8 Tips That Will Help You Overcome Exam Anxiety

Imagine this. You have been studying hard for your exam throughout and as you walk into the hall your mind goes blank. You sit down with sweaty palms and feel uneasy in your stomach. If this has ever happened to you, then you my friend, have been going through exam anxiety. I mean it’s completely okay to be nervous before sitting for an exam but you should learn how to manage it so that you can concentrate better. So, here are 8 things that you can do to stay calm and beat anxiety.

1. Have a positive mental atitude.

Keep motivating and boosting yourself before you sit down to give your exam. Come with morale-boosting mantras like ‘I can do this’ and do some deep breathing so that you stay calm and composed.

2. Be prepared.

This might sound obvious, but should go through your material thoroughly. Revising your material thorughly is important. You should also keep a check of the things that you will need for your exams like your admit card, a pen, scale, pencil, eraser or highlighter. Just prepare a checklist so that you don’t forget anything before you walk into the exam room.

3. Minimize socializing before exams.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore your fellow classmates before sitting down for your exams. This just means that you should stay away from students who have not prepared enough and are spreading negativity. This might distract you.

4. A good night’s sleep is a must.

Pulling an all-nighter is not going to do any good to your health or your concentration as it can exacerbate your nerves. It is important to rest your mind and body so that you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

5. Don’t be empty stomach.

Eat a nutritious and healthy breakfast, never sit for an exam on a empty stomach. Have fresh fruits and vegetables to reduce stress and avoid indulging in junk foods. You can also carry energy bars with you, for you to snack on something healthy while you are on your way to the exam hall.

6. Read carefully.

Read through the directions and instructions given in the question paper thoroughly. Read all the questions and then decide on which section you want to start off with. It is advisable to start with a easier section to boost your confidence. But, don’t be in a hurry.

7. Don’t think about what others are writing or doing.

Don’t pay attention to what others are doing. It doesn’t matter. Just stay focused on what you are doing.

8. Time management is important.

You should maintain a pace while answering your question paper otherwise, you might end up scribbling through the final minutes of your exam. Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each section and try to stick to that. This way, you might even have spare time in hand to do a thorough revision.