Tips To Reduce Exam Stress

By Author: Harshad Valia International School
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It is very normal to experience some pressure or even some kind of tummy jitters i.e. anxiety while an exam is around the corner. It is this sudden awareness boost that aids students in functioning and performing well in a class test. It can also be a result of fear and pressure. This kind of pressure not only builds students to get ready for more pressure situations in the future but also helps them perform even better in personal life tasks.

At Harshad Valia International School (https://shcvaliaintschool.in/), we encourage both parents and teachers to be learned about the symptoms of heavy stress in children and how to help them cope with it. Additionally, we also believe in minimizing stress by adopting outdoor and enjoyable educational methods.

What to look for in a Student who is Stressed?
As we all know that each individual has a different experience with stress. Some binge eat, some sleep over it or some even remove it others. With this said, it has become essential to recognize an individual or a kid who is going through stress. Look out for these signs.

Physical Health Issues: Children who ...
... are experiencing a lot of stress about an upcoming exam often invite some health complications which are dangerous. Physical health downfall like vomiting or nausea, lack of appetite, lack of sleep or excessive fatigue, etc is observed in children who are stressed.
Moody Nature: A child who is overly stressed about an upcoming exam may suddenly be volatile or irritable in his/her nature. This may also result in a lack of interest in some activities or hobbies which they loved weeks back.
Academic Downfall: In many cases, it has been observed that stressed child loses confidence in themself resulting in performing poorly in academics from potential, children who experience anxiety about exams do not perform as well on them. A child who is typically a high achiever may be too stressed if they consistently underperform on their exams.

Additionally, Some signs you can watch out for are
a. Feeling confused and mentally cluttered
b. Losing touch with friends and detaching from close family
c. Feeling moody or lack of emotional management
d. Making decisions seems to be a challenge
e. Lack of motivation to do anything
f. Trouble sleeping or getting out of bed
g. Tense muscles with regular headaches
h. Having an upset stomach or feeling sick regularly
i. Fidgeting, nail-biting, teeth grinding

Here are some worthy Tips to Avoid Exam Stress:
To handle exam stress for a child effectively, parents need to partner with educators and children. Here is how they can help.

a. Help children create a learning technique that works best for them keeping in mind their favorable learning style (https://shcvaliaintschool.in/learning-styles/). Assist your kid with becoming organized which will enable them to plan their studies well in advance.
b. While teaching a child you initially ask questions that a child can answer. This not only boosts confidence but also gives them hope to learn more. Additionally, it slowly warms them or gears them up for more challenging questions.
c. The surroundings in which a child learns are critically important. A calm, pleasant and supportive environment will aid them to grasp concepts quickly.
d. As a parent do not make them workaholics. A break is needed for them too. Encourage them to take mini breaks in between chapters or revision time. This is also an opportunity for parents and teachers to connect and spend quality time with them as they rest their bodies and minds.
e. Encourage them to be physically active alongside books. An exercise regime during exam time can help minimize stress hormones.

Lastly, a parent should never succumb to competitive pressure during examinations. We often think of comparing our child’s efforts to another. This can do more harm than good. This will only exaggerate the problem and will increase the likelihood of poor performance in the examination.

Managing the exam day efficiently
a. Work out what you need to take with you on exam day and organise it a day prior.
b. Eat a healthy and light breakfast: this will help with energy and concentration.
c. Visit the restroom before the exam starts.
d. If you feel yourself getting worried before your exam – Sit in a quiet place and breadth.
e. When you sit down to do your exam, take time to slow your breathing and relax.
f. Read through the exam paper twice. Underline keywords and instructions so that they cannot be missed out.
g. Keep a watch handy to estimate how much time you can give to each question or section.
h. Always finish 15mins early. This allows you time to re-look, and re-read your answer sheet for any small changes or errors.
i. We advise you to always attempt sections that you’re confident of. Leave the challenging Work for the latter half of the paper time.

Summing up:
You have to understand that if you’re a student and are feeling stressed about an upcoming examination, you’re not alone. Each and every student entering the examination hall is stressed, the difference is some look calm and some look annoyed. The difference here is how are able to handle this kind of stress and some just can’t.

It’s a matter of practice and support which won’t happen overnight. Try to follow these tips for every small test or exam so that your well prepared for the big ones.