Students need to try and remain calm, focused and collected in the run up to examinations and on the day itself. Some of the best ways to manage the associated stress are

  1. Ensuring you are getting enough sleep.

There is significant evidence to suggest that the amount and quality of sleep a student has during exam time can have a direct link to their academic performance. There is a correlation between sleep onset, sleep irregularity and sleep length with academic performance.

  1. Having a positive mental attitude and visualizing you achieving your goals.
  1. Ensuring you are completing adequate exercise to help manage your stress levels.

Studies show that participants engaging in exercise exhibited lower behavioural anxiety during the anticipation phase of stressors. That they reported lower cognitive anxiety during anxiety provoking situations and that their heart rate recovered faster.

Revision Tips

1. Know what you have to do
Relate all your revision tasks to the structure and format of the exam papers you will face. Make use of revision checklists and exam guides plus information on the marking schemes available in all your subjects to match the main syllabus sections and exam topics to the time available for revision

2. Revise in 'chunks'
Break up items into manageable 'chunks' that can be reviewed regularly.

3. Prepare by doing
As effective study must be active, all your revision should be based around testing your recall and practising your output.

4. Revise from the top down – Have a ‘Mind Map’
It is easier to understand and retain material that is well organised. Start with a good grasp of the main ideas or concepts, then follow with the sub-topics and supporting details.

5. Beware of new material in the final weeks of term

Exam Tips
1. Get a good night’s sleep before the exam!
2. Anxiety before an exam is normal but remember do NOT panic and keep your head!
3. Write clearly!
4. Clearly mark what question you are attempting to answer!

5. Do a short, quick brainstorm before you dive straight into answering the question!
6. Read the question three times and answer the question that you are asked!
7. Do NOT waffle!
8. Try answer most of the question is your own words!
9. Bring in a bottle of water to the exam!
10. Show off your knowledge!
11. Avoid Post Mortems!

12. Visualise your steps in the exam.

13. Visualise your success and walking to a calmer place once this process has been completed.

Stress Busting Tips:
These are some top tips for dealing with stress:

1. Get plenty of sleep
2. Take a break
3. Time for yourself
4. Be realistic
5. Eat properly
6. Get some exercise
7. Be positive
8. Chill out

If you are starting to lose it, and feel that the studying is getting on top of you - take a bit of time to:

  • Breathe deeply.
  • Tell yourself how well you are doing.
  • Remind yourself that everything is going to turn out alright.
  • Stand up straight and smile, you will feel a bit better straight away.

Dr. Ian Gargan

Forensic Psychologist and Medical Doctor

Clinical Director

Fresh Start/ Imagine Health/ GC

CPsychol (BPS) Reg Psych (PsSI) MB BCh BSc MSc MBA AFBPsS

Representative Committee Member of the Division of Forensic Psychology for the British Psychological Society within the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.