How to Overcome Exam Fear?

Exam fear is a seriously normal quality among students. We feel overpowered by pressure and strain during exam season, which, thus, adversely affects our way of learning. Having exam fear, or apprehension about taking exams, may impact your grades negatively. 

This fear may be a result of different reasons – difficult subjects, procrastination, lack of sufficient preparation level, higher expectations from parents, unclarity in concepts etc.

Exam fear could bring down your confidence and lessen the certainty that you want to take exams; Because of this, it’s critical to deal with it. On the off chance that you are thinking about how to defeat exam fear and wondering how to overcome exam fear, look no further. We are here to help you.

What is Exam Fear?

An exam normally prompts a great deal of strain and tension generally known as exam fear. Fear of exams is called Examophobia. It is a psychological problem seen in the vast majority of students.

At the point when exams show up, students become very stressed and make arrangements over how to review, how to perform better and get passing marks. How to overcome exam fear is one of the Google questions. A few students find exams so troublesome that the fear makes them debilitated as they essentially find themselves unfit to adapt to the exam fear. There might be sweating and heart palpitations that make it hard to think clearly and make the paper look bad. Likewise, in ensuing exams, it turns out to be more awful and the apprehension escalates. The individual might end up feeling like a failure or guilty! 

Tension is a typical human inclination that is important for life and can frequently act as a decent type of adrenaline. In any case, in a couple of individuals, this adrenaline rush surpasses ordinary cutoff points and now and again may prompt a few unfortunate results.

Exam uneasiness is:

1. Extreme stress over forthcoming exams

2. Apprehension about being assessed

3. Anxiety about the result

4. Known to many regular students

Before we find the answer to how to overcome exam fear, let’s identify the triggers that lead to exam phobia.

How to Recognize Your Exam Fear Triggers?

All of us have sooner or later in our lives needed to step through an examination, and a considerable lot of us have likely experienced pressure too. Most students experience general uneasiness previously or during exams, and assuming that they do, they are reasonably encountering “examinophobia” or “exam fever.” It is discouraging to see how adversely it influences students socially as well as mentally, intellectually, and inwardly. 

How to overcome exam fear and what leads to it? The following are five normal reasons students fear exams –

1. Inadequate Preparation 

The majority of students struggle with exams because they are either unprepared for the exam or do not pay attention in class. They also tend to forget things during exams, which causes stress related to exams.

2. Mixed-up Perspectives

Inappropriate nerves might make students question their capacities. They figure they can not be deemed relevant if they score 95% or above. Such thoughts overwhelm the student, who then, at that point, fosters a fear of exams, by and large.

3. Irrational Tension

Because of the assumptions of guardians, educators or companions, children may feel unnecessary tension, which prompts unusual measures of pressure, which then, at that point, influences execution.

4. Anxiety of Flunking

Students often overthink and believe that it might be difficult for them to even score passing marks. This negative mindset leads to anxiety and homophobia.

5. Low Confidence

Low confidence makes student question their capacity to get ready for exams. This might create fear and an absence of motivation. They may not finish their whole exam if they begin thinking – “Why?” ” I’m ill-fated at any rate.”

These points are some starting points or the triggers that lead to exam fear. Remember, it all commences with the thought that you have about yourself. Keep your thoughts positive and intact. 

The Impact of Exam Fear on Performance

Exam fear is one of the normal things that you can find in each student who will go to exams. However, this isn’t extremely strange yet can have an adverse consequences when you take your exam. Stress and expectations from parents and teachers are two of the main causes.

The majority of such cases can be found in students who will go to board exams. On the off chance that students experience exam fear or stress, they can not perform well.

Exam fear leads to the following consequences: 

1. Low confidence

The fear brings down the confidence level of students eventually. 

2. Brain-fog

Exam fear can lead to bad memory and concept retention among students. It can lead to multiple other issues such as multiple revision and practice sessions. 

