Beat the exam stress

Self-confidence and a stress-free mindset will pave way for success in Board examinations, says Dr TP Sethumadhavan

Success in examination depends on how students write examinations without stress. Success is not a matter of luck, but can be achieved through hard work. Parents and teachers need to create stress free ecosystem among the students.  But as Class X and XII Board examinations are going on, parents and teachers are anxious about the outcome of examinations. State and CBSE board syllabus examinations for Class X and XII standard will begin from next week.  Recent research done by Professor Dympna Devine, Head of the sociology at University College Dublin reveals that three out of four students say that the exams are biggest stress in school. Moreover, 75 per cent of students were satisfied with career counselling and active learning.

Stress-free mind

In order to succeed in the examinations, the student’s mind needs to be calm, intellect to be doubt free, memory to be clear and ego to be healthy.  Recent findings reveal that a student attending the examination without stress will additionally gain 20 per cent marks than students writing the exam with stress. Anything which helps to create positive attitude includes regular sleep, food, exercise, spending study time in daylight hours, learn and practice a relaxation technique, rest while resting and study when opting to study. During sleep, brain clears its trash. During deep sleep period from 11 pm to 3 am, concentrate on sleep rather than study. Minimum six hours of sleep is essential for the examination. Always keep the mobile phone and internet resources away from study room. But internet can be used only to supplement studies.

During examination season, avoid the use of social media. Most often students hate subjects because of listless, uninspired teaching and badly written text books. Try to concentrate on fundamentals first. Students must opt for easy studying than emergency studying. Emergency studying will create unwanted stress. Too much stress means too much to do, too little time and not enough energy. While doing emergency studying the immediate worry among the students is whether I can complete the study in time?

How to study

Students must practice last five years question papers. Study continuously on priority basis and answer all the questions in the text book. Take 10 minutes break in every two hours of study. Time management is more important. Drink plenty of water and fruit juices and avoid excess of non-vegetarian and junk foods. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science & Commerce are do type subjects. Study the formula and equations. Study skills include survey, question, read, recite and review. Meditation and yoga helps improve mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. It can be done for 15 minutes a day to improve concentration, memory, mental and physical health. Self-confidence and stress free mindset will pave way for success in board examinations.

The writer is an education and career consultant