Exam morning
Keep your cool when an exam is looming.
Article by : SpunOut.ie - Rating :
- Start your preparation the evening before an exam. Don't spend the night cramming, instead take some time to relax and try to get a good night's sleep.
- Don't go out the night before an exam (it's surprising how many people do!).
- Set two alarms clocks so you won’t have to worry about sleeping in.
- On the morning of the exam, get up early so that you're not in a rush and have a good breakfast. Some scrambled eggs on toast or an omelette will provide you with the energy you need.
- Don't try to study whilst waiting to enter the exam room and stay away from anyone who is complaining or panicking about the exams.
- Go to the bathroom before the exam starts so as to not cut into valuable writing time.
- Once in the exam room take a few deep slow breaths.
- If your mind goes blank, speak to the exam supervisor and ask to be accompanied out of the room until you have time to regain your calm.
- Take time to read the exam paper carefully. The main reason people do badly in exams is that they don't read the question carefully and don't do what they are asked.
- Make some notes of any points that you don't want to forget.
- Work out how much time you have for each question.
- Start with the question you feel most confident about and keep a check on time.
- Avoid looking at other classmates. They will always seem to be writing more and appear more confident than you!
- Use all the time you can, don't worry if people around you seem to be writing more than you, just worry about yourself.
- Leave 5 or 10 minutes at the end of the exam to review everything and to make sure all your identification details are on every page. Running out of time can be a common problem so pace yourself well.
- After the exam do not engage in a post-mortem. Instead, concentrate on what has gone well!
- If exam stress is getting you down, tell someone how you're really feeling. Don't put on a brave face, particularly at home. Take a break before starting to study for the next exam.
- Check out the healthy mind section for lots of info and great chill out tips.
If you are at university or college there is often a free counselling service provided. See www.pleasetalk.ie for information on student support services at all the universities in the Republic of Ireland.
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