Managing Examination Stress

Thursday 25 February 2016

Examination stress is a feeling of things getting out of control before the examination.  Do I know enough?  What questions will come up? What if I do badly? Such questions trigger reactions from feeling irritable, to being unable to eat or sleep properly, feeling tearful or even panicky. In other words, it is an excessive worry about upcoming examinations and there is a fear of being evaluated. Examination anxiety is experienced by many normal students but is certainly manageable by following a plan.It is natural for some students to feel stressed in the days of examination, whatever may be the level of preparation. Examination stress varies for differ-ent students. The worry and the fear of failure affects one’s studies adversely. So it is important toknow how to cope with examination stress. Alittle stress is good that keeps you motivated but don’t let the examination stress overcome you because it can affect your body and your mind adversely.There are fourmain areas which can contribute to examination anxiety. These are Lifestyle issues,Information needs, Poor Studying Styles and Psychological Factors.

Lifestyle issues include inadequate rest,  poor nutrition, too many stimulants, insufficient exercise,not scheduling available time and not prioritising commitments.

Information needs include strategies for examination taking, academic information such as course requirements, lecturers  expectations, examination dates and examination location and knowledge of how to apply anxiety reduction techniques while studying before any examination.

Poor Studying Styles include Inefficient and inconsistent content coverage, trying to memorizethe textbook, binge studying,  all night studying before examinations and Ineffective reading without understanding can not recall the material, not making revision notes, not revising. 

Psychological Factors are feeling little or no control over the examination situation rather than knowing and applying examination strategies, negative thinking and self criticism, irrational thinking about examinations and out comes, irrational beliefs like "If I don't pass, my family and friends will lose respect for me, I will never get a Degree, irrational demands like I have to get at least a 2.1 or Iam worthless,  And catastrophic predictions such as I'll fail no matter what I do there’s no point.

Some tips on how to deal with examination stress-
Be Prepared : make sure you know what you are supposed to have learned and that you have all your notes, books and essays to hand. Do you know what format the examination takes and how the marks are allocated? If not, ask your teacher and or study the marking scheme, which is often on the examination board’s website. Don't try to be perfect. It's great to succeed and reach for thestars, but keep things in balance. If you think that "anything less than a 97 means I've failed" then you are creating mountains of unnecessary stress for yourself. Aim to do your best but do recognise that none of us can be perfect all the time.
Make a Study plan : Working out how much timeyou have to revise and planning how you can use itbest by making a time table is a key factor in how todeal with examination stress. What seems to be abig or a difficult task , break it down into small manageable parts. Perhaps you need to spend moretime on some subjects than others? Map out what subject you will study on which day and for how long. Vary the time table so you don’t get bored. You can always update the plan, if necessary, as you go along. Don’t worry if you don’t follow the plan, theplan is created so you can feel in control of your studies.
Focus on one thing at a time : Keep your mind focused on what you are studying in that moment, avoid multitasking or studying multiple subjects at the same time.
Revision Tips : Leave plenty of time to revisesothat you don't have to do last minute cramming. Giving yourself adequate time will help to boost your confidence and reduce any pre-examination stress as you know you have prepared well.
Experiment with alternative revision techniques : so that revision becomes fun and yourmotivation to study is high. Try mind-mapping, usemulti-coloured index cards, get yourself an as sortment of high lighter pens.
Avoid cramming : Last minute cram sessionscan create a sense of nervousness and panic which leads to more stress and can cause you toforget what you have studied. Try approaching each examination with a fresh and clear mind.
Study to learn, not for high marks : Avoid focusing on the end result, and what grade you need toget on the examination while you are studying. Education is about learning, if you put your focus on the experience of learning, then the pressure to achieve a certain result diminishes. As pressure diminishes, productivity increases.
Take steps to overcome problems : If you findyou don't understand some of your course material, getting stressed out won't help. Instead, take action to address the problem directly by seeing or talkingto your Tutor or getting help from your classmates.
Get yourself into examination mode : Practise with sample tests in the textbook or study guide. Look at question papers of previous examinations Ask for suggestions from your teacher what toexpect in the examination, what course materials should be emphasised, how to prioritise study timefor the course. Get accurate information about the  examination procedure. If you don’t understand,ask. Well before the examination, make sure you know where it will be held, the start time, how long it will last, whether extra time will be allowed. Ask your teacher any questions like when the marks will be available, what material can or should be brought into the examination room.
Plan : Rest well the night before the examination. Plan to arrive at the examination location early. Plan to monitor the time during the examination sowear a watch or sit where you can see the clock. Plan to wear layers of clothing so you can adjust your need for more warmth or coolness.
Making a Time Table : Make a time table, inwhich you have time for every subject of your course as well as time for refreshment and other daily activities. Some subjects needs comparatively more concentration. Assign them the time in which you are more active and alert like in morning you are more fresh. When you make your time table, paste it on wall in front of your study chair sothat you can see it and follow it. More important than making time table is, to follow it. Try to adhereto your time table. In beginning you may find it a little hard to follow your time table but if you follow it for a week then you will like to follow it forever.
Procedure : Assign time to every subject andother activities like game and exercise. You may allocate the last hours to the subjects which are easy and need less concentration because you may be exhausted and feel sleepy in last hours. Make a table having three columns and rows andwrite time in one column, subject name in other column and what you will study in the third column.Then, start following it. Study times vary for different students. Some students like to study till late night while some others prefer to study early in the morning. It depends on individual student. Make a time table according toyour preferred study time.
Avoid Distractions : Turn off cell phones, try tolimit surfing the web while you are studying (unless needed for what you are studying) and avoid any other distractions that may shift your focus fromwhat you are studying.

