One in five secondary school students use content creators to prepare for exams, but half do not check their credentials
A new survey from online education platform Save My Exams has found that 74 percent of students have used educational content creators as part of their exam preparation, but half do not check their credentials.
Save My Exams surveyed more than 1,000 secondary school students in the UK and found that 20 percent say they are relying on social media influencers to predict exam questions, despite 12 percent saying these predictions did not match the actual exam content.
One in six (15 percent) said they had ignored some topics in their revision and prioritised others based solely on influencer predictions.
After seeing advice shared by influencers, 38 percent said they were questioning their teachers’ advice as a result and 14 percent said they trusted influencers advice more than their teachers.
Alex Brennan, Senior Marketing Executive at Save My Exams, says: “if you come across information that contradicts the advice given by your teacher or official exam board guidance, we recommend you keep scrolling. Revising topics suggested by unauthorised influencers or altering your approach to answering questions based on unreliable advice can lead to ineffective revision and lost marks, potentially harming your overall grade.
“However, if used correctly, qualified educational influencers can play a supportive and positive role in students’ learning. When content is used alongside classroom materials and textbooks, it can provide different perspectives, break down complex topics, and make revision more engaging. The key is to use this content as a supplement, not a substitute.”
Earlier this year, SaveMyExams revealed that 85% of UK students experience exam anxiety, with 71% of them not seeking any support. According to the study, 8 in 10 students report experiencing exam anxiety, with one-third describing it as a constant presence in their lives.
