19 Jun 2026

Dealing with the Stress of Grade 12

Are you currently in Grade 12 and freaking out about exams, assignments, your ATAR, or even what you’re going to do next year???

 

Well, if you are, then you’re going through the same things that most 17–18-year-olds across Australia are going through right now.

Let’s face it…Grade 12 can be bloody stressful at times! BUT…many of us make it far worse by putting so much additional pressure on ourselves. This is why it’s soooooooo critically important to Keep Things in Perspective.

Here are a few helpful tips to remember when going through Grade 12…

  • Imagine that your entire life was a beach. One piece of assessment would be nothing more than a handful of sand in the grand scheme of things. Put simply, one exam or one assignment is NOT going to dictate or decide your entire future.
  • There’s no pressure to rush straight into university/TAFE/career if you don’t feel like you’re ready. Lots of students decide to take a gap year so they can still live at home, work a casual job, and save some money before taking the next big step.
  • REMEMBER…if you don’t get the ATAR you want, that doesn’t mean you’ll never get into the university course that you want. Sometimes you may just need to take a different path to get there. For example, you could complete some university courses for credits and then transfer into your desired course once you have gained enough credits OR consider completing a STEPS course.
  • Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life! It’s important to remember that lots of people go to university and end up changing courses. Statistics vary, but research suggests the average person makes between 3 and 7 career changes in their working life. Also, most people work until the age of 65, so there is absolutely NO rush in deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life.

 

There are also a few behaviours/actions that you can do to manage stress and reduce the risk of burnout…

  • Don’t study too much if you feel burnt out. Focus on the quality of your study rather than the sheer quantity. To learn more about symptoms of burn out, check out our other blogs on our website.
  • Try to develop a healthy study schedule so you’ve still got a good life/study balance.
  • Focus on getting good sleep. This can be done by engaging in good sleep hygiene behaviours and having a regular bedtime routine in place.
  • Make sure you’re regularly engaging in self-care activities. For example, this can be chilling out on the couch and watching Netflix, catching up with friends, going to the gym, playing social sport, etc. Essentially, this can be anything that helps you to recharge your battery.
  • Lean on others for support during times of stress, such as exam periods. This can be talking to your parents, teachers, peers, or a mental health professional.

 

Are you…

  • having difficulty managing the stress of going through Grade 12?
  • a parent/carer of a Grade 12 student needing support?

…why not give us a call today?

 

Our team of highly skilled and well-experienced Psychologists and mental health professionals are here to help you. Call us now and take the next step towards supporting your personal growth and self-improvement.

 

How to Access a Services at CQ Psych Services:

  • Contact us directly by calling 07 4972 6929 or email admin@cqpsychservices.com.au
  • Ask your GP or health professional to refer you to our clinic.
  • Come in and see our friendly staff at Shop 1 & 2, 13 Tank Street, Gladstone QLD 4680.
  • Visit our website and complete a ‘Request an Appointment’ form and one of our friendly staff will reply to your enquiry. Website: https://cqpsychservices.com.au/

Author: Tom Grainger

Psychologist