Exam fear is one of the everyday things you can expect any person giving an exam to have, even though they may be prepared for it. Exams are considered as a fear factor among students of all age. Some students can handle overcome exam fears, while some get more burdened by the preparation and lack of confidence in themselves.
Stress and all this exam fear result in underperformance in exams and students keep blaming themselves, which is not healthy.
Moreover, students with elder siblings perform very well feel the pressure to excel and sometimes fail, which makes their confidence lower.
Also, we have noticed that parents compare their children with other students and expect their child to become someone they are not. It’s high time we realize this. Parents should instead encourage their child to understand his situation and not burden him/her with unrealistic expectations.
We are guessing you’ve been under pressure and exam fear at some point or the other, haven’t you?
We will now tell you a few methods and steps to reduce your stress, anxiety and performance pressure in exams.
For your easy understanding, we have divided it into two sections, things to do before the exam and things to do during the exam.
Exams to Study Abroad- Complete List
Before the exam
- Preparation well in advance is the primary key that helps.
- Never compare yourself with other students, you are doing the best you can.
- Work smarter rather than working hard.
- Meditate to keep your mind calm and peaceful.
- Revise all the topics you have studied.
- Eat well.
- Be physically fit.
- Have enough sleep.
- Stay positive.
During the exam
- Wake up and start early for your day.
- Be focused.
- Understand the question well and answer peacefully.
- Avoid last-minute preparation and do not create confusions.
- Trust yourself and what you have studied.
Tips to ace your exams.
Below are some more ways you can overcome exam fear:
Start studying well in advance.
Plan your studies well when you have time to revise and go through the entire syllabus at a glance without hurry. The sooner you start, the better it will be for you. This way, you will avoid the last moment stress and confusions that are likely to get created by your friends on purpose.
Timetable.
As it is said, ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail’, you should have your plan ready for your studies. You should look at your syllabus and estimate the number of hours you will allot to each subject and start working according to it.
Keep in mind other things like your sleeping time, consider that you might fall sick on some days, and create a realistic plan that will be effective. You can also reward yourself after completing a daily target you had set for yourself, which will boost your morale and encourage you to be consistent in following your plan.
Sleep well.
Sleep is a factor that plays the most crucial role in any student’s life. Studies have shown that a student requires not more than seven to eight hours of sleep at a stretch. Try to sleep and rise on time because being nocturnal can negatively affect your health, mental and physical.
To refresh yourself, take power naps of 20 minutes and abide by it strictly.
Sleep keeps your body and mind in sync, and hence it is so important to chalk out your sleeping schedule to make yourself efficient.
Tips for GRE and GMAT Preparation
Take notes smartly.
Each student has a way of studying and taking notes. Experiment and find out what suits you the best. Take notes in legible handwriting because you will be referring to it a day or two before your exam.
Use vibrant coloured highlighters, and do not copy out the entire textbook, take notes smartly, just some points or definitions you need to learn.
Refer to previous year question papers.
No matter what standard or what year you study in, you should have access to your courses’ previous years question paper. This helps you in understanding the paper pattern and type of questions most likely to be asked.
Sometimes some questions also get repeated, and it might benefit you. Referring to these papers will make you familiar with the overall examination, and you will be better prepared to appear for your own exam. It will give you a sense of familiarity.
Take meals on time.
A healthy body results in a healthy mind. You need to take care of your health by handling all your meals on time. Do not miss the very first meal of the day, which is your breakfast. It freshens you up and gives you an excellent start to your day. Essential nutrients help your mind to focus and overcome exam fear.
Physical Fitness
Keeping your body fit is an essential part of maintaining your health.
It keeps your mind clear and makes you less lazy. Light exercises like cycling, taking a walk, doing some chores in your house will definitely de-stress you and refresh you for your studies.
Avoid caffeine and caffeinated products.
Caffeine can have a hazardous effect on your mind. Caffeinated beverages like coffee and alcohol can hamper your learning capacity and affect memory retention. Students have caffeine to stay up late at night to study, which has many reverse effects on your body. Try to stay away from these beverages and drink fresh fruit juices, milk and vegetable juices.
Following these simple steps will help you reduce your stress and help you overcome exam fear. Still, if you feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to get yourself a counselling session where the counsellor can help you resolve your queries.
Book a FREE Mentorship Call Here!
Finally, stay positive, keep negative thoughts out of the door and trust yourself on what you have studied and stay clam while appearing for your exams.
Good luck to all the students out there, we wish you the best!