Dear Children,

Most of you are anxious and suffer from stress before and during an examination. You may even make simple errors that are not typical of your usual behaviour. Some of you often experience greater stress.  Stress is often strong enough to lead to increased heart rate, shortness of breath, trembling hands, shaking legs, nausea, sweating, etc. Exam anxiety and worry lead to a series of negative results including poor concentration, confusion, negative attitudes or moods, negative self-orientation, fear, anger, and even panic. The ability to perform well under pressure, however, is a skill that you can learn.

Bright Stars, you can avoid examination stress by following several strategies.  The major factor involved in test anxiety is the lack of preparation. Those who have poor study habits and do not prepare adequately for the test suffer from this stress.  Hence, take an objective look at your approaches to studying. Set realistic study goals with ample time for  learning and repetition. Leave plenty of time to revise so that you don’t get into a situation of having to do last minute cramming. This approach will help to boost your confidence and reduce any pre-exam stress as you know you have prepared well.

Nice Guys, it is important for you to feel comfortable and relaxed during examination period.  Make sure that you allow time for fun and relaxation so that you avoid buring out. As soon as you notice your mind is losing concentration, take a short break. You will then come back to your revision in refreshed mood. Test-anxious children tend to be preoccupied with them. They concentrate on their negative thoughts and feeling instead of concentrating on solving problems or answering test questions. The way to cope with this is to monitor your thinking. Experiment with several alternative revision techniques so that revision is more fun and your motivation to study is high.   

My Dear Friends, eat healthily and regularly; your brain will benefit from the nutrients. Regular moderate exercise will boost your energy, clear your mind and reduce any feelings of stress. Try out some yoga or relaxation techniques. They will help to keep you feeling calm and balanced, improve your concentration levels and help you to sleep better. Lastly pray the Almighty to get His true blessing without which nothing is possible.