Examinations can cause a lot of anxiety for most students. The pressure to perform well and the fear of failing can make even the most confident students feel extremely nervous about their upcoming exam. However, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your mind calm during examination time and allow you to perform at your best! Here are some tips on how to stay positive during exams so that you can be calm, cool, and collected on test day!
Don’t Stress
Stress is one of those things that can show up seemingly out of nowhere, triggered by any number of sources, whether it’s an impending exam or a meeting at work. For those who have trouble calming down when these moments arise, try spending 10 minutes thinking about something else before getting back to your work or problems. It will give you time to de-stress and come at situations with a more positive mind.
Breathe Deeply Before Taking A Test
There are a few different breathing exercises you can do before taking an exam to help relax your mind and body. The first is a five-count inhale/five-count exhale. This takes two minutes, but it’s better than nothing if you’re in a pinch. Simply breathe in for five seconds, hold for five seconds, then breathe out for five seconds, and repeat until two minutes have passed.
Don’t Procrastinate
It’s normal to be anxious about your exams—but a positive mind can’t help you if it’s full of stress and worry. The longer you wait to start studying, the harder it will be to concentrate when test day comes around. And procrastination is sure to raise your stress levels higher than they should be on exam day, anyway. Stay calm by starting early and working at a steady pace; don’t let yourself get overwhelmed or exhausted before your final paper is due.
Focus on The Positive
Everyone is different and everyone will be feeling differently at exam time. Many students, especially under enormous pressure, begin to ruminate over every detail of their revision and worry about past papers they’ve taken, wondering if they’ll fail or if they’ll pass. Learning how to deal with a positive mind during exams can be a valuable skill in controlling your anxieties, enabling you to focus on what really matters and increasing your chances of success.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Take a few past papers and practice, practice, practice. Spending time thinking about how you could have answered different questions will help you to be more prepared when exam day comes around. And working through revision guides is an excellent way to make sure you’re completely on top of your subject matter. It’s not just theory – it’s practical skills that are tested in exams and these revision guides simulate that experience so that you’re as well-prepared as possible.
Calm Down Before The Exam
Some students will tell you that to do well in an exam, you have to feel nervous and tense; however, research suggests otherwise. If you’re feeling stressed about an upcoming exam, stop what you’re doing and try to calm down. Take a few minutes to take some deep breaths and think positive thoughts about your ability. Visualize yourself successfully completing your test. And finally, don’t worry—worrying won’t help anything and may only serve to worsen your performance.
