How To Overcome Fear During Exams:
For decades, examination has been a test of knowledge especially for students in schools and various learning institutions. I is usually accompanied by a grading system, which records grades for each candidate, according to the range of numbers in which their exam score falls within. These grades then determine a student’s performance in school and whether or not they’ll be promoted to a higher class
There’s often the argument that examination is not the true test of knowledge, but the current practice tilts in another direction. It remains a fact that in most places, the results of examinations is used to determine a student’s academic progress.
This is probably why the mention of examination instills fear and anxiety in a lot of students. This post examines the reasons why people fear examinations, and how one can overcome this fear.
Why People Fear Examinations
Stressful situations such as examinations can cause one to develop a healing dose of anxiety and fear. It is a natural and totally normal way to react to stress. However, with some people, the fear and anxiety can go over the board and become a cause for concern.
This reaction could be attributed to fear of failure. Sometimes, especially if said student have failed an examination or that particular examination in the past, the fear that such event would repeat itself can be overwhelming.
Other people just have an intense fear of failure, perhaps due to some psychological issue.
Other people experience this fear because they haven’t adequately prepared for the examination and are afraid of the outcome.
Common to all the causes of examination fear and anxiety is through fear that one would underperform in the said examination. Therefore remedies to this fear would be focused on how to be adequately prepared for every examination and how to keep anxiety in check so it doesn’t escalate.
How to Get Rid of Exam Fear and Anxiety
Anxiety and negativity during an examination have been shown to impair overall performance and the ability to remember and complete assessment tasks to the best of our abilities. There are numerous techniques or efforts we can take to overcome fear and anxiety associated with examinations in order to avoid such events. Some of them include:
1. Discover Your Learning Style(s):
Sometimes people experience test anxiety because they haven’t read enough or otherwise memorised enough for that particular examination. This may not be because said student was slacking and didn’t read as they should, but because despite all efforts, they couldn’t retain what they read.
The first step to resolving this is to figure out your learning style or how you learn best. Some people learn best by listening, others through visuals, yet some others by reading and writing, and so on. Once this is done and applied to how we read, it will become much easier to return knowledge.
2. Preparation:
After determining your learning style, the next step is to prepare yourself. In this context, preparedness entails taking notes, attending classes, reading study materials and prescribed textbooks, attending study group meetings, and other actions aimed at becoming familiar with the course material and preparing for exams.
3. Start Early:
It pays to not just get prepared, but to begin preparations early enough. Students often let their course work pile up until examinations have drawn close, then they try to cram all of it without any form of preamble. Reading this way is anxiety-inducing, because there’s a tendency for one to forget what one has read even in the exam hall. To avoid this, it’s best to start reading early. This way, you only have to revise as examinations draw close and the topics won’t seem so strange and unfamiliar.
4. Read Smart:
Sometimes, winning doesn’t like with he who works hard, but he who works smart. If there’s a way to make studying easier, then there is no reason to do it the hard way. Reading smart is so effective that you could cover the whole coursework faster and even understand it better.
Read a summary of each topic before you begin reading, skim and scan through that chapter first before starting, make use of flashcards, memory palaces, mnemonics, audio recordings, etc. Whatever helps to accelerate the memorization process without altering the information being learnt should be utilized.
5. Stay Fueled:
It is very important for students to get enough sleep and eat healthy especially when preparing for an examination. The body is expending so much energy trying to accommodate the bulk of information it is being fed, naturally it should need healthy food to replenish lost fuel.
Also, when you start reading early, there won’t be much of a need to keep numerous sleepless nights unless you read better at night. Whatever happens, ensuring that you get enough quality sleep will leave you in a better state to learn more.
6. Avoid Comparison:
It is a recipe for disaster to compare your reading progress with that of other people. It could discourage you especially if these persons are faster learner’s than you are, or if they have covered more of the coursework than you have. In a bid to measure up to them, you could adopt their reading style and techniques which may not be the best for you. It’s best to use methods that work for you and study at your pace. Resist the urge to make such comparisons.
7. Organization:
Make a list of everything you need to learn. Each day or every other day that you intend to study, assign topics or courses to that day. Set a reminder and keep track of how much time you spend studying each topic. You can also keep track of your academic progress. Make a list of things to remember and do some additional study. Take a vacation from studying. Everything will be easier and less jumbled once you've completed all of this planning.
8. Positivity:
Our mental state frequently reflects in our actions and performances, and negativity in this aspect can have damaging effects. Once we begin to doubt our ability to attempt an examination successfully and contemplate failure, it can lead to anxiety, forgetfulness and underperformance in assessment tests. It pays to surround oneself with positivity and constantly contemplate it so that it would reflect well in our overall ability.
9. Maintain Physical Fitness:
Exercise improves mental processes, such as the ability to read, assimilate, and process information more quickly. It also aids agility and enhances sleep. You can stay alert when you need to and sleep peacefully when you need to in this manner. If you don't want to, you don't have to start a full-fledged training plan just to take a test. You merely need to do simple exercises like going for a long walk, jogging, running, dancing, and so on. Anything to get the endorphins flowing and the adrenaline pumping.
Finally, it is important to remember that in the case of significant anxiety caused solely by psychological factors or that cannot be alleviated by simple practical measures, it is best to seek medical help.
I would love to hear from you from the comment section and also share this post for the benefits of other people.
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