--- type: "Article" title: "What if my child is unwell or panics on exam day?" description: "If your child is unwell on 11+ exam day, contact the school as soon as possible; some allow appeals or re-sits. How to handle illness and exam-day panic." resource: https://pip11plus.com/what-if-my-child-is-unwell-or-panics-on-exam-day tags: ["pip"] timestamp: 2026-10-13T19:50:09Z image: https://pip11plus.com/info-hub-cards/wellbeing-calm-pip.jpg --- ๐Ÿ“ Exam Day # What if my child is unwell or panics on exam day? ![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png) **By the Pip team** Updated June 2026 If your child is unwell on exam day, contact the school as soon as possible. Some schools allow appeals or re-sits in genuine extenuating circumstances such as illness, though the policy varies from school to school. For panic or freezing, the best defence is built in advance: timed mock exams make the real thing feel familiar. On the day, a slow breath and the reminder that moving to the next question is always allowed will steady most wobbles. **TL;DR** - If your child is unwell, contact the school as soon as possible. - Some schools allow appeals or re-sits in genuine extenuating circumstances. - Timed mock exams make freezing on the day far less likely. - On the day, slow breathing and permission to move on settle most nerves. ## If your child is unwell Tell the school straight away. The admissions team can explain your options, and acting quickly matters because policies often hinge on prompt notification. Some schools make allowances for genuine extenuating circumstances, which can include illness on the day, sometimes through an appeal or a re-sit. There is no national rule, so ask your school directly what is possible. Their instructions, sent with the rest of the [exam day details](https://pip11plus.com/what-happens-on-11-plus-exam-day), usually include the contact to use. _Unwell on exam day? Contact the school straight away and ask about appeals or a re-sit. Policies vary, and prompt notice matters most._ ## If your child freezes or panics A wobble is common and rarely the disaster it feels like in the moment. The key message for your child is that they can always move on, and a frozen question is not the end of the paper. A slow breath, a glance away from the page, then back to an easier question usually breaks the freeze. This connects directly to [managing time](https://pip11plus.com/how-can-my-child-manage-time-in-the-11-plus-exam), because moving on is both the calm choice and the smart one. **One slow breath, then the next question** Teach your child a simple reset: breathe in slowly, breathe out slowly, then move to a question they can do. It takes seconds, lowers the panic, and gets them scoring again. _If panic strikes: one slow breath in, one slow breath out, then move to an easy question. Seconds to reset, and they are scoring again._ ## Preventing panic before the day Most exam-day panic is prevented in the weeks before, not managed on the day. Familiarity is the antidote, and nothing builds it like rehearsal. Sitting full [mock exams](https://pip11plus.com/should-my-child-do-11-plus-mock-exams) under realistic conditions takes the fear out of the unknown, so the real paper feels like one your child has met before. Calm, steady [daily practice with Pip](https://pip11plus.com/index#get) in the run-up keeps confidence topped up rather than spiking at the end. ## Calming nerves on the day Your own calm is contagious, so keep the handover light and matter-of-fact. A confident, low-key goodbye tells your child there is nothing to fear. Keep the morning gentle and unhurried, which our guide to [the morning of the exam](https://pip11plus.com/what-to-do-the-morning-of-the-11-plus-exam) sets out, and avoid last-minute quizzing that only raises tension. ## After a difficult exam If a paper went badly, resist the post-mortem. Children often judge their performance harshly, and dwelling on it helps no one, especially if more papers are coming. Reassure your child that one tricky exam is not the whole story, and that effort matters more than any single result. A warm, low-pressure response protects their confidence for whatever comes next. ![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png) Written by **The Pip team** The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers. ## Keep reading [What to do the morning of the 11+ exam](https://pip11plus.com/what-to-do-the-morning-of-the-11-plus-exam): Exam Day Breakfast, calm routines and last-minute nerves. 4 min read ยท Exam Day [How can my child manage time in the exam?](https://pip11plus.com/how-can-my-child-manage-time-in-the-11-plus-exam): Exam Day Pacing, moving on, and attempting everything. 4 min read ยท Exam Day [Should my child do 11+ mock exams?](https://pip11plus.com/should-my-child-do-11-plus-mock-exams): Preparation Build stamina, find weak spots, cut nerves. 5 min read ยท Preparation ## Calm comes from being ready Pip turns 11+ practice into five calm minutes a day across maths, English and reasoning, so nerves give way to quiet confidence. [Download Pip on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pip-11-practice/id6775690698) [Get Pip on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pip11plus.app) [Available at Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HKGJ4HTP) [More 11+ guides](https://pip11plus.com/info-hub) Free forever ยท no sign-up