Steps To Keep Stress At Bay During Exam Season

The term examination is the most hated by almost every student. We not only fear taking an exam but the mere thought of it gives us anxiety. Exam is the reality of a student’s life, it is the assessment process which determines your academic performance of the year. It is natural for a student to feel pressured, under-confident, and unprepared. We all want to score higher marks, and get validation from our teachers and fellow students. The thought of failing them is the greatest cause of stress. 

Be it  a preschooler, a 12th standard student or someone taking an entrance exam – stress is the common feeling among all.  While a certain amount of stress may be beneficial, too much exam stress can cause individuals to perform poorly. The pressure may result in feelings of anxiety or nervousness, and this exam stress can interfere with the individual’s daily life. Therefore, it is very important to identify its various causes and take care of oneself at such a crucial time.

Here are some major causes which lead to exam stress:

  • Financial disparity
  • Lack of preparation
  • Poor studying habits
  • Parental Expectations
  • Disinterest in the subject

Steps to overcome exam-stress: 

Sometimes dealing with stress can be difficult.  Inculcating a few good habits can calm you down, easing the entire process. To eliminate last moment exam stress, it is important that a student follows a systematic, planned and organised approach from the beginning of the session. It includes attending all classes, taking notes and regular revision of the lessons taught in school. De-stressing methods are second in step, which might be adopted if the student feels jittery during the exam season. 

  1. Determine Your Goal – To achieve quantitative results, identifying your goal and adhering to  it is a MUST. If you aim to score a 90%, your preparation must be of that quality. Write down your scope for the next 1 month and analyse your progress regularly. Make sure your routine is flexible and has enough time for leisure and breaks. In such cases, a gradual increase in study hours proves effective and consistent. 
  2. Identify Your Weaknesses – Not all students excel in all subjects, we all have our likes and dislikes, subjects in which we need a little extra effort. Revising and studying only the subject we find interesting could negatively affect our end-term results. For instance, you might need only an hour to prepare for your Maths exam but require three times more time for Science. It is very important to focus on all subjects. Devote extra time on subjects in which you are not as strong. Scoring well in a few subjects and scoring poorly in the rest can hamper your overall performance. 
  3. Take A Break – When we study for our exams, we tend to be too harsh on ourselves. We put ourselves in unreasonable situations by expecting unreal results. It is not mandatory to study every hour of the day. The goal is to prepare ourselves to take the exam and not to count the number of hours we spent studying. You might be studying the entire day and still might not be able to retain even a single answer. Our mind and body needs rest after exertion. So work hard but with regular breaks so that your body and mind can relax and you can rejuvenate your energy and work hard with more zeal.
  4. Reduce Screen Time – The moment you open your books – you find reasons to use your phone, either to check your syllabus or Google a piece of information. We take longer breaks than the study time only because we get so caught up in our gadgets. Researches have shown that overusing mobile phones not only causes distraction but also affects our mental health. Pro tip – Keep your phone on silent mode or away from you during your studying hours. 
  5. Physical Exercise & Meditation Practising yoga and breathing techniques will help you to stay calm and focused. It will also increase your concentration during exams. Channel your fear, doubts and anxiety through a positive medium by means of regular exercise to boost confidence and reduce stress. Cycling, walking, jogging, swimming, and playing any sport can help overcome stress.

Feeling stressed or nervous during exam seasons is pretty normal but it is very important to not let these feelings overpower your true potential. Therefore, it is important to include certain disciplinary measures in your day-to-day lives to reduce stress and anxiety.