Few Concentration Exercises-
Count backwards : Find a comfortable spot where no one can disturb you and start mentally counting from 100 to 1. Feel free to increase that number 500, 1000 depending on what you feel you’re capable of doing.
Count backwards with variations : This is similar to the first one, but you vary the count by skipping numbers. For example, you can skip by threes (100, 97, 94 and so on) or by fives (100, 95, 90 andso on). The additional mental load of calculating the numbers as you skip can further increase the intensity of the concentration required to keep the numbers right.
Count words : Get any book a novel or a school textbook and try counting the words in anysingle paragraph. When you get better, start up pingthe ante : count the words on an entire page, then two pages, then five pages, then finally, count the words in an entire chapter. Take note that you must do the counting entirely mentally and using only your eyes do not use your finger in pointing at each word.
Observe : Get any physical object a fruit, a small furniture, a toy and examine it closely and carefully. Take note of its characteristics and features while keeping your mind from straying awayand starting to entertain other thoughts keep your complete attention on the thing you currently havein your hands. Take note of its colour, shape, tex-ture, even the smell.
Focus on a single word : Find a nice quiet spot where you can stay for at least five minutes without anyone interrupting you. As in the previous concentration exercises, this also requires you to laser point your thoughts on a single target this time, asingle word of your choice. It doesn’t matter what word as long as it’s inspiring. “Love,” “courage” “happiness,” or “success” are good examples. Repeat the word mentally in your mind for five minutes. When you feel your concentration is improving, you can increase the duration to 10 minutes.
Observe and conjure : After observing your chosen object for a few minutes, close your eyes andmentally picture the object as you’ve seen it. Visualize it by “examining” the object mentally  turn it around in your mind and take note of its features and physical characteristics while shutting out any irrelevant or stray thought.
Know when and where you work best : Workwhen you are most alert. We all have slightly different body clocks  are you a night owl or a dawn lark? Everyone has different revision styles maybe you like to sit at a tidy library desk or under the duvet with your laptop. Wherever you feel calm and in control is the best place for dealing with examination stress.
Take more consistent breaks : Psychologists suggest that we can only concentrate properly for about 45 minutes at one stretch, while neuro scientists tell us that the longer we try and focus on onething, the less our brains are able to deal with it effectively. Take a 10 to 15 minute  break afterevery 60 minutes of studying.  Taking breaks helpsto stay refreshed.
Take a short break : As soon as you notice your mind is losing concentration. Make yourself a sandwich. You will then come back to your revision refreshed. Be careful that you don’t reward yourself during your break with five minutes of TV or checking your e-mail or Facebook. A few minutes can easily turn into an hour before you know it.
Eat well Practise healthy eating : Avoid foods with large amounts of sugar, eat a breakfast that is high in protein, eat green vegetables so that you don’t have energy dips during the day. Sleeping well at night is a vital way of dealing with examination stress. Avoid processed, sugary foods like cereal, biscuits, sweets and chocolate. Lean protein, plenty of vegetables and carbohydrates that release their energy slowly like whole grain bread, rice will keep energy levels steady. Pulses like chick peas and lentils are great for vegetarians (and others), since they contain both protein and slow release carbohydrates.
Drink well : Staying hydrated with lots of water, low calorie sodas or herbal teas is a key to feeling alert. Juices or sugary drinks can make you feel jittery and disturb your energy levels. Caffeinated tea and coffee pep you up, but don’t drink too much ofthem, and if you feel jittery or have problems sleep-ing, drink your last one in the late after noon. Colas, energy and sports drinks may all contain a lot of sugar and caffeine. For increased energy and hydration try coconut water.
Do some exercise Get your body moving : Anything from taking a walk to going for a swim,run or bike ride helps reduce physical tension that can lead to aches and pains, and releases natural feel good brain chemicals. If you can’t get motivated, rope in friends it’s much harder to make excuses. Dance, workout at the gym, practice yoga, or go for a run. By moving your body, you are increasing the blood flow to your brain and melting away stress from your mind and body.
Sleep well : Get a good night’s sleep every night, ideally 7 to 8 hours per night. Tossing and turning the night before an examination is understandable, and our bodies are able to cope with lack of sleep for a day or so. Worrying about not being able to nod off only makes matters worse but there are many things you can do to help keep your bed room cool and dark and make your bed room primarily for sleeping, as opposed to studying if possible., A hot bath and having some place dedicated just to sleeping (and not to watching TV or going on a computer, phone or tablet)will help you switch off. If you really can’t get to sleep, do something repetitive like a jigsaw or ironing. Relaxation and Meditation : If youare really anxious, find a calm, quietspace and try breathing deeply in andout for a few minutes,focusing yourmind on something pleasant, like abeautiful place with happy memories anything that helps you wind down. Get out in nature and enjoy fresh air  Get yourself outside and spend some time in nature. Being with nature is a simple and effective way of decreasing stress and increasing your focus which will help you when you return to the books. Listening to relaxing music i.e. Classical or New Age while you are studying can help calm your nerves and increase your focus.
Talk about it to someone : Almost everyone finds examinations stressful. Expressing your worries to a good friend, family member, your school tutor or a student counsellor will help get them out of your system. Don't keep things bottled up.Confiding in someone you trust and who will be supportiveis a great way to alleviate stress and worry.
Reward yourself : Plan something exciting to celebrate the end of the examinations. Keep things in perspective, Stay positive and confident- The examinations might seem like the most crucial thing right now but, in the grand scheme of your whole life, they are only a small part. Interrupt negative thoughts with positive ones. Examples : “I can do this”, “I will do my best”, “I can pass this test”, “I will focus only on the question in front of me.” "I have done it before, so I can do it again."Actively challenge your irrational thoughts. Life will be worth living regardless of this examination. Respect yourself for working hard and getting this far, regardless of the outcome.Yes, it’s great to do well in examinations. But remember that examinations aren’t the only thing that will help you succeed in life. Employers will be equally interested in other things, like your attitude, work rate or ability to get on with others.Many people, famous and otherwise,who did badly at examinations, went on to do well in life and vice versa. Watch inspiring videos, listen to up lifting music,and practise positive affirmations daily.
Laugh and Lighten Up : Examinations are not life threatening, yet we treat them like they are. See the lighter side of life, do the best that you can, and remember to laugh your way through the whole process! The sillier you get, the less tension you will feel.

