The Waiting Game

The exams are over.

The folders are shut.
The revision timetable has been abandoned.
The highlighters are drying out in the bottom of a bag.

And yet… it doesn’t feel finished.

For many families, this is when the waiting begins.

And waiting for results can feel like one of the hardest parts of all.

It’s a strange period.

The pressure of the exams has gone… but the outcome is still sitting there in the distance.

Long enough to relax a little.
Long enough to catch your breath.
But never quite enough to forget that results day is coming.

For students, it can be mentally exhausting.

For parents, it can feel powerless.

And if we’re honest?

It can feel like torture.

Results day can feel like a lottery

Here’s the uncomfortable truth.

Results day can feel like a lottery.

Even with predicted grades.
Mock results.
Teacher assessments.
Two years of classwork.
Data.
Grade boundaries.

Sometimes… you simply cannot call it.

I have seen iron-clad predictions from serious, consistent, hard-working students — students who over two years have delivered time and time again — go into the real exam and wobble.

One paper doesn’t land.
One question throws them.
One difficult morning changes everything.

A student working comfortably at a B drops to a D.

And then I’ve seen the opposite.

A student who has coasted.
Done very little.
Left revision late.
But is naturally capable.

And suddenly the paper falls perfectly.

The right topics come up.
The questions suit them.
Something clicks.

And they walk away with an A grade — despite working at a C for most of the course.

That’s why this period is so difficult.

Because nobody really knows.

Not students.
Not parents.
Not even teachers sometimes.

And that uncertainty becomes mind torture.

Replaying questions.

Adding marks up in your head.

Convincing yourself it went brilliantly… then terribly… then brilliantly again.

It’s exhausting.

The three types of student in the waiting game

Over the years, I’ve found most students fall broadly into one of three camps while waiting for results.

1. The genuinely confident

These students are calm.

They know they prepared well.
They know they gave it everything.
And they usually have every right to feel confident.

Quietly confident — not arrogant.

And often they’re right.

2. The uncertain ones

Probably the biggest group.

Ask how exams went and the answer is:

“Honestly… I don’t know.”

One paper felt great.
One felt awful.
One answer won’t leave their head.
Another they can’t remember at all.

Their feelings change daily.

Confident one minute.
Convinced they’ve failed the next.

The uncertainty is draining.

3. The “I smashed it” group

And then there’s the student loudly declaring:

“Easy.”
“I smashed that.”
“Fine.”

Sometimes they mean it.

Sometimes they absolutely don’t.

Sometimes it’s bravado.

Sometimes it’s a mask.

Because saying “I nailed it” feels easier than admitting:

“I’m not sure it went how I wanted.”

Deep down, they often know exactly where it didn’t go to plan.

So what should students do in the month between exams and results day?

This is the question I get asked every single year.

And my advice is always the same.

1. Rest and recuperate

First — rest.

Properly.

The exhaustion after exams is real.

Mental exhaustion.
Physical exhaustion.
Emotional exhaustion.

Most students don’t realise how tired they are until they stop.

So let them stop.

Sleep late.

Stay in bed.

Watch rubbish television.

Spend a day doing absolutely nothing.

Be quiet.

Switch off.

Rest is not wasted time.

Recovery matters.

2. Have fun — properly

And I really mean that.

Have fun.

Because flippin’ heck… they’ve earned it.

For many young people, this will be the longest uninterrupted stretch of freedom they will have for a very long time.

No lessons.

No revision.

No deadlines.

No coursework hanging over them.

No university assignments due.

No job shifts.

No emails.

No adult responsibilities pulling them in ten directions.

Before long, life fills up again.

University.

Assignments.

Part-time work.

Rent.

Placements.

Careers.

Deadlines.

This moment — right now — is rare.

It sits between one chapter ending and another beginning.

And it doesn’t come around often.

So let them enjoy it.

See friends.

Go away.

Celebrate.

Stay up too late.

Say yes to plans.

Sleep in.

Laugh.

Be spontaneous.

Do very little.

Fun is the key word.

Not everything needs to be productive.

They do not need to optimise every minute of the summer.

Sometimes the most important thing they can do is simply enjoy being young.

3. Be practical

Then, once they’ve rested and had some fun… be practical.

Because results day comes around quicker than anyone expects.

A little preparation now can make August and September feel far easier.

That might mean:

✔ getting a summer job
✔ earning and saving some money
✔ sorting student finance
✔ preparing for university accommodation
✔ buying bits they’ll need for September
✔ doing some pre-reading
✔ brushing up on a subject they’ll carry on next year
✔ getting organised for the next chapter

Nothing too intense.

Nothing that takes over the summer.

Just enough that future-them will be grateful.

Final thoughts

The waiting game is hard.

There’s no getting around that.

It’s long.
Uncertain.
Emotionally draining.

And because nobody really knows what’s coming on results day… it can feel harder than expected.

But if your young person is in this stage right now:

Encourage them to rest.

Encourage them to have fun.

Encourage them to do a few practical things that help the next chapter feel manageable.

And then…

Let the waiting be the waiting.

Results day will come soon enough.

If you found this helpful, you can download my free guide:
10 Things Every Parent Should Know About Sixth Form
Available now at Post16Parents.com