Tips for Tension Free Exams
By Ravi Singh Negi
Various Board exams for classes X and XII are starting shortly. Stress and anxiety are natural and normal during and before the exams. However, when stress becomes overwhelming, it starts showing symptoms like difficulty in sleeping, headaches, stomach aches, loss of appetite, nervousness or anxiety, depression or hopelessness, irritability or anger. It can have negative effects on a student’s performance and overall well-being. Here are a few tips for parents and students for stress free exams –
- Do not go for new notes and new solutions, adhere to Short notes/ Review cards/Flash cards. Study in slots of 45 to 60 minutes sessions with 10 minute breaks.
- Revision – Most important but do not practice/ revise timeand again what you are confident about.
- Group revision – Good, for limited time but do not waste time in talking about irrelevant things.
- A few students are more inclined to pray and visit temples, sitting for a long time there for prayers andfasting in the name of God for good marks in the exams. Have faith but don’t waste your precious on prayers. Remember, only hard work and planned studies will bring you success in proportion.
- If you have any problem like general fatigue, sleeplessness, headaches, backache, shoulder aches and stomach upsets or any other physical problems or behavioural changes like irritability, loss of concentration, depression, change in appetite and signs of panic, immediately bring it to the notice of your parents.
- Relax -neither be overconfident nor under confident.
- Do not always think -‘what will happen if I get less marks’. Remember it is not only the brilliant and high scoring students who excel in future. In fact, the students who plan better and give their best, succeed in life.
- Eat light and healthy food with less fat.
- Exercise and listen to your favourite music, when you feel tired or during your study breaks. Breaks should not be too long.
- Do deep breathing exercises between your studies and consume sufficient water. It will help maintain flow of oxygen in your brain and will help you perform better.
- Do not take too much tea or coffee or other stimulants to just keep yourself awake.
- Do not sleep less or sleep too much -six-hours of sleep during exams is enough. Take a nap during the day also, for one hour or so.
- Do not read throughout the night before the exam.
- For the last day, keep short notes. Do not go for detailed answers or newlengthy problems.
- If you have the next paper soon, do not waste time on analysing/ discussing your previous paper. Forget what has happened, it can be analysed later. Concentrate on the next paper.
- Last but not the least – for parents – do not act with your child like a monitor with a stick but be friendly and lenient. Supervise your child without disturbing him/her. Provide them moral support without any high expectations. In case you find any change in the behaviour of the child, take remedial action or contact a trained counsellor.
(The Writer is an Advocate, Social Worker and Marriage/Academic Counsellor with experience of almost 20 years in the field)
