Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Preparing For An Exam


by Hedrick Lepsch


Many students struggle with test taking anxiety. With the pressure of performing well and making the grade, the stress can become overwhelming and even paralyzing on test day. To help you calm down, relax, and approach your test with confidence there are a few things you can do in preparation and on the day of your test to reduce anxiety.

First off, take good notes, preferably by hand. Studies have shown you are more likely to remember something if you have written it down-not typed it out. While you are writing your notes, it is a good idea to write any question or personal conclusions you gain in the margins. These personal connections that you make with the lecture will make it even easier to remember otherwise obscure facts. Better yet talk to the teacher or your fellow classmates after class about your questions and observations. These informal conversations help you remember the facts and themes of the day's lecture even more clearly.

Part of being a successful student and test taker is taking care of your body and mind. Eat healthy foods that will help your brain work better. Foods that are high in Omega-3 and antioxidants are the best for boosting brain power. Particularly on the evening before a big test, take care to get enough sleep. Your brain needs to rest and will perform better than it would without an appropriate break.

Avoid cram sessions. By taking the time to plan ahead and allot for ample study time prior to the night before the test, you will be better prepared to perform well on the day of your test. Working to build long term memory is significantly more effective and lasting than short term stuffing of information and facts.

A good way to test yourself is to explain the concepts to a friend and see if there are any aspects you don't know how to clarify. After you have studied the material, make sure you are well rested and alert when you go to take the test. A late night cram session will do you more harm than good.

Even though your body craves sugar when it is stressed, partaking in too many sweets before an exam can give you an artificial high that will leave you even more exhausted than before, and will impair your ability to concentrate during the exam. Additionally, be sure to bring extra pencils, scrap paper or batteries for your calculator for you exam. You never know when disaster may strike and you don't want your only pencil to break five minutes before the exam is over. Also giving some of your extra supplies to your desperate classmates who were not so thorough in their preparation for the exam is a charitable act. You never know how such favors will be repaid.

Just before beginning the test you will want to find the most comfortable spot available that provides good lighting and is removed from as many distractions as possible. Be relaxed and, if need be, have a small stress ball or other relaxation tool available for use throughout the test. Also, avoid students or others who may be expressing negativity and anxiety about the test. Take out the testing materials you have brought with you and take a moment to relax, focus, and open your mind so that you can retrieve the information you have studied so diligently.

Exams will always be stressful, but with the proper preparation that computer science or business exam will seem less monstrous and more of an inconvenience. On the off chance that you prepare well for the exam but after taking the test you fear you did not pass, there is always a possibility the exam will be graded on a curve.




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