Everyone has undoubtedly felt nervous before an exam, especially when you know it means a lot. This is a completely normal feeling. However, when this shifts more into anxiety, it can seriously affect performance. The best news is that exam anxiety is completely manageable when the correct steps are implemented, making the student feel calm and composed walking into an exam.

Preparing Early

Preparing for an exam early is arguably the most effective strategy a student can implement in overcoming pre-exam stress and anxiety. Anxiety can stem from a feeling of being underprepared. Starting revision 2-3 weeks before an exam has proven to be foolproof over a long period of time. Students give themselves time to familiarise themselves with all the content, act on areas of weakness and complete past papers. This leads to students entering the exam with no stone left unturned and a quiet confidence as they know they are prepared. Focused, meaningful and consistent revision beats last-minute cramming every day of the week.

Practice Under Exam Conditions

This is a tried and true method of being mentally prepared to sit an important exam. By implementing and practising in exam conditions as best as possible, an exam allows a student to understand the frame of mind they must be in and how it feels to be in an exam. While we can’t always fully replicate being in an actual exam, completing a past paper under timed conditions, with no distractions, notes and in a quiet room, goes a long way to overcoming the stress of sitting an exam.

Looking After Your Body

At least eight hours of sleep, as well as some exercise and eating well, is essential to staying calm in an exam. Eating breakfast on exam day is also critical as it fuels your brain and allows you to reach your potential in an exam, rather than feeling under-fuelled and nervous.

These three strategies may seem simple, but they go a long way in overcoming exam anxiety and helping a student maximise performance.

Hayden McCarthy