Many students are experiencing study-related anxiety and this could prevent them from performing effectively. This situation is common on students who are about to go through an exam. By following simple techniques, it is possible to control our feelings and emotions before an exam. Severe anxiety can be really bad and can dramatically change results of our exam.
Students should be aware that anxiety can affect their academic performance and it is comparably important to manage our mind. By reducing anxiety, it is possible for us to be more positive when handling academic pressure. Here are three steps we should do to reduce anxiety:
1. Find out about impending tests:
We should know as much as we can about the test. The more we know about something, the more we know what to expect. By being fully aware of things that we need to do, we can be completely comfortable about our tests. We will be able to focus on things that we need to do. It is important to ask teachers and lecturers as many questions as possible about the test.
If we want to pass the test, we should be fully prepared. This way, it is possible to get bits of important information and we will know whether we are going in the right direction. This should greatly improve our success.
2. Use proper timing:
We shouldn’t start too late or start too early. It is a good idea to study as soon as possible, but we shouldn’t put too much pressure on ourselves months before the test begins. This could potentially elevate our anxiety when the test commences. Students who put undue pressure on themselves are likely to become more anxious.
Regardless of how intense our study session was, we could perform worse academically if we constantly feeling overwhelmed. On the other hand, procrastinators could also experience anxiety. Those who start too late, just one night before the test begins could pressure themselves to study so much material in a few hours. This would be useless and a waste of time. Studying is a slow process and good results can’t be achieved overnight.
If it’s a major exam, it is recommended to start studying one month before it begins. We could study at lighter intensity at the first two weeks and pick up the pace until the test starts. In essence, we should feel relaxed during study sessions, we need to have enough time to repeat and review things that we have learned.
3. Study alone:
Studying with friends can be a lot of fun, but this could be the least productive way to study. To avoid anxiety, we should be able to study effectively. Our real study sessions should be when we are alone and when friends invite us to study together; we should use the opportunity only to review what we have learned. It still pays to talk with our classmates about incoming tests to know what they feel about incoming tests.