Dear Aspect, have you got any advice for dealing with exam stress?
First of all, for me, I find making a plan so important, but it needs to be realistic, or else you won’t stick to it and therefore stress yourself out more than before. I like to think of it in a way of, if there are 35 days until your exam, make it a 30-day challenge to get a few hours of revision done every day. Making sure every day you’re eating, drinking and getting outside will be so important with clearing your head. I find, going for a walk early in the morning, helps to wake me up and put any exaggerated stresses into perspective. A big piece of advice is that if you’re feeling stressed, reach out to people. Whether it’s asking your professor for some revision resources, being tested by your family or getting advice from people in your course, there are ways to make exams less stressful.
Aspect… what should I do the night before my exam to prepare me?
The night before an exam is a tense time but use it wisely. Don’t switch up your routine majorly last minute. Review your revision notes and cue cards going over each topic with extra emphasis on the ones you have struggled with. Don’t keep yourself up way into the night, eat a nutritious dinner and prepare for the morning. Set a few alarms, on a few different devices if you can, just to reduce any risk of sleeping in. Get a good nights rest. Normally it’s hard to fall asleep when you’re nervous/excited for the morning, so set off slightly earlier and put aside any distractions such as your phone. This should set you up nicely for the big day ahead.
Hi Aspect! How do I deal with not getting the grades I had hoped for?
It can feel like the end of the world when you don’t get the grades you had hoped for, and it is completely disheartening. The first thing you have to do is often the hardest, and it is acceptance. Allow yourself time to process the situation whether it’s to vent your frustrations or just have a good cry. Next, you’ll need to re-evaluate your next move. If it’s a weighty exam, this could mean changing university or module, and that’s difficult to go through. If it is less weighty, then maybe you need to talk to your profs on how to improve or good resources you could use in the future. Often, you can’t change the situation after an exam, so it’s about keeping calm and moving forward.