Has this ever happened to you?

You’ve been studying hard for your test, but when you walk into your exam, your mind goes blank. You have knots in your stomach, you are all sweaty. Your breathing goes shallow and you just feel defeated.

If these classic signs of test anxiety sound familiar, you may be in trouble. No matter how prepared you are, your test scores may not reflect your knowledge. We are here to help you learn how to deal with and control your test anxiety before and during a stressful test.

Meditation and physical well-being

Always be healthy and eat properly. If you let your body go, it will affect your personality and your entire attitude You will feel mentally recharged if you keep in healthy shape. Getting enough sleep is hugely important. Regular exercise is also a brilliant stress beater. Practise breathing exercises to cut through all the stress and yoga to be in a good space.

Don’t set unrealistic standards

With university come a lot of different factors. You are being tested against hundreds of others and this may make you overly self-critical. Don’t focus on your mistakes or failures and encourage yourself not to give up. Always know you have more than just this test to prove your abilities through.

Revision! It matters

Mugging up won’t help, you must devote regular time to study. Always try and finish your syllabus before the due date and keep a tab on your outings to help you stay focused. Revision helps you understand concepts better and gives you more confidence in dealing with exams.

Dance, sing, play: Distract your mind in the positive direction

All work and no play. We all know what that does to Jack and to you too. You must join a new society, or a hobby club engage with like-minded people and bond over a mutual interest. Find some time for your own hobbies and nurture your talents. There is more to live than grades

Build your CV through good work!

Volunteering or student mentoring adds a lot to your college life and hey, it’ll look amazing on your CV too! It is a great stress reliever and will give you a sense of accomplishment. Mentor juniors, volunteer for different societies and try to engage in meaningful work throughout and even after your college life.

Never bottle things up

Talk to people about how you are feeling. Never underestimate your own fears and anxiety. Mental health is best maintained when you have a creative healthy outlet for all the emotions. Talking about your problems will help you feel less isolated and alone. The best part? There are many people going through something similar and you are not alone, so talk to your friends, family, seniors and teachers.

Don’t be afraid to seek help

There’s no shame or stigma to be associated with mental health issues and there is always something which can be done to help manage your anxiety and get it under control. If you feel like you’re trying everything, talk to a doctor and seek advice or medication. Always involve parents in such a decision. Not everything needs to be dealt with alone.