How students manage back-to-school stress

This post Originally appeared on the Brainly blog. and is republished here with permission.

Key points:

Another school year is starting, which means a flurry of back-to-school feelings for students across the United States. Many are already feeling the pressures that come with it, particularly the burden of homework and studying.

In a survey conducted on Brainly.com on August 21, 2024, 60.5 percent of students reported having a test, quiz, or exam during their first week of school. With academic challenges starting so early in the year, it's no wonder students are looking for innovative ways to deal with stress.

A stressful return to school

The survey, which collected responses from 1,300 American students, highlighted the significant academic hurdles students anticipate in the coming year. Nearly half of respondents (49.9 percent) expect math to be their most difficult subject, followed by English (14.7 percent) and science (13.0 percent). With math being the most searched subject on Brainly, it's clear that students are preparing for a tough road ahead.

According to another survey conducted on September 3, 2024 by Brainly.com of 1,500 students, 72 percent of high school students are stressed about going back to school this year. The most common stressors include homework (55.1 percent), studying for tests (48.8 percent), and writing papers or essays (44.1 percent). Alarmingly, 72.6 percent of students are worried about having too much homework this fall, up from 57 percent in 2023.

In addition to academic pressure, students also face external stressors, such as social dynamics (15.5 percent) and the difficulty of adjusting to a routine that requires them to wake up early (37.8 percent). All of these challenges contribute to an increasingly heavy burden for young students, many of whom say they feel unprepared (36.2 percent) for the year ahead.

Where do students go for help after school?

An increasing number of these stressed students are turning to digital platforms to ease their workload and manage their anxiety. According to the Sept. 3 survey, 82 percent of students plan to use ai-powered online platforms like Brainly to help with their schoolwork at least once a week this year. Nearly one-third of students in grades 6 through 12 plan to use ai-powered online platforms every day they do homework.

Teachers, already overburdened by class sizes and demanding schedules, aren’t always available after school to answer students’ questions. That’s one reason students are turning to online platforms — many of which use artificial intelligence to support or enhance their functions — for academic support.

These platforms help with tasks like solving complex math problems, summarizing difficult readings, generating essay ideas, and even providing personalized study plans. On Brainly, for example, millions of students use ai to personalize academic answers based on their grade level or workload, or to get explanations on the most difficult concepts from Brainly’s ai tutor.

Brainly also asked college-bound students whether ai chatbots had been present in their application process, essays, or short-answer questions. Of current college students, 26 percent said yes. But the trend shows growing adoption, as 37 percent of high school students who had already applied to at least one college said yes.

Navigating the ethics of ai in education

The use of these ai-powered tools is not without controversy in some schools. The August 21 survey revealed that 65 percent of students have experienced at least one ai tool being banned in the classroom. Despite these restrictions, a significant 60 percent of students indicated that they would continue to use ai tools to support their learning even if they were banned in the classroom.

This finding indicates a growing tension between traditional educational methods and the emerging role of ai. While some educators worry that ai tools could encourage shortcuts or academic dishonesty, students argue that these platforms provide essential help in managing their workload. Given that 45 percent of high school students expect to have at least two hours of homework per school night, the temptation to seek additional help — whether from ai or other resources — is understandable.

Educators and policymakers face the challenge of striking a balance between allowing students access to beneficial ai tools and ensuring that these platforms are used ethically. One solution could be to integrate ai into the classroom in a way that complements teaching, rather than replacing it. For example, teachers could encourage students to use ai to review their work, get additional explanations on difficult topics, or generate creative ideas for projects. This approach would not only help students manage their stress, but also teach them how to use ai responsibly.

Conclusion

This time marks the start of a new school year. According to Brainly users, there is not only more homework and the associated stress, but also an unprecedented presence of quality digital tools designed to help.

One thing is clear: ai is here to stay, and its role in education will continue to grow. Nearly half of students anticipate late-night homework and an overwhelming majority plan to use ai to help manage their workload, so educators must adapt to this new landscape. Rather than resist these changes, schools have the opportunity to embrace ai as a tool that can enhance learning and alleviate the stress students face each year.

Methodology

Research for this report was conducted in two separate anonymous surveys conducted on Brainly.com. The first surveyed 1,300 U.S. students in grades 6-12 and was completed on August 21, 2024. The second surveyed 1,500 U.S. students in grades 6-12 and was completed on September 3, 2024.