With hundreds of pupils nationwide set to learn their A-Level results next week and GCSEs the week after, experts said parents and schools could do more to support children facing pressure during exam periods.

Nayla Daou, clinical psychologist and founder of Clear Minds Centre for Emotional Health in Dubai, said schools and parents must be more aware of the stress on children.

"Obviously it depends on an individual child, and some are more able to deal with exam stress than others. It also depends on what type of testing the school is doing," she said.

A pupil with emotional issues may be more susceptible to exam stress, she said. Cultural aspects could also play a role in families’ pressure on children.

The effects of exam stress could manifest in different ways, such as anxiety or eating disorders.

"It completely depends on the child and some may become more withdrawn and give up, and others might put more pressure on themselves," Ms Daou said.

UAE pupils face regular testing at the end of the term or school year for their particular curriculum, and various age groups take international benchmarking tests such as the Programme for International Student Assessment and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, every three and four years, respectively.

Rema Menon, founder of Counselling Point in Dubai, said children were confronted with exam pressures from parents and schools, and as part of wider societal expectations.

"The academic expectation can be from trying to get places into high-level institutions such as Ivy League colleges, which demand a very good exam results," Ms Menon said.

"Some schools tell their pupils that they must get high grades in tests as their future depends on it, because the school itself is judged on how good their exam results were.

"In the UAE there is a trend of placing adverts in newspapers with the students who have got the highest grades. Parents of other children see those as do other pupils and, although it’s good for those featured, it can place more pressure on students to be successful."

Pupils who do not meet these expectations can feel a sense of shame and dejection, and lose self-esteem, she said.

"Schools, parents and society in general should tell children that exam results are not the be-all, end-all of life, and there are opportunities even if they do not get the grades to go to their first-choice university."

Ms Menon advised pupils going through a difficult period to take stock of their situation.

"They need to see whether the stress is academically based or due to something else," she said. "Is their time management balanced? Are they spending too much time on one subject and neglecting others or have they taken on a course that is too challenging for them?"

Brendon Fulton, principal at Dubai British School, said exam pressure was a huge factor for most teenagers but that the school tried to mitigate the difficulties.

Assessment during terms gradually introduce the formal exam process during non-exam years, and the exam office provides extra support to children "at risk" of being burdened by exam pressure.

There were targeted study and exam skills lessons during school aimed to ensure pupils were equipped with coping and self-management techniques, he said.

"However, some students may still find the process overwhelming. Therefore, during the exam process we conduct regular reviews and reflections to determine whether any students are struggling with the pressure, and we put in place any measures necessary to support them.

"This is normally done jointly with the family."

Sixth form pupils at Jumeirah College completed anxiety questionnaires before taking part in "emotional intelligence" workshops, as teachers and counsellors attempt to get into their heads.

Linda Bonnar drew a line under her 12-year teaching job to begin a new career life coaching, offering advice to parents and young people in podcasts on how to deal with stress.

"It’s clear young people are not always given the opportunity to talk about their issues," she said.

"There is a pill culture in treating some problems, like stress and depression, rather than natural remedies like exercise."

Peer pressure and the importance of going to university added to stress. In Dubai, some children are taking on family pressures, such as having to return to their home countries if parents have lost jobs, or the worry about finances and school fees.

Mrs Bonnar, an ex-sixth form tutor who also taught history to year seven to 13 pupils for six years at Jumeirah College, said parents are often unsure where to turn.

"Students would often tell me they couldn’t cope and felt no one understood them," she said. "If kids think they may be leaving the country, they lose motivation to succeed. They’ve become the Dubai bubble kids, lacking identity, who don’t know where they belong."

Constant demands of academia often led to a lack of sleep, and pressure to make parents feel proud was hindering their success, the questionnaires found.

Social media was blamed as being a source of competition.

The pupils, who commented anonymously, said exam time was the most stressful time of year.

One pupil, Alex, said: "Social stresses can be particularly difficult to deal with because they don’t go away.

"Social media makes everything more competitive and superficial. People are influenced to post attractive or appealing pictures to get likes and feel socially validated. We all do it almost subconsciously now."

Another, Maha, added: "I’m quite a private person so, personally, I don’t discuss my problems.

"Stress is by far my biggest issue. Normally it’s about exams or deadlines in school but sometimes it’s about upcoming life changes or decisions."

David said he found it difficult speaking to his family.

"My parents have conservative and close-minded attitudes towards my problems," he said.

"They don’t understand the extent of stress to try to make them proud, leading them to push me towards things I’m not comfortable with, like taking on too much work."

Andrea, who is studying psychology, admitted to suffering from "extreme" stress.

"Teachers are consistently demanding more when I’m already putting inasmuch as I can," she said.

"I used to sleep for roughly 8 to 9 hours, now purely to complete work I’m lucky if I get six."

Some pupils said exercise helped them refocus and concentrate on the job in hand. It can be the perfect way to improve mental health in young people, according to consultant psychiatrist Dr Fareeha Amber Sadiq, of the Dubai Camali Clinic.

"Exercise reduces stress levels and is proven to help you think more flexibly, and clearly," she said.

"Mood-boosting chemicals are produced when you ramp up your physical activity, and this can help raise self-esteem and improve symptoms of anxiety."