EXAM STRESS
Last week we discussed that the most important thing to remember is that a relaxed body and mind is better equipped to deal with stresses and tensions. So looking after your mind and body at this time will help you to cope better with exam pressures.
Now let’s look at some practical ways that you can reduce the pressure around exam time.
1. Set Priorities. What is the most important and what needs to be done first. You do not need to do everything in one night. Prioritize what needs to be done early in the week, and what can be done later. If you are focusing on a few subjects a night rather than worrying about all of them every night you will do a better job overall.
2. Give yourself a break. Whilst it’s important to do your best – don’t try to over-achieve. Give yourself time to relax too.
3. Set Realistic Goals. Set goals that you can see yourself achieving within a week, two weeks, etc. Setting goals that are too high can make you feel more stressed if you cannot realistically achieve them.
As exam time approaches – if you haven’t done so already – now is the time to create a plan for exam time. Map out all of the material that has to be covered and make a schedule showing what, when and how much you will study each day. You may need to prioritize to ensure that material weighted more heavily in the exam gets sufficient study time.
Here are some tips to follow in creating your study plan:
• budget your time realistically;
• allocate the study time into several manageable study sessions;
• divide the course material into small segments and assign them to the study sessions;
• set clear and specific goals for the study sessions;
• take into account your familiarity with the material and the difficulty level;
• don’t make the study sessions too long;
• study sessions should have enough variety in terms of topics and activities to prevent boredom and loss of effectiveness;
• avoid cramming before the exam; and
We will look at these tips in more detail in the next few weeks. Remember if you feel stressed or overwhelmed, talk to a parent, teacher or counsellor, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
