Exam Day Stress

Exams. Who'd willingly take them? The answer: no one in their right mind. However, we all have to take them at some point in our lives and there's no way you can avoid them. I know that many of you won't want to hear that, but it's true.

As a year 11, I (as many other year 11's right now) am 'revising' for my final exams in just a few small weeks. I do find it hard to revise, as most do, especially after a hard, or any day, at school. The only times I am most disciplined is the weekend or in school holidays.

Even though I am lacking with the amount of revision I've done, I do get really stressed about my exams (which probably isn't helped by doing hardly any revision). I know that many of you reading this probably get exam stress as well. I get even more stressed on the day of the exam.So, here are some of my tips for getting you through the exam day:

1. Go to sleep early

The night before an exam, instead of staying up all night and revising, get a good nights sleep. I know you may think that staying up all night revising is the best way to pass your exams but it really isn't. You'll end up being really tired in the exam and won't be able to concentrate properly. I would go to sleep at 10 and definitely no later than 11 to make sure you can get a good nights sleep. You can always revise on the way to school.

2. Be prepared

Make sure you sort out everything you need the night before the exam. This includes pens, pencils, a ruler, etc. There is nothing worse than rushing the morning of your exam, or even worse two minutes before you go into the exam hall. It's much better to be prepared for your exam so that you're not panicking about trying to find equipment.

3. Wake up early

I get stressed if I over-sleep on a school day so over-sleeping on an exam day is much worse. You get much more stressed if you're running around the house trying to make sure you have time to get dressed and find everything you'll need. Make sure you set your alarm so you have plenty of time to get ready and to eat a good breakfast. It's much better to have a bit of extra time to do something than to have very little time to do everything.

4. Eat a good breakfast

Make sure on the day of your exam, especially if your exam is in the morning, that you eat a good breakfast that fills you up. It's no good just eating an apple because it won't fill you up and if you feel really hungry in the exam, you're going to get distracted by that. Eat a good breakfast and your attention will be completely on the exam and not your hunger or anything else.

5. Get to the exam in plenty of time

If you get to where you're supposed to be for the exam late, or you're running late, then you're going to get really stressed. Make sure you get to the place you're supposed to be about 15 minutes before the exam to give you time to make sure you've got everything you need. If you get the bus then see if your mum or dad can take you in to school if you think your bus might be late. 

6. Toilet trips

Before you head to the exam, make sure to go to the toilet first. There is nothing worse than being in an exam and needing the toilet. It takes your mind off the exam and distracts you. So make sure to go to the toilet first so that you won't need to go during the exam.

7. Take water

Make sure to take a water bottle in the exam to keep you hydrated. As the exams are in the summer, that means it can get really hot in the exam hall; which may lead to you becoming dehydrated. If you can, try and get a bottle with the bit that you drink out of pulls up so that you don't spill water over your exam paper.

8. If you don't get a question, move on

In some cases, you may open the exam paper, see the first question and panick. It may not be that you don't know how to answer the question but because you were already stressed about the exam so your brain completely freezes. If this is the case, move on to another question and come back to the other one later. 

So there you have it. If you have any other exam tips then please don't be afraid to comment down below. Exams are a very stressful time for everyone, so if you think that you're the only one that's worried about it then you're not. 

Just remember to stay calm and that you will always think that you've done worse than you actually have.

I wish you all the luck in the world for your exams (not that you need it!)

Love Beth xx