After 11 years of learning, revising and being tested, GCSE results have arrived and grade boundaries have been significantly lowered in order to avoid a 'dramatic fall' in results.

This just proves the tests are getting more difficult, but we are not being taught to catch up with this.

The pressure on us is immense and the worry of waiting so long for our results, which determine our next step in life, really affects young people, as does the fear of not doing well enough to impress schools, teachers, family and friends.

The NSPCC had a surge of calls from nervous students ahead of results day and warned parents not to put too much pressure on young people, as mental health is a very fragile thing in a teenager's life - and added on stress from exams does not benefit the students at all and can relate to a fall in progress due to lack of concentration or focus.

As well as this, sleep plays a major part in the wellbeing of a student, and lack of it can dramatically affect performance and stress levels.

Parents and students must always be reminded of the importance of taking care of mental health.

By Arthur Greenhalf