Exam Stress: Study skills to manage with practical strategies
Some nerves are normal and even useful. Here’s how to keep them manageable before and during exams.
Calmer exam season
Feeling nervous before exams is normal. A little stress can help you focus. The aim is to stop it from taking over.
Before the exam
- Make a plan so you know what you’re revising each day
- Sleep properly, especially the week before
- Move your body every day, even a short walk
- Talk to someone about how you feel
In the exam room
If your mind goes blank, breathe slowly, move to a question you know, and come back later.
Preparation is the best cure for nerves. Every practice paper makes the real one feel familiar.Margin note from Lucy
If stress or anxiety feels overwhelming or lasts beyond exams, speak to a parent, teacher, school counsellor or doctor. You don’t have to handle it alone.
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