How to overcome exam stress?
By Aparna Sen
@Dreamerby (5902)
Calcutta, India
July 3, 2022 8:31pm CST
I start freaking out the day before the exam. Even though I know that I have prepared well, I feel like I haven't read anything.
I think it's the pressure of expectation that builds up-not being able to reach my parents' and my expectation- being left out in the crowd.
The uncertainty-what's gonna happen after 3 years-will I pursue research or get a job-all of this keeps adding on.
How to overcome all of this and just focus on studying?
5 people like this
5 responses
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
4 Jul 22
Assuming you have prepared well and don't need the day before the exam, my advice would be to do something different.
I usually tell my students to at least take half the day before the exam off. Putting in some very serious exercise to make yourself tired so that sleep is no problem is quite normal here I think, at least as advice. Or see a movie, hang out with friends, talk about something quite different, anything that'll keep your mind away from "It won't be good enough!"
Another option could be to solve so difficult problems that you really can't think of anything else. I've tried that before exams, it worked for me, I didn't think about the grade, but I usually panic afterwards, not before.
2 people like this
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
4 Jul 22
@Dreamerby I did that more or less regularly when I was studying. I'd plan to have some thing left to do for the afternoon/evening, and then do something with friends during the day. Worked for me, but then the worse panic alway came afterwards when waiting for the result.
I know some of my students do the same, and some of them go for a really long run. I've had quite a few candidates for oral exam who have stayed up all night studying. I wouldn't recommend that, they very often don't do well 'cause they're too tired.
@Dreamerby (5902)
• Calcutta, India
4 Jul 22
I have tried the every method except hanging out with friends. The last method brought more panic. And hanging out with friends the day before the exam-that's beyond my imagination
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (5902)
• Calcutta, India
4 Jul 22
I don't know why I can't sleep the night before my exams.
1 person likes this
@Adie04 (17360)
•
4 Jul 22
@Dreamerby I believe it is common, because of the anxiety intensifies. I do sometimes not sleepy before the exam.
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
4 Jul 22
Just try to relax yourself and just do the best you can do. Whatever happens either good or bad. At least you did your best 
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41290)
• Delhi, India
4 Jul 22
When I was a student. I used to mark some important points in every chapter and before the exam, I used to read those points several times giving me almost no time for me to think about the exam and stress myself. I have seen lots of people having exam phobia. One such girl was there in my 12th class who had just given an exam on a subject and further, she got sick due to phobia and failed the exam, otherwise, she was a good student.
