Exam Anxiety

At times when you may be trying to study for exams…

The Keys to Effective Studying

Effective study skills must be practiced in order to improve
It’s not enough to “think about” studying – you actually have to do it and then reflect on what you could be doing better

General Exam Study Tips

Prioritize! Make a list of what you intend to study and prioritize the list
Study no more than 45-60 minutes at a stretch, and then take breaks
Take breaks away from your desk and do something different
Try to continue your daily habits as usual (don’t drastically reduce your sleep, eliminate exercise, or overeat)
Don’t make last minute changes like changing your handwriting, buying a new pen, etc.

Creating the Right Environment for Studying

Make sure the environment is moderately comfortable (furniture, temperature)
Work somewhere where you will be free of distractions (phone, TV, etc.)
Try to use a space that is YOURS only and doesn’t have to be shared with other family members
Keep the study space organized with a specific place for paper, pens, books etc.
Have everything you need to study with you before you sit down so you don’t waste time looking for things

Study Strategies

Question – ask questions to reinforce your own learning
Read – actively read over the material and be alert to main ideas, bolded terms, and key understandings and details
Recite – recalling and then orally or through writing communicating the information – make connections orally or through writing
Review – re-reading, summarizing key points, testing yourself, asking final questions
Getting Organized
Reading with Purpose
Getting the Main Ideas
Extracting Important Detail
Taking Notes

Student Study Strategies that DON’T work

Coping with Exam Anxiety
Exam anxiety can be viewed in two different ways:

Poor coping with the inevitable stress of an exam BEFORE it takes place
A strong emotional reaction of fear that interferes with thinking clearly DURING the exam

Tips for Coping with Exam Anxiety

Be Prepared Early
Set up a study schedule at least 2 weeks before your exam
Sleep Well
Maintaining a regular sleep schedule helps reduce stress and increase performance
Learn relaxed breathing
When you get stressed, taking some slow, relaxed breaths can help you think clearly again

Review main themes

Go over main ideas or concepts in the material to reinforce that you do understand the “big picture”
Have a plan before the exam
As part of your studying, think about how you will approach the exam and what you will do when you run into trouble

Aim to do your best

Recognize and turn off your negative self-dialogue – focus on the task at hand and simply aim to do your best.

The Day of The Exam…

Dr. Rituparna Ghosh
Consultant Clinical Psychologist

References