TIPS ON HOW TO BEAT EXAM STRESS

It’s normal to feel anxious at exam time. After all, exam anxiety is a common occurrence among students no matter their age.

Some students are able to handle these overwhelming feelings of fear and anxiety while others succumb to the anxiety. In some extreme situations, students get depressed and experience panic attacks. This can negatively affect their performance during exams.

In this blog post, I have compiled a list of helpful tips to manage the buildup of stress. I categorized the post into two sections: tips for managing exam anxiety and reminders before the actual exam.

Tips in managing your exam anxiety:

• Take a deep breath and relax. Remind yourself that no one is perfect. Don’t be too hard on yourself because we all make mistakes at some point.
• Plan your study time and list the topics you want to study each day. It really helps if you follow a certain schedule.
• Take note of the areas that you are confused about or you don’t understand. At school, you can ask your teacher for further clarification. You can even ask your friend to study with you.
• There should be a consistent study schedule that allows you to learn and have fun at the same time. Schedule a block of time for exam prep that ends right before your favorite TV show. You should have something fun to look forward to after a tiring day of practice!
• If it’s time to relax, don’t think about exams. Go stream your favorite show on Netflix or chat with your friends online. Whether you prefer being alone or spending your time off with other people, do whatever motivates and energizes you for the days to come.
• If you feel like you are stuck in a study rut, take a break and try again at a later time. Don’t force yourself to do. If you continue to study, you brain might not be able to relax, and that could keep you from sleeping well.
• Lastly, make time to do some physical activities such as a swimming, running, or even just walking to the park. Exercise and sports activities can help to get rid of stress. Of course, you also need some to healthy food to concentrate well!

What to do before the dreaded exams?

• Pack everything you need the night before the exam. Check if you have your pencils and pens ready; bring extra just to be sure. Don’t forget to pack a light snack and a bottle of water.
• On the day of the exam, try to get up early so you won’t worry about being late. Wake up early and take on your own sweet time. Rushing will only give you unnecessary stress.
• Do not underestimate the power of a big and hearty breakfast. When you are hungry, it greatly affects your concentration. So, don’t skip it especially on the day of your exams.
• When you arrive at the testing center, interact with the other students to relieve the stress you are feeling. Talking and socializing helps increase self-confidence. If it makes you even more nervous, then, do whatever calms you down.
• Once you are in the exam room, read the instructions carefully. A lot of students fail not because they don’t know how or what to answer, but it’s because they did not follow the instructions. Make sure you understand before you start answering.
• Finally, if you cannot answer an exam question, breathe. There’s no need to panic; just proceed to the next question and go back to that later. If you feel like your stress levels are high, close your eyes and do some deep breathing exercises.

Feeling anxious and afraid is normal. Just don’t let get the best of you. Breathe and remind yourself that you prepared well for this day. See, there’s nothing to worry about!