The Effects Of Exam Anxiety

Exam anxiety (EA) has been a prolific problem over the past century, and in a time when performance is mostly exam based, it can cause some real problems when it comes to test day.

EA is very common too. Even test conditions can be scary...sitting a metre away from your classmates at a small desk with a white booklet staring at you, the silence in the hall and the patrolling teachers up and down the row...it`s easy to become anxious at the thought. Some symptoms of exam anxiety can include feeling sick, emotional and tired. You might start to shake, go dizzy or even throw up! These are all fairly common signs before an exam, while when sitting it you might go completely blank, panic or find that you can`t remember a single thing about the subject, despite doing well in class.

There are a number of ways to combat EA. Firstly, make sure you get a good night sleep. It`s hard when you`re thinking about the test, but a sound sleep is the first step to success. When you wake up, make sure you have a decent breakfast- slow-release carbs found in wheat based cereals is good. Make sure you`re prepared, taking everything you needs for the test, as well as making sure you`ve revised everything you need to know.

Before the exam, tell yourself that you know the subject- a test is the perfect opportunity to show the world how good you are! Take deep breaths before opening the paper, and read every question VERY carefully. You don`t want to buy dinner for yourself and five friends, only to realize you`ve only bought 5 meals. If you can and you`ve got time, take a short break to help re-focus your mind on the task at hand.

Finally, be confident! If you`ve attended the classes and have revised properly, you should have all the knowledge you need for the test, so don`t worry!

Good luck :)