On the Day of Examination-
Avoid panic : It's natural to feel some nervousness prior to the examination, but getting excessively nervous is counter productive as you will not be able to think clearly. Close your eyes and take several long, slow deep breaths. Breathing in this way calms your whole nervous system. Simultaneously you could give yourself some mental pep talk by mentally repeating "I am calmand relaxed" or "I know I will do fine".If your mind goes blank, don't panic! It will just make it harder to recall information. Instead, focus on slow, deep breathing for about one minute. If you still can't remember the information, then move on to another question and return to this question later.
• Read the instructions carefully
• Quickly survey every page of theexamination paper
• See what will be expected of you
• Re-read the instructions a second time (are you really being asked to answer either one or three of the questions?) Prioritise what needs :
• When reading the examination paper, place a mark beside all questions you know you can answer
• Divide up your time according tothe importance of the questions
• Answer the easiest questions first to guarantee marks in the least amount of time
Time Management :
• Do not rush through the examination
• Regularly check time left for therest of the questions
• Give yourself time to re-read  you should not still be writing when the invigilator’s “5 minutes remaining” announcement is made
Thus it is clear that while feelings tressed before going to appear in examination may be a natural thing, it is not a problem which cannot be over come. Through proper planning and management it is not difficult to over come examination stress and come out with flying colours.

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