exam stress

Former Member

hey

i was wondering if anyone has any tips of how to over come exam stress. at the moment i cant revise because i keep thinking about how important these exams are & what i would do if i failed them.

im doing my alevels and am particually worried about maths as we havent even learnt all the syllabus yet and my exam is on 11th june. im not sleeping very well so find it hard to concentrate in class as im soo tired.

ive tired taking herb based stress tablets but i had to take 8 a day n found that they didnt work. i dont want to start taking any sleeping tablets or anything like that so wont go to the doctor.

im also worried about uni as i dont think i am ready to go & dont know if i will get the grade that i need. i dont have any one in school who i can take about it to & my parents dont understand me.

if anyone has any help please tell me

thank you

Former Member

Work hard BUT make time for yourself:

Get lots of fresh air
Have some fun with your mates
Have a long relaxing bubble bath
Get a good night's sleep

Most importantly: DON'T STRESS!!!!!

If only I knew how to take my own advice!....

Former Member

Think about what is stressing you out, and find a way to deal with it. It's not exams in general - exams aren't stressful in themselves unless you haven't done enough revision/you are overly tired/you are sick...

If you can't sleep, work out why.

If you can't motivate yourself to revise, work out why.

If you don't want to go to uni in September, work out why.

You get the picture... <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member

So how should I deal with exam stress?

Try not to be frightened of stress, but to see it as a positive force - after all, it keeps you on your toes mentally, and can help you focus on the task in hand.
Learn to recognise when you're stressing out, and understand its causes. Often, a break or a chat with someone who knows the pressure you're under will get things into perspective.
Avoid comparing your abilities with your mates. Everyone approaches revision in different ways, so just make sure you've chosen the method that works best for you.
Panic is often triggered by hyperventilating (ie quick, shallow breaths). So if you feel yourself losing it during the exam, sit back for a moment and control your breathing.
Steer clear of any exam 'post-mortem'. Learning how other people got on can lead to worry about under-achieving.
Ultimately, don't lose sight of the fact that there is life after exams. Things might seem intense right now, but it won't last forever.

More info here

and here

Susie <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member

I've had soooooooo many exams I don't even get stressed about them anymore. But when I did I just used to listen to some music and have a nice hot bath and sit in the garden for a bit.

Former Member

thank you for all your suggestions. i dont actually get stressed in the exam itself usually. the weeks leading up to it are the worst. i never used to be like this but a series of things have made me worse. i cant work out what makes me soo scared so i can change it.

thank you anyway. im going to try the baths with a glass of wine i think! wish me luck...ill b back if i need any more advice <IMG SRC="rolleyes.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member

So long as it's only a glass of wine and not a bottle <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Good luck with your exams though. Mine start tomorrow.

Former Member

i got stressed out when i did my a levels, the best way i found to revise effectively is to revise for an hour then have a one hour break. keep on doin this and u should be fine.

it is a well known fact that when cramming for exams your brain only takes the first hours study in.

Have plenty of breaks. <IMG SRC="tongue.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">