National secondary and primary schools examinations are ongoing. Years of being in school culminate to the KCPE and KCSE exams.
Despite the many best wishes, exams anxiety and the feeling of butterflies in the stomach are real. This might hinder even the brightest students or pupils not to perform well.
Exam anxiety is a psychological condition in which people experience extreme distress and anxiety in testing situations. While many people experience some degree of stress and anxiety before and during exams, exams anxiety can actually impair learning and hurt test performance.
So what exactly can you do to prevent or minimize exam anxiety? Here are some strategies to help as listed by Very Well Mind.
Make sure you’re prepared.
That means studying for the exam early until you feel comfortable with the material. Don’t wait until the night before. If you aren’t sure how to study, ask your teacher or parent for help. Being prepared will boost your confidence, which will lessen your anxiety.
Get rid the negative thoughts.
If you start to have anxious or defeated thoughts, such as “I’m not good enough,” “I didn’t study hard enough,” or “I can’t do this,” push those thoughts away and replace them with positive thoughts. “I can do this,” “I know the material,” and “I studied hard,” can go far in helping to manage your stress level when taking a test.
Get enough sleep.
A good night’s sleep will help your concentration and memory.
Take deep breaths.
If you start to feel anxious while you’re taking your test, breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Work through each question or problem one at a time, taking a deep breath in between each one as needed. Making sure you are giving your lungs plenty of oxygen can help your focus and sense of calm.
Avoid the perfectionist trap.
Don’t expect to be perfect. We all make mistakes and that’s okay. Knowing you’ve done your best and worked hard is really all that matters, not perfection.
Do you have any other ways of getting rid of exam anxiety?