There’s a particular kind of fear that happens in Maths exams. It’s not loud or dramatic – it’s silent, quick, and often invisible. A student sits down, reads the first question… and their mind goes blank. 

“They say I’m fine at Maths. They’ve revised. But under pressure, something shuts down.” 

This isn’t a Maths issue. It’s a thinking state issue – and it’s far more common than people realise.   And there is an actual condition called Maths Anxiety.

In this blog, we’ll look at

• Why freezing happens

• What it looks like

• The psychology behind it
• The 3 second reset technique
• How parents can help at home

Why Freezing Happens

When a student feels judged, rushed, or afraid of failing, the brain enters a threat state. The brain shifts from slow, logical processing to fast, reactive processing. Psychologists describe this shift as moving from System 2 to System 1 thinking. 

Here’s what that shift does:

• Working memory overloads, meaning the student loses the ability to hold and process information. 
• Logical reasoning shuts down — sequencing steps and interpreting wording becomes harder.
• The student misreads the question, jumps to conclusions, or gets stuck.
• The brain stalls — freezing is a protective response to overload.

Signs of Freezing


Parents often recognise these behaviours:


• Shallow breathing

• Staring at the page

• Flipping pages quickly

• Erasing repeatedly

• Rubbing the forehead

• Whispering “I can’t remember”

• Writing very little or nothing


The 3 Second Reset Technique

When a student feels overwhelmed, they can silently do the following:

1. Exhale slowly
A long outbreath calms the nervous system. 

2. Drop the shoulders. Physical tension softens → mental tension softens. 

3. Read the question again — slowly
 Focus on only the first line, not the whole question. 

4. Ask: “What is this REALLY asking me?”
 This reactivates slower, analytical thinking. 
And importantly: 
They can repeat this reset as many times as needed, until their mind begins to settle.

Practical Exercise For Students (Use once per day for 1 week)

The Clarity Drill (2 minutes)

1. Choose any short Maths question.
2. Before answering, do the 3 Second Reset (breath, shoulders, slow read). 

3. Ask aloud: “What information do I have?”

4. Then ask: “What is the first small step I could take?

How Parents Can Help

• Normalise freeze moments
• Encourage slower beginnings
• Praise clarity, not speed
• Reduce pressure
• Practise the rest together

Final Reassurance

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