74% of Students Use Educational Influencers for Academic Support

Educational content creators are influencing student revision, with nearly three-quarters of students now turning to them for academic support. 

A new survey of 1,000 students from Save My Exams has revealed some eye-opening trends about how students are preparing for their exams. 

The findings come at a time when organisations like the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) are raising concerns (opens in a new tab) about misleading "predicted" exam papers being sold by social media influencers.

The results show that students are increasingly questioning their teachers' advice in favour of unverified online content. 

Continue reading for a detailed breakdown of what the survey discovered.

How many students are using educational content creators?

According to Save My Exams' survey, 74% of students use educational content creators for academic advice. Nearly a third (32%) are using them daily.

Are students checking if these influencers are qualified?

One in five students (20%) now rely on influencer predictions to decide what to prioritise in their revision. However, more than half (52%) admit they don't check the professional backgrounds of these content creators.

A further 9% tried to research their credentials but couldn't find any information about their professional background. 

Do students plan to keep using influencers despite inaccurate predictions?

Nearly a third (29%) of students plan to use educational content creators for future exam revision, upcoming mocks and resits. This is despite 12% reporting that past predictions didn't match actual exam content.

One in six students (15%) admitted to ignoring certain topics and prioritising others based solely on influencer recommendations.

Half of students (50%) said they were open to using educational content creators but remained sceptical about accuracy.

Are students losing trust in their teachers?

Nearly two in five students (38%) now question their teachers' advice because of information they've seen from educational content creators.

One in six students (14%) say they trust influencer advice more than guidance from their qualified teachers.

Do students understand the risks?

Over a quarter of students (26%) don't think it's a big issue that they're using educational influencers for academic support. Nearly a quarter (23%) hadn't even considered the potential risks.

Among students who do have some concerns, 69% said their school hadn't warned them about the dangers of following unqualified educational influencers.

One in five students (20%) now want their schools to provide more education about these risks.

Advice for Students

Alex Brennan, ex-teacher and Chemistry Content Creator, recommends the following advice for students:

“One of the first steps is to review the creator’s credentials to determine if they are qualified to comment on topics in education. Qualified teachers are trained to understand marking schemes, effective revision techniques, and possess in-depth knowledge of the curriculum.

“Secondly, we recommend that students read the comment sections of their videos. This can help them find out whether other users are pointing out misinformation or concerns. This is a quick and easy way to assess whether a video is inaccurate. However, the absence of a comment shouldn’t mean the video should be taken as gospel; it’s important to cross-check with other sources.

“Finally, 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.”

Summary of findings

Save My Exams' survey reveals that educational influencers are impacting student revision, with nearly three-quarters of students using them for academic support. However, most students aren't checking credentials, and some are beginning to trust influencer advice over their qualified teachers.

Despite some predictions proving inaccurate, students plan to continue using these resources for future exams. This trend highlights the need for schools to educate students about the risks of following unverified online advice.

Methodology

Save My Exams surveyed 1,000 UK secondary school students to understand their use of educational content creators for academic support. The survey examined usage patterns, trust levels, and future intentions regarding influencer-led learning.

Sources

Exam boards consider ‘action’ over social media predictions (opens in a new tab)