Exam anxiety is something almost every student experience, especially when expectations feel heavy. Feeling anxious does not mean you are unprepared, it means the pressure is real. The key is learning how to calm your mind and support your body during exam seasons.
Try simple relaxation techniques like deep breathing, stretching or closing your eyes for few minutes to reset your thoughts.
Even short walks or listening to soft music can reduce stress.
For studying, break topics into small parts, revise using short notes and study actively instead of reading repeatedly.
Avoid late-night cramming, your brain needs rest to store information you’ve read.
Sleep is not a luxury thing, it’s essential. Always aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep, keep your gadgets (phone, laptop, ipad, tv) away before bed and schedule sleep at the same time daily.
Consider a short social media fast during exams. Constant scrolling increases comparison and anxiety, while distance improves focus and calmness.
Remember, exams test knowledge, not your worth. You are allowed to be human, even during exams.
Which habit will you change to feel calmer and more confident during exams?
I always revise till the last minute. I usually calm my mind 5 minutes before the exam starts and mentally prepare myself for the exam before starting it. This ritual helps me calm my nerves.
I usually calm my mind by eating my favourite food a night before exam and sleep before 12 am and take good 6 hours sleep. After waking up, I usually brush up concepts, important points. This works for me to lessen anxiety.
While exam stress is unavoidable, taking frequent short breaks and not pushing beyond a certain point leads to better performance. Well rested, you can remember things you studied long back.
Well!!examination stress is unavoidable but take atleast 5 to 6 hr sleep before your exam and brush up once in the morning before exam. Stress is more only If you don’t complete your syllabus, so plan well in advance and do complete the syllabus.
This really resonates. During my own exam years, I remember living in a constant state of stress — not always because I hadn’t studied, but because of under-confidence and fear. Looking back, I feel exam preparation is as much about managing anxiety as it is about managing time and syllabus. We’re rarely taught how to stay mentally steady while studying, even though that can make or break performance. Normalising this and training students to handle anxiety should be a part of exam prep itself, don’t you think?
Yeah, I agree. I have heard some schools arranging stress handling sessions as well as motivational classes. It should be made mandatory in every educational institution, students should be trained to tackle every situation.
I usually maintain my sleep cycle and I make notes related to topics which will make me easy for revision. Listening songs makes my soul calm. Usually I prefer to study on early morning because there will be no distrubance with clear mind.
It’s normal to be nervous before a test, but you can deal with it by being mindful and taking care of yourself. Prioritizing sleep, studying actively, and limiting distractions are all small changes that can make a big difference in your focus and confidence. Exams test how well you prepared, not how valuable you are as a person. Staying calm and consistent is more important than last-minute stress.
Well said!! Students perform better and maintain equilibrium during exams when their bodies and minds are supported. In my opinion, the biggest improvements to mental health and stressful academic times can be achieved by improving sleep, reducing screen time, and taking mindful breaks instead of late-night cramming.
If I have to give you just one tip. Then it would be sleeping very nicely before the day of exam (although most of you wouldn’t or won’t). I think its the best way to relieve stress and then every revision goes straight into the brain.
My strategy of studying during exams and overcoming stress can be summarized in five points -
Do not get attached to the result of the exam very much at first, and study as if you are studying just for knowledge and information. Because I have been through it, when you get attached to the result and start worrying about the outcomes, it makes us more anxious.
Do not study for at least 1-2 hours before the actual exam time. Make the brain calm before the exam and avoid confusion between the topics.
Do not discuss with your friends any topic you study. I know this seems kind of strange, because most of the people will think that it is good to discuss, but in my personal experience such kinds of situations make us feel doubtful about the study topics that we have done.
Really well said! Exam stress is something almost every student faces, and slowing down to breath is such an underrated but powerful tool. Simple habits like short breaks, deep breathing, and breaking studies into small chunks can calm the mind and approve focus. At the end of the day, exam tests our preparation, not our panic. Thanks for the timely reminder.