Dear
Students,
March
is almost here. And so is the dreaded exam season. While the levels of tension,
stress and frustration are on an all time high, no one can deny the immense
power of a simple smile and a simple 'Good luck. I know you'll do well" in
curbing the exam stress! There isn't a way out of these desperate days. And
there isn't really a short cut either.
Transient
feeling of anxiety and stress is a part of life for every individual. A mild
degree of anxiety and stress may be stimulating and motivating, and may
actually help to improve the performance; but high degree of stress may be
disrupting. Examinations and interviews are undoubtedly stressful situations.
Every child goes through such situation and learns to cope up with stress
arising out of them, with experience and advancing age.
Appearing
for examinations is one of the very common situations, which an adolescent
finds difficult to cope up with. A hard working adolescent with good
intelligence may not be able to give his full performance in an examination. An
adolescent may avoid an examination or may not be able to write the answers,
though he/she knows them. An anxiety may disable and affect performance of an
adolescent in an examination.
Right
approach and right coping strategies may stimulate a child to overcome anxiety
and maximize own performance in the examination. Minimal anxiety enables an
individual adolescent to be more alert, attentive and concentrate fully in an
examination. High degree of anxiety interferes with performance not only in the
examination room but perhaps even more in the preparation of examination.
There
is no remedy if the student has not put up organized, and/or sufficient efforts
and not prepared systematically for the examination. Systematic, persistent,
organized efforts from the beginning of the session are the best strategies for
any individual to prevent anxiety related to examination.
A
warm relationship and feeling of security in the home environment promotes
congenial atmosphere for an adolescent and minimizes the stress and anxiety
before, during and after examinations.
Suggestions
for students:-
Before
going to the Examination Hall
1.
Avoid indigestible food, excessive liquids and stimulants like cola, coffee or
tea in the previous night.
2.
Avoid late night reading.
3.
Sleep for six hours at least, to get enough rest.
4.
Avoid discussion about previous papers.
5.
Plan some relaxation in the morning like listening to light music or going for
a short walk or a jog for 15 to 20 minutes.
6.
Do not attempt any new revision topics on the day of examination.
7.
Eat light food with good nutritive value well before you start from home on the
way to examination hall. Keep a small water bottle along with to keep you well
hydrated.
In
the Examination Hall
1.
Minimize waiting time outside the examination hall. It is always good to have
known the exact examination hall and seat on the previous day.
2.
Walk straight into examination hall on the day of examination.
3.
Avoid anxiety provoking discussions with friends e.g. discussion on topics or
questions or nervous feelings you have, etc.
4.
Practice positive self-statements like "I am going to do well",
"I am well prepared for this examination', ‘I have come here to pass the
examination with good grades’.
In
the Examination Seat
1.
Settle and compose yourself.
2.
Layout your equipment. e.g. pen, pencil, compass etc at leisure with cool mind.
3.
Take fifteen minutes to read the paper and check instructions carefully and
then underline key words in questions in your mind and plan.
4.
Try to write legibly.
5.
Leave space after each answer.
6.
Select the question you know the answer best.
7.
Write simply in short sentences, with correct spellings.
8.
Avoid long background introductions in your answers.
9.
Do not worry about the number of supplementary sheets used by the other
examinees. Just concentrate on your own job.
10.
Plan your time - drive the time according to the marks allocated to each
question.
11.
Stick to your time budget - try to keep ten minutes time at the end so as to
permit you to tie supplementary, check roll no. etc.
12.
If you are running out of time - remember that two half answered questions
fetch more marks than only one fully answered question. So never leave any
question unattempted.
13.
Always leave fifteen minutes in the end to check your answers. This strategy
helps to make minor changes, recheck any inadvertent omissions and adds to the
mental peace for further examination papers.
Wish
you all the very best for the examinations. It's absolutely fine and normal to
be nervous. But your nervousness must never hold you back from performing your
part.
All
is well! Learn to Smile through Stress. Stay calm, be cool, be healthy, eat
healthy, prepare well, do well and then wait for the magic to unfold. The
World's all yours ... Go, Win it !
Wishing
you a successful life!
