The 2026 FA Cup final takes place on Saturday 16 May, with Chelsea facing Man City in Wembley Stadium at 3pm. You can catch full coverage of the final right across the BBC. But what can you learn from the final to help you with your exams?
If you are knee deep with your GCSEs or Scottish exams right now, we feel you! But just like a big final, your exams require preparation, focus and the right mindset. We've got some football-focused tips to help get you through to exam full-time.
1. Get exam-ready
Players like Cole Palmer and Jérémy Doku will want to get plenty of sleep in preparation for the final. Whilst pre-match nerves may impact their sleep, they still need a good amount of rest to feel fresh for the game. Not only is it important that they have enough sleep, but footballers also need to eat right on the lead up to the final to be able to perform at their best in the big game.
Our exam experts recommend that you should get a good night's sleep on the run up to your exams, but especially the night before your exam. For some tips on how sleep can help you study, watch this video. Eating a sensible diet, exercising and staying hydrated can all help with tackling your exams, so make sure you take good care of yourself on the run up to, and during, your exams.
2. Arrive nice and early for your exam
Many teams participating in the FA Cup final arrive at Wembley Stadium suited and booted for the big event – ask your parents about the infamous Liverpool Spice Boys. But whether they're wearing a white suit or a tracksuit on Saturday, we can be certain of one thing: both Man City and Chelsea will be prompt and punctual, arriving at the stadium early to avoid any last minute panics on their big day.
You should follow their lead when it comes to arriving on time for your exams. Our exam experts say that you may need to arrive an hour before your exam starts, but check with your teachers as every school has different rules. If you do arrive super-early, you might find it useful to do a bit of last-minute revision, or, you may prefer to take the time to chill-out and get yourself into the exam-zone.
3. Stay calm
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is known for his lotus yoga pose celebration after scoring a goal, inspired by his love of meditation. In an interview, he said: "Sometimes I think it’s also important just to relax your head… Some relax by watching TV and that’s fine. It’s very individual. But I like to meditate."
The rest of the City and Chelsea players will have their own ways to stay calm on the countdown to kick off, whether its listening to music, meditating or chatting with teammates. Our exam experts say you should try to relax, have a laugh with your friends, and go in to your exam with a positive mindset. Remember that exam results don't define you.
4. Keep an eye on the clock
FA Cup finals aren't won in the first ten minutes, but they can definitely be lost! That's why teams like Man City and Chelsea will have put plans in place to manage the full 90 minutes of the game. Whether it's making substitutes at the right moment, switching to be more defensive when protecting a lead, or choosing the perfect moment to launch a counter attack, correct game management can help them achieve cup success. Much like the FA Cup final, you should have good time management in place for your exams.
There should be a large clock in the exam room – make sure you can see it from where you're sitting. At the start of your paper, you can plan how long you want to spend on each question. Our top tip is to divide the time you have for your exam by the amount of marks in your paper, so sixty marks in one hour is one minute per mark – but make sure to allow enough time to make your plan, read the paper and to check your answers at the end. Getting the timings right can make a real difference and help avoid a last minute panic to rush through the rest of the paper.
5. Don't dwell on your last exam
Sadly, one team will walk away from Wembley without the trophy. But with Manchester City still fighting for the league title and Chelsea pushing for a European spot, whoever loses will want to put their defeat behind them and focus on their next match.
If you do feel disappointment after an exam, or think you've messed up, then remember this: You can't change what's happened in the past, so once you leave the exam hall, try not to think about what you could have done differently. Instead, put all your energy into focusing on your next exam. If you do think that you made a mistake on your last paper then learn from it and make sure you don't make the same mistake on your next exam!
For more exam tips, head to our Exam Essentials collection.
If you need support
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.
If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.
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