Once the school years are complete, the board examination is the most critical aspect in the educational journey of a pupil. With the board examinations just around the corner, most pupils tend to undergo the most stressful periods of their lives. They are overwhelmed by the examination pressure and expectations from their parents, tutors, and from themselves. During the board examination study periods, many pupils tend to experience anxiety and fear of the examinations. A little bit of stress and pressure is acceptable, but too much of it could really have harmful effects on one's performance, focus, and self-assurance.
It is vital to understand how to manage the examination stress and fear.
Understanding Fear and Anxiety of the Examination
The examination anxiety and fear usually is a result of:
Fear is common and manageable with the right approach because many pupils in prestigious educational institutions such as the best school in Gurgaon also undergo the same examination anxiety and fear.
Break syllabus into bite-sized pieces.
Establish goals for the day and the week.
Add some time for review and want some time to take practice exams.
Set aside time for challenging subjects.
Seeing steady progress makes it less scary and it gets less scary as motivation goes up.
When your studying for long hours with no direction it is just going to make things worse
Good ways to study are:
Focus for 45-50 min with no distractions
Take a small break between study periods
Use visual aids
Answer questions from old exams
When studying smart, it is easier to understand the information by not panicking the last minute.
It is a good idea to practice some relaxation on a daily basis.
Some good ones are:
Take slow, deep breaths.
Take 5-10 min to meditate at some point in your day.
Use some light stretching
If practiced regularly, it gets easier to stay calm for the actual exams.
Physical and mental health go hand in hand.
Good habits include the following:
Get 7-8 hours of sleep each night
Eat a good, healthy, balanced diet
Drink plenty of water
Limit your time in front of a screen
Keeping good habits helps keep your mind and body fresh and helps remove a lot of your stress.
When talking to yourself in a negative tone, it can make your fears worse.
Rather than saying things like:
"I will forget everything"
"I am not good enough"
You should say things like:
"I am prepared"
"I will give my best effort"
Being positive makes YOU more confident as a person and makes you more emotionally controlled.
Everyone learns at their own pace and everyone has their own strengths and abilities. Adding more pressure onto yourself as a result of comparisons will not help you.
Concentration on:
Your progress
Your consistency
Your improvement
In board examinations, your understanding is evaluated not your ability to compete with others.
Talking about your anxiety rather than just keeping it to yourself will help it become less of a big deal than it actually is.
You can:
Talk to your parents or teachers
Share your worries with friends
Ask a school counselor for help
Having emotional support is very important when it comes to feelings of fear for an exam.
Having a good exam-day preparation makes things a whole lot easier.
For the exam:
Revise only important things
Do not learn new things
Get a good night's sleep
Doing the exam:
Read the questions carefully
Start with the questions you find easy
Don't forget to manage your time
When preparation is done and everyone is just a bit calm, you start to feel confident.
Q1. Is exam anxiety common among board students?
Yes it is very very common and most students experience it.
Q2. How far in advance should one start preparing for the board exams?
Preparing for the exams at least 3 to 4 months in advance should help in the reducing the amount of stress felt.
Q3. Is it possible for relaxation techniques to improve exam performance?
Regular implementation of relaxation techniques actively helps boost concentration and stability of emotions.
Fear and stress regarding exams is common. However, stress is manageable and can be alleviated. Students can overcome fear and perform with confidence in board exams through proper strategizing, implementing healthy habits, positive thoughts, and regular studying. Believe in your work and preparation, and stay relaxed. Your effort is what matters most, not your fear.
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