3. Procrastination

Exam fear can lead to demotivation and thus, delay in exam preparation. Constant procrastination can become a pattern and lead to a lack of preparation. 

4. Unhealthy Habits 

Constant exam fear can lead to unhealthy habits such as binge eating and inadequate sleep patterns. 

It is important to stay aware that these consequences are serious and can become a pattern of a lifetime. Therefore, sufficient precautions need to be taken to solve or get rid of exam fear. 

How to Overcome Negative Thought Patterns?

The following ways can help you to overcome the negative thought patterns and help you find the solution to how to overcome exam fear:

Ways to Overcome Exam Fear

1. Remove Negative Energy 

If you feel like you’re creating a storm of negative thoughts, stop what you’re doing and get your mind clear. Think of the study process you will be able to enjoy more once you get rid of negative energy.

2. Establish a Strategy and Stick to it 

You can establish a strategy for studying as soon as you are aware that an exam is coming up. Avoid procrastinating. Try not to hold on as late as possible to read up for an exam; the pressure you put on yourself and the late night will make you more restless, and you will not recollect a lot.

3. Psychological Need

The facts confirm that students every so often put off taking care of their actual requirements to read up for an exam. keep up good dieting and resting schedules. A student who is eager and depleted is probably going to perform more terribly on an exam than one who is very much refreshed and taken care of. Practice oftentimes, and after you have completely arranged for the exam, unwind.

4. Start Studying Earlier

Concentrating on bit by bit after some time is significantly more advantageous than packing everything in simultaneously. Studying earlier is one of the answers to how to overcome exam fear. Moreover, investing energy concentrating on something similar or close by areas as your exam can help with your capacity to hold the material when it comes time to step through the examination.

5. Try Relaxation Techniques 

Relaxation techniques or even turning to spirituality is one of the common answers on how to overcome exam fear. Practice deep breathing, relaxing each muscle one at a time, or closing your eyes and imagining a positive outcome to feel calm and confident before and during the exam.

Check: How to Stay Calm During Exams?

Effective Study Techniques to Overcome Exam Fear

Thinking up effective study techniques that work for you as a student and adhering to them will help cut down the exam fear. Does that sound challenging? You can relax as we have four strategies on the best way to arrive.

1. Organize

Organising eliminates pressure and gives you time control. Start planning your time by day, week, and month at least a few months before the exam. By doing this, you will have an unmistakable thought of how long you have and the amount you can dedicate to various exercises. Take charge of your time, not the other way around!

2. Plan

Create a suitable schedule that takes into account your schedule and includes all of the activities planned for the day. Remember to incorporate rest time, rest time, feast time, rest time, and so forth. You will benefit more from it if it is clearer. Make it realistic.

3. Grasping the course material

The most vital phase in distinguishing significant subjects is to invest energy in understanding the syllabus and chapters. Read through your course material and record notes significant for the exam.

4. Test your Knowledge

After you have memorized a particular subject, test your knowledge. After you have read the course material, practice and test yourself. This self-appraisal strategy is one of the best review techniques to assist you with retaining words, points, and ideas rapidly. It expects you to inquire as to whether the data you utilized truly soaked in or just moved off your tongue.

Check: How To Study For Exams In One Day?

How to Build Confidence through Preparation?

If you have prepared well and on time, it will automatically lead to higher confidence and self-esteem. You will feel that you are already ready to ace the exam.

A few strategies can help you to prepare well and increase your confidence. These are as follows: 

1. Flashcards

For last-minute study tips, flashcards are a great study tool. At the point when you need to retain definitions- utilizing these flashcards is a functioning learning strategy that assists you with recalling. They are compact, so you can take them any place you need to study and they are not difficult to make. You can utilize the flashcards effectively around exams.

2. Genuine Study Resources

Last-minute preparation requires the right guidance and resources to ensure students have all the information they need for the exam. However, a lot of students keep multiple books for each subject, confusing.

