
Building Exam Confidence Gradually
One of the biggest mistakes we make as adults is assuming confidence will just appear as students revise more. For SEND learners, confidence is built through:
Repeated positive experiences
Carefully structured, achievable challenges
Understanding their own strengths and how to use them in exams
Practising scenarios like ‘what if I forget my plan?’ or ‘what if I can’t finish on time?’
In my tutoring sessions, I help students rehearse those situations in a calm, controlled environment so they’re not new or frightening when the real exam arrives.
Final Thoughts
SEND students face unique challenges in exam situations, but with understanding, preparation and targeted support, those obstacles can be managed. One-to-one tutoring won’t just about raising grades; it’ll give students the tools to feel calmer, more in control, and proud of themselves for facing tough challenges.
I have a limited number of one-to-one tutoring slots available both online and in-person across Trafford, Stockport, South Manchester and nearby areas.
Contact me today for a private tutoring quote, whether it’s for exam confidence building, English revision or SEND-specific support.
Visit my Contact page to get in touch.