Best Tips for Managing Anxiety at Exam Times

 

A number of tips for managing anxiety at exam times have been handed out to students, and the usual advice is to practice. That's true, of course, but you must also understand that in order to be successful, it requires you to put in some study time. In this day and age, if you're unprepared it's very likely that you'll forget something and blow it during the test. Here are a few tips for managing anxiety at exam times.

When you set out to study, take your time. Studying with a heavy load on your mind only tends to make things worse. Instead, when you're preparing for an examination, spend some time going over the material in detail. Go through it again. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand.

Don't do any rewriting or revision. If you haven't thoroughly read your notes, don't bother going through them again. Take a break and then continue with your studies after about an hour has gone by.

Another one of the tips is to break up the big task into small bits. If you need to find a particular fact, piece it out into pieces that must be studied easily. It can then be studied chronologically. Then when you need to study it, you can go through it piece-meal. This will help you to study more efficiently and also to stay focused on the task in hand.

Use a planner. A planner helps you manage your time and keep everything in perspective. If you're cramming for an exam, then it's especially important to use a planner. But even if you're not, it's always good to have a list of materials that need to be studied so that you can identify which facts need to be read more carefully and which can wait. This way, you'll know what to expect when you're ready to study for the exam.

Another of the tips is to keep your mind occupied. If you're worrying about some particular piece of information, you might as well do something else. It's hard enough to sit there and read all those test papers. When you're overly preoccupied, you may start to feel disinterested and distracted. Studying efficiently and effectively requires that you stay alert, so make sure that you keep yourself busy!

Finally, avoid caffeine and alcohol if you're preparing for any kind of exam. Caffeine raises stress levels, which can negatively affect your concentration. In addition, alcohol tends to reduce your memory and focus. The longer you spend drinking and smoking, the more likely it is that you will fail to adequately concentrate on your studies.

When you've read through a few tips for managing anxiety at exam times, it's probably time to put them into practice. Try to keep your mind as active as possible, but avoid over-anxiety at the same time. This way, you'll have a better chance of passing your exams and getting good grades.

The next step is to determine when you're going to study. For many people, this means trying to study at the start of the week, so that they're well-prepared for whatever comes their way on exam day. If you're unable to stick to this schedule, however, you should still make an effort to study as early as you can. It's important to set a date for yourself to begin studying, so that you're not scrambling for a spare half hour in the evening. Stay consistent about your studying times and stick to it.

Another important thing to remember is that you should not try to do too much at once. Don't leave yourself a little too long before your study session ends. If you're pressed for time, take a quick break and then get right back to work. However, don't forget to stretch your patience to the maximum.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you should always be aware of the clock. Yes, the clock does indeed tell you when it's time to study, but there are times when you might have difficulty remembering that advice. You'll need to take into consideration the time you've set for your test and factor that into your study schedule.

These tips for managing anxiety at exam times will help you be more successful on this challenging and important exam. Keep in mind that getting through a test the first time is absolutely crucial, but you can certainly improve your chances with these simple tips. If you get through your studies with a good mindset, you will feel much better about yourself and that will directly affect the way you carry yourself throughout the exam. So be sure to pay attention to everything you should be doing to get ready and use these tips for managing anxiety at exam times, because they're sure to help you maximize your comfort level.