Coping With Exams.

"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure but I don't know many of them"

- Sylvia Plath

Exams are tough. I know this better than anyone. I'm in my fifth year of taking serious exams and it doesn't get easier. It's always the same. Study, study, study. Retain information. I've studied. I've procrastinated. I've panicked. I've cried. I've written pages of notes in all the colours of the rainbow. I've overdosed on Mountain Dew. I've passed. I've failed. I've eaten chocolate, whatever results I got. And I've discovered there is no surefire way to pass your exams. All you can do is speak to your teachers/tutors/lecturers because they know better than we do what to expect in your exams. I can't help you there. What I can help you with is how to cope with all of this. Because, chances are, your parents or teachers or siblings or friends are putting all this pressure on you to pass your exams, to achieve or exceed their expectations - and maybe you will. But exams can take a toll on you, physically and mentally. However, it's nothing that can't be remedied by your friendly Dr Blue (Note: Blue is neither friendly nor a doctor). Whether you're preparing for exams or trying to shake off the remaining jitters afterwards, these tips can help. Maybe. Worth a try though, isn't it?

BEFORE

-Try and stay on top of your revision. This may seem like a terrible way of coping with exams but the last thing you want is to panic and frazzle your brain before your exam(s). Study little and often and allow yourself breaks. Figure out your learning style (eg. visual or auditory) and revise in ways that will help you recall info. I use musical association and repetition.

-Plan. Plan how and when you'll get to your exam, plan your studying, plan your breaks, plan everything you need to to keep you calm and in control.
-Check things. You'll probably be given a timetable listing the time, date and location of your exam(s) but check with your teacher/tutor/lecturer that everything is correct. The last thing you want is to miss your exam.
-Now would also be a good time to speak to your teacher/tutor/lecturer about anything you're not understanding about your work. They're there to help and they'll be more than happy to help you. Remember, they want you to pass your exams too!
-Tempting as it may be to stay up all night to study, DON'T DO THIS. Sleep. Get a good night's sleep. Your brain needs to rest or it will burn out. If you're having trouble sleeping, try sprinkling lavender oil on your pillow or burning a CD of relaxing noises (think the sounds of ocean or the rain) to help you drop off. Try and make your room as dark as possible,  wear an eye mask if it helps. Avoid caffeine before bed and, if possible, do a little exercise to tire you out before you go to bed. Sleep is important.
-Be organised. Make sure everything you need is laid out where you can find it in the morning. If you need HB pencils, a calculator, a dictionary or anything important like that, pack it in your bag the night before. That way, you won't have to rush around in the morning.
-Get up early so you can eat a healthy, energising breakfast - maybe porridge with raspberries to slowly release energy throughout your exam. If you have time, do a little studying so it's fresh in your mind. Be at the exam location 15 minutes early. This is also a good time to revise but keep your ears open for announcements regarding your exam. If you have friends sitting the same exam, quiz each other on your knowledge of the subject - who knows, maybe a section you're struggling with is their strongest area!
-If you want, have a snack before going into the exam hall. It's so hard to concentrate when you're hungry.

DURING

-Try not to panic. Slowly breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will slow your heart rate and return your body to its relaxed state.

-Stretch out your muscles. Sitting hunched over your desk isn't great for your back. When you start to feel uncomfortable, take a few seconds to sit up straight and stretch your back and neck out. If your arm starts to ache from writing, put your pen down and rotate your wrist a few times to ease the tension in your tendons and ligaments. Stretch your fingers out.
-Concentrate. This seems obvious but it's so easy to get distracted by a ticking clock or an interesting tree or something. Don't let that happen. Eyes down, pen up and shut out the world. Recall the information and let it flow onto the page. If you forget something, don't worry, you can put an asterisk and add the information at the end of the paper if you've time.
-Read the paper carefully. Make sure you understand the question - sometimes they phrase them oddly to trip us up. Pretty cruel, huh? Just make sure you're writing all the relevant stuff.
- Keep a steady pace. Writing is like cross country running for your arm. It's about endurance. If you start off super quick, you'll slow down sooner and start to flag behind. Don't be slow, by any means but pace your writing so you don't overwork your wrist or brain.
-You're probably familiar with this but I'll reiterate it for you. If you're stuck on a question, leave it and come back to it at the end. It's better than spending 10, 15 minutes panicking about it. If you work on your strongest areas first, you'll be more confident and you'll have more time to figure the tricky questions out.

AFTER

-It's over! Give yourself a pat on the back. Maybe a bar of chocolate. If you've got the money, treat yourself to lunch at a coffee shop or nice café. You've worked hard and now is your chance to rest and reward yourself.

-Pamper yourself! You know the drill - dressing gown, face mask, hot bath, fluffy towel. It's not just for girls! Still, maybe that's not your thing? Does a bowl of popcorn and a good DVD sound more enticing?
-If you have pets, pet 'em. Stroking a cat or dog or hamster or snake has soothing qualities. Get rid of excess stress by lavishing attention on your slightly bewildered pet.
-Catch up on life. Whilst prepping for exams, it's easy to put your life on hold. Get back in there. A movie you've been meaning to watch, a book you've been meaning to read, a game you've been meaning to try - they're all yours. If you'd rather sleep till 2 in the afternoon, that's fine too. You're mentally burnt out so you probably don't fancy reading 4 books a week at the moment.
-Relax. Get the excess stress and adrenaline out of your system. Talk it out, walk it out, unwind however you know how. Just chill! You'll soon be back to your old self.
-Remind yourself - you got through this. You beat exams. Whatever the outcome, you survived and you are strong. Come on, life, you're ready! If you're arty, make yourself a medal or a certificate. God knows you deserve it.

Feeling better? More prepared, more confident? You should be. Good luck guys! I'm rooting for you!