To avoid this, students should prefer and strictly follow the standard guidebooks and textbooks recommended by subject teachers and experts.

3. Regular Review of Textbooks and Notes 

Textbooks and notes reviews can be extremely beneficial. Occasionally, we get so engaged in cramming that it leads to issues in areas such as attempting application-based questions. All students could require without a second to spare is a basic survey or look at reading material and notes.

4. Divide the Concepts into Chunks

You don’t need to do a whole part at a time. Divide the reading task into manageable chunks making it appear much simpler. Start early and do something. Make an early start and take action.

Check: Last Minute Exam Revision Tips for Students

What Are Stress Management Strategies For Exams?

Various stress management strategies spanning across categories of health, social circle and sleep patterns can help you manage your stress. 

1. Eat Properly

It’s tempting to reach for chocolate and chips as study snacks in an attempt to ace your exam, but eating wholesome meals and snacks makes it much simpler to concentrate. While occasionally indulging in pleasure can teach valuable lessons, overindulging in sugar or salt will leave you feeling lethargic. It’s crucial to ensure you have a healthy lunch before the exam.

2. Avoid Caffeine

When it comes to studying, a lot of students make the mistake of turning to coffee or energy drinks. You’re more likely to fail even if you believe it will help you study at night or prepare you for an exam. How to overcome exam fear? Cut off caffeine and junk food.

3. A Restful Night’s Sleep

Even if you want to improve your exam preparation, staying up late to cram is not a smart idea. If you struggle to stay awake, you’re probably not studying as hard as you may be. To improve, consider getting a full night’s sleep the night before the exam.

4. Join a Study Partner.

Studying with friends is a great way to be productive and have fun at the same time. You may do better at work when you have people around to inspire you and guide you through challenging ideas and subjects.

Check: How To Deal with Exam Stress?

Seeking Support to Overcome Exam Fear

On the off chance that you feel the need go ahead and look for help from guardians, friends or even experts. Speaking and connecting with your near and dear ones is how to overcome exam fear.

1. Have a conversation with your parents! 

Parents can address fundamental apprehensions that might be present with exam-taking. At a profound level, as a student, you might fear disappointment for different reasons. There could be anxiety about looking stupid to companions, of not getting into the best school, or of not measuring up to parents’ assumptions. Having a discussion makes a difference. Parents offer unconditional support and encouragement always.

2. Seek Guidance from Teachers

Sometimes asking your teacher for assistance can be frightening or difficult. Students may be unsure about how to approach or what to say when they do so. But, you can ask your teacher for assistance by using techniques like timing your conversation and being specific about the type of help you require.

Inhale deeply and keep in mind that approaching your teacher for assistance is a mature move.

3. Study and Work with Your Peers

There are various advantages to working together with peers to achieve better learning results, and these can greatly enhance your educational experience. 

Developing fresh viewpoints is one of the key advantages. When studying alone, it’s easy to become mired in your thoughts. On the other hand, students can learn fresh perspectives and alternative methods of approaching problem-solving through group collaboration. Students have a greater comprehension of the subject and develop their critical thinking skills.

How to maximise working together with peers:

• Establish clear expectations and goals for your group study sessions.
• Increase output by using efficient time management strategies.
• Build a good rapport among the group’s members. Promote involvement and interaction
• Create avenues of open contact for suggestions and assistance.
• Using each other’s advantages and shortcomings, we may all learn from one another.

Conclusion

Encountering exam fear is something typical. Keep in mind that you are not alone if you suffer from exam phobia. Share your concerns with friends, teachers, or parents. Consider getting away from this trepidation and zeroing in additional appropriately on your examinations. The tips referenced above will assist you with defeating the exam fear and planning better for exams. You will also stay more positive and light-hearted by following these practices.

Eventually, you’ll have the option to overcome fear and excel in your exams.

Check: 20 Proven Exam Study Hacks For Students

FAQs on How to Overcome Exam Fear