How to Handle Exam Stress ?

Life is full of challenges. For some the challenge may be going for a morning walk daily or for some it may be getting a particular job or clearing a particular examination with flying colours. Actually challenges are spice of life. They help us to evolve into a better and more competent person.

Challenges cause some stress too. For students it is Examination stress which is developed out of fear of facing family and friends after getting low marks. Even high scoring students face the stress because they set their own targets and fear of not achieving them cause stress. So examination stress has lot to do more with the attitude one carries towards it. However an optimum level of stress is useful.

·        It acts as a motivator and increase our efficiency.

·        It improves our coping mechanism and prepare us to deal with similar situations in future or in crisis.

But stress above this level is harmful. Whatever the reason be we must learn how to deal with it effectively and positively. The following things should be kept in mind to manage exam stress.

1.      Set Your Goals :

·        If you target 92% in final exam start from 65% in sample papers. Attempt one sample paper daily. Increase your target every time. Review your mistakes. You will definitely achieve your target.

·        Break larger tasks into simpler ones. If you want to complete chapters Matrices and Determinants and Functions in two days then set target for Matrices, Determinants and Functions (in two parts) separately. It will help you to check your progress and will built up confidence level once you achieve the target.

2.      Diet & Exercise:

·        Have proper food including fruit juices. Take food easy to digest otherwise you will feel drowsy because your body energy is utilized in digesting heavy food. Avoid junk food, tea and coffee.

·        Drink plenty of water as it keeps your body hydrated.

·        Do 15 minute exercise (walking/cycling/jogging) as it increases your blood flow and so refresh your mind.

·        Take short break after 2 hours. Get up from your seat walk around , talk to your friends or parents. Don’t use this time for checking social networking sites.

3.      Manage your Time:

·        Study daily. Don’t give gaps as you tend to forget what you had done two days ago. “ To do a lot, just do a little bit each day. That’s how it works”.

·        Do have a regular sleep of 7 to 8 hours specially at night before the exam. I have seen students sleeping in the exam hall or crying that they are blank. It happens because your brain sleeps if you have not slept before night. Proper sleep keeps you responsive and alert.

·        It all depends on you whether you want to study late night or early morning. Check your comfort level but follow the schedule.

4.      No Negative Thoughts:

·        Our mind listens to whatever we speak to ourselves. The more negative we think the more anxious it becomes and results in poor performance.

·        Rectify your thoughts and say positive to yourself e.g. instead of saying, “ O God so much syllabus is still left. I won’t be able to finish it. I will surely fail” say, “ Okay. I am still left with so many chapters. Let me check their weightage and cover up those whose weightage is more. I must pass the exam”.

·        Avoid statements like “ I am forgetting everything. I won’t be able to recall”. It will never happen if you have made your own notes and studied well. You will recall everything once you will start writing.

·        Don’t talk to many friends about their preparation level just before the exam. Stay calm and positive and believe in yourself.

5.      Improve your Writing skills:

·        Write your answer clearly, to the point, well organized and in readable hand.

·        Read the instructions carefully.

·        Read the question carefully. What has been given and what is to be found out e.g. subtract the sum of squares or subtract the square of sum. Always check the units of terms given e.g. r = 30 mm and h= 40 cm. Don’t forget to change the unit. Similarly if you are finding area always write “sq.units” alongwith numerical term. For scoring 100% your answers must be 100% correct.

·        Divide your time section wise. For a 100 marks paper you have 1.5 minutes for each mark. So 4 mark question should be completed within 6 minutes. Keep 20 minutes for revision.

·        If you are stuck up at any question after 2 minutes leave it for a while. Move ahead and come back to it at the end.

·        Never overwrite. Cross it out and write again.

·        Don’t write Steps of Construction (class 10) unless asked for.

·        Use given value of π. If nothing is given you are free to choose 22/7 or 3.14.

·        If you notice that you have done a question wrong and you want to attempt it again, do so but CROSS OUT the wrong one. Examiner will always mark the question written first and cancel the one you had written again even if it is correct.

·        Don’t  attempt both the choices of same question. Answer written first will only be marked.

·        Don’t waste your time writing formulae used in the question. No marks are allotted to the formula.

·        Attempt all questions. Even first few steps can fetch you some marks.

·        Number all questions correctly. You can break the sequence but write the correct number of the question.

·        Memorise tables upto 20, squares upto 30 and cubes upto 10. You must be habitual of using divisibility rules and some fast calculation tricks.

·        If you begin to feel stressed during exam, take some deep breaths, say some positive and self assuring statements and drink water to calm yourself down.

The most important thing is to be honest to yourself. Deep down we all know how much efforts we have put in to prepare for the exam. Appear in the exam with positive mindset and believe there is solution of every problem. Always remember your parents love you irrespective of your performance in exam.