Exam Stress
An exam creates some stress, but there's an ever-increasing load of stress on pupils studying for big exams. Pressure comes from family, teachers and yourself to do well and secure a place at university. Anxiety can reach such a level that concentration is impaired, making studying all but impossible.
Having a positive attitude towards the exam is a good start towards passing it. Believe you'll pass! Visualise your exam paper marked "A". Eliminate any thoughts of failure. But of course - Study!
Tips for passing
• Besides keeping up-to-date on class work and homework, occasionally through the year (or term) go back and do a little review.
• As the dreaded day approaches, start your intensive study in plenty of time to avoid cramming at the end.
• Discipline yourself to do the required amount of study each day, remembering to take breaks every 30-60 minutes. Walk around, stretch, do a little exercise, breathe some fresh air, think about something entirely different for 10 minutes. This clears the brain and relaxes the muscles before the next stretch.
• Buy a pack of file cards (index cards). On one side write down the question and on the other side write the answer. Use these for whatever you find hardest to remember - events in history, dates, etc. Keep a few with you so you can flip through them when you have a spare moment.
• It may be a useful trick to make up a rhyme such as "A pint is a pound the world around". OR remember a formula or quote by memorising the first letter in each word and forming those letters into a word, however silly that nonsense words turns out to be.
• Find one or more friends who are studying for the same test. Each one writes out the 20 questions he/she feels are most likely to be asked. Get together. Each one reads out his/her questions and the others try to answer. Be prepared to stick to the exercise rather than goofing off and watching TV. If you feel discouraged at the end of the session, take courage. It pointed out where you need to concentrate your study.
• In the weeks just before the exam, make sure you get adequate sleep and eat properly.
• The night before the exam, lay out everything you're going to need for the next day.
• Make sure you get your quota of sleep - 8-9 hours. Since your study has been well planned, you won't need to burn the midnight oil and walk into the exam like a zombie.
• The big day is here! You couldn't do better than start with a few minutes of yoga and meditation.
• Breakfast is essential. The brain needs some fuel.
Face to Face With The Exam
• Read the whole exam through first. This tells you which parts will require the most time. Make a rough assessment of time to be allowed for each section, then each question. Be a clock-watcher, so you don't cut yourself short of time toward the end.
• Read directions carefully! You may be told "Answer two of the following questions". Some students barge ahead and answer all four. They've only wasted valuable time, and the usual way of marking such a paper is to accept the two first answers, which may not be the ones the student did best at.
• When you begin to feel tired, take a min-break. Look up and relax your eyes by looking into the distance. Do some finger stretches and even a few neck and shoulder exercises. Relax your body and regulate your breathing. Picture this exam graded "A". Put yourself ahead in time and focus on your favourite things to. All of this should only take between 2-3 minutes. Then back to work, feeling renewed.
• When you've finished, put all scrap paper in one pile, all exam papers in another, in order. Check your paper carefully.
• Read all instructions again and check to see that you have answered the required number of questions.
• Starting with question one, read the question - then your answer. Make sure you haven't omitted a part. Have you answered what was asked? No matter how much information you give, it counts for little if you didn't answer what was asked.
• Is your writing easy to read?
• Just before handing in your paper, make one final check that all parts of your exam are there in correct order, the pages numbered and your name on each one. Then - go and celebrate!
