09/05/2016 Newsround

It's Monday and this is Newsround.

Our big story today - we take a look at whether tests

First, how do you feel when you have exams coming up?

Confident, worried or a bit stressed?

Hundreds of thousands of pupils in England will take

Standard Assessment Tests, or SATs this week.

In a survey for Newsround 87% of 10 and 11 year olds questioned said

they feel pressure to do well in school tests.

Hayley's being speaking to children in Manchester

So, how are you feeling about your tests coming up soon?

I do feel quite pressured because I don't want to mess

I get a rush. You feel like you've forgotten everything.

I feel ready, there are some things I need to go over like fractions.

Preparing for any test can be a stressful time and it's

going to be a really busy week for hundreds of thousands of ten

and eleven years olds who start their week of SATs today.

The tests in England keep track of how primary school

They can also affect which class students go

into when they move up to high school.

Every single one of those is correct...

The lessons taught in schools and the way children are tested

Some people say it means the tests for Years 2 and 6 are now too hard

but the government says tougher tests will mean better results

Scotland got rid of tests but plans to bring them back.

Hundreds of children answered questions in a survey for Newsround

More than half said say they feel "some pressure" to do well,

while over a quarter said they feel "a lot of pressure" .

Many said they feel nervous before tests while others said

And they told us the pressure can make them sad and moody and can even

But nearly half of children questioned said they didn't mind

taking the tests, and some even said they enjoyed them.

Last Tuesday meant a day out of school for some children -

their parents kept them off in protest at the way

Thousands of people signed a petition telling the Government

the tests put children under too much pressure.

The government says that tests are important and should not be

If there were other children feeling stressed and worried like you guys,

Keep calm and just try to keep your mind off it until it comes.

Even if your best is not as good as your friend's best you can't do

any better than that you just have to try.

Lots of 10 and 11 year old all over the country are sitting SATs this

week. The Newsround Survey found that 87% of the 10 and 11 year olds

questioned felt pressure to do well in school tests.

Pressure can make you feel nervous and worried so what can be done

Joining me on the sofa is Sarah Chilvers,

Hi Sarah, thanks for coming in this morning.

As we heard, lot of emotions. How do kids cope with how they are feeling

during exam time? You are right, there are a lot of emotions during

exam time. Children can feel nervous, anxious, and it is really

important that young people find a way to cope with these feelings.

Looking after yourself is the number-1 priority. Getting lots of

sleep, eating well, and regular breaks. And doing things that you

enjoy and make you feel relaxed. That can be going for a walk,

reading a book, it could be watching TV. Just to break up the stress of

the preparation of exams help to calm you down and if your feelings

are becoming overwhelming and you are feeling quite anxious, take nice

deep breaths, and slow down your breathing. All of those tips can

help you cope. I guess it is important to talk to someone. At

ChildLine, you must get a lot of calls at this time? We do see a lot

of calls from children around exam time. It shows how stressful a time

it can be for them. I guess it is really important to look after

yourself during that time? Are you surprised by our figure there, 87%

of kids? I'm not surprised at all. We get a lot of young people calling

at this time of year specifically, relating to anxiety and feelings and

worries around exams. How should they be revising? How should they be

coping? And how they are feeling about their results, will they be

doing as well as they expected? Or not? I guess it is important to

breathe, and stay calm. Thank you for talking to us about

this important subject. Don't forget there's loads

you can do to stop yourself And if you are feeling worried

about your tests then Hayley has And if you want to hear how some

of CBBC's famous faces have coped with exam nerves, then head online

to watch their advice. That's all from me, Newsround's back

at 4.20 this afternoon with Ayshah.