How to Handle Stress Right Before the Exams
How to Handle Stress Right Before the Exams and Bring Out the Best in You
Students appearing for the JEE exams are well aware of the life-changing potential if they clear this exam. A combination of societal and parental pressures alongside the unbelievable amount of competitiveness of some of the entrance exams in India put enormous mental strain on the children. Sleepless nights, increased acidity, anxiety, and binge eating are some of the common ways that this stress affects the youth.
But whether it is the NEET exams, JEE, or even board exams, there are some proven methods to get over your anxiety and maintain a clear head ahead of the big day.
Assess Your Position
Knowing about one’s own strengths and weaknesses is a time-tested method for preparing for everything from warfare to a sports tournament. The same holds true for competitive entrance exams. When your exam is a few days away, keep a copy of the syllabus in front of you and read it thoroughly. Know which parts of it you are good at and which ones need more work. Identify these parts and create a strategy for final preparation.
The parts that you know you are good at and well-prepared are your strengths. Keep them aside for the very last-minute read-up before the exam. The portion that you think you are OK with are the ones that need some work. Out this portion, know the parts you have studied, but not completely. Identify the easiest ones and brush them up and move from there to what you have covered BUT find it a little difficult.
Read the Most Repeated Questions
Question banks containing the most frequently repeated questions are every student’s best friend. These are especially helpful for last-minute preparations. Out of everything in your syllabus, study the repeated questions from the parts that you’re thorough with. This will reinforce what you already know.
Later, move backwards and study the things that you are moderately familiar with. The goal is to score as much marks as possible by covering as much of the syllabus as you can. Studying previous questions will cement what you know and help you scrounge for the coveted marks.
Ensure Proper Sleep and Meal Before the Exam
This is extremely important and has been proven by medical science. When you have enough sleep, the things you have studied can be recalled better. Staying up all night is known to lower cognitive abilities and make recollection difficult.
Students must never ever write any exam on an empty stomach. Exams are stressful by nature and a proper meal before starting is known to help students focus better and keep up the energy levels.
Mock Exams
This part cannot be done on the previous day of the exam. It needs to be done at least a few days before the exam. Gather question papers from previous years and pick one. Get your family to help you mimic the conditions of an exam center. Choose a separate room in your house and keep all books and gadgets away. Set a timer for the appropriate time limit and begin writing you own mock test.
After the test, see if you can convince a former teacher to grade your test. Doing so will tell you where you stand exactly. This can help you with final preparations better.
Conclusion
Always remember that exams are one part of life. They don’t define you or your life or what you can become. There are countless successful individuals who have achieved great things in life in spite of academic failures. So, stay strong and believe in yourself.