Coping with exam stress
Examinations can be a stressful time. You may feel that the weight of the world is on your shoulders. When you turn that paper over will you remember everything you’ve been taught or will your mind go blank? Will you get the results you need … and what will it mean for your future? Everyone deals with stress differently. The important thing is to recognise it, and to take the necessary actions to prevent it from getting out of hand. Sibford School counsellor Christine Stephens offers some advice …
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Exams bring out the best in some people … and the worst
in others. The important thing is not to let them take over your life. You need to recognise stress and anxiety symptoms and find ways to cope and alleviate the pressure. It’s never too early to start
preparing. If you organise yourself and get hold of the right information from the start then this will go a long way to putting your mind at ease. Look at your exam timetable and organise your revision in a person centred way, creating an approach that works for you personally. What’s right for one student, may not work for another. You are a
unique individual and a revision technique in just one size doesn’t fit all. The way you
revise will depend both on you and the particular exams you are taking, be they multiple choice answers, short answer questions, calculations or essays. There are lots of methods you can use to help lock information into your memory, such as making notes, reciting facts out loud, watching revision programmes, listening to podcasts etc. You’ll probably find that a combination of a variety of methods will be useful as it will save you from getting in a rut, will hold your interest for longer and thereby help you to absorb information better. If you come across anything you
don’t understand then seek help. Your teachers are there to assist you and will be more than happy to go over something again. Family and friends can play an important role in helping a student to cope with the challenges of exam time. Positive feedback and encouragement can help students to gain confidence, however sometimes parents can inadvertently add to the pressure on a student because of their desire to see their child do well.
10 / The Sibfordian
Students need to feel that they will still be valued and loved by their family regardless of their exam results. It’s also important to remember that a healthy balance between studying and relaxing is vital. All work and no play makes for a sad and depressed individual. Happy students tend to do far better in exams than those who are feeling depressed or buckling under the strain. Regular meals, time to sleep well, regular breaks, quiet times and exercise are all things that can help prevent the build up of stress.
Christine Stephens is a qualified counsellor who has lots of experience in working with young people. She is in school on a weekly basis to see students by appointment, runs a monthly drop-in session and, in the approach to exams, hosts sessions providing advice on how to deal with stress.
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