How to tackle exam stress and emerge still smiling…
Whether it’s SATs, school entrance exams or simply a test of your knowledge at the end of a topic – exams can be scary. They don’t have to be.
English teacher and tutor Allana has witnessed firsthand the effects of exam stress on very capable students – even those who KNOW the answers can get rattled on the big day.
It is natural to be a little bit nervous when you have an exam. Being nervous is a sign that you care and want to do well. That’s no bad thing!
The trick is, keeping those nerves in check so that they spur you on, rather than leaving you so anxious that you can’t perform at your best. Here are some tips that might help you in the run-up to an exam.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
If you know that you have gone through all your revision notes and learned them thoroughly, you’ll feel a lot better about doing the exam. Sounds obvious, doesn’t it! What if you’re not sure how to revise? Well, that takes us nicely on to tip number two…
Be Creative In Revision
Staring blankly at your notes in the hope that they’ll somehow transport themselves into your brain is no good for anyone.
Try writing bullet points of the key ideas on to revision cards.
Use different coloured highlighters to pick out different themes or ideas.
Get a friend to test you (but don’t be tempted to just chat instead!).
Some people find that drawing pictures or creating flow charts of information can be helpful.
Think of clever ways of learning spellings you know that you struggle with. I will never forget how to spell necessary again since I was taught that it spells out ‘Never Eat Cake Eat Salad Sandwiches And Remain Young.’ You’ll never forget it again now either! If you are learning for a spelling test – use fridge magnets to practice.
Take Regular Breaks
It’s not all work, work, work you know. You won’t take anything in if you’re tired, so take a five to ten minute break from revision every hour or two.
Go climb a tree in the garden, play your instrument or run up and down the stairs. Eat something energy giving and nutritious, like a banana, then get straight back to work… my orders!
Eat a Filling Breakfast
You need plenty of energy to sustain you. You don’t want to be distracted by those tummy rumbles.
Take some fruit or light snacks for after the exam – if you are too nervous to eat much beforehand, you will be ravenous when you finish.
Read the question carefully
Read the instructions on the front of the paper and listen to any instructions your teacher gives you. It’s not rocket science, but people often forget the simplest things when they’re nervous.
That’s when you can make mistakes. You’d be surprised how many people don’t and then get halfway through and realise that they’ve answered it incorrectly. Make sure you highlight or underline the keywords.
Keep an Eye on Your Timing
You don’t want to spend too long on one question and find out you haven’t got enough time to finish the paper.
Check out how many marks each question is worth and make sure you spend the most times on those questions which are worth the most marks.
Finally – Stay Calm and Good Luck!
You can do it. As long as you prepare well, you have nothing to fear. The fact that you’re nervous will motivate you to revise thoroughly and try your hardest in the exam.
If you’re finding it all a bit much – take a few big deep breaths and think happy thoughts.
Don’t be afraid to chat with your parents, teachers, and friends in the run-up to the exam about how you’re feeling.