Education psychologist Mandy Arnott says there are things that learners and parents can do to try and avoid stressing at this crucial time.
Arnott advises that:
n It is imperative for learners to prepare and understand the work before each exam and not to try study off by heart, as stress tends to arise when one is not prepared.
n Avoid trying out new study methods now.
n Be aware of symptoms of stress which might include headaches, diarrhoea, skin infection, ulcers and sleep being affected among other things.
n Don’t leave out certain areas when studying but cover the entire syllabus and with understanding.
n Make sure that you prioritise your work and don’t leave the work of the last exam till late to study. Rather give as much focus to everything you will be writing.
n Have support groups with peers where you can support each other, but make sure you choose them carefully as you need to pick people with the same motivation as you. When choosing study groups be careful of negative people as this might stress you out more.
n Make sure that you eat fresh fruit and vegetables, drink lots of water and avoid coffee and chocolate as this adds to your stress levels. Do not skip meals.
n Also get a good supply of vitamins such as Vitamin B and Magnesium.
n Exercise is also important as it helps to break down stress.
n Have enough rest breaks between your studying sessions, this is important as your brain needs break period to be able to process information. During this time do something that will help you to relax.
n Get enough sleep as not sleeping enough won’t help you.
n Also get a lot of fresh air.
n Make sure that your study environment is conducive to study in, so avoid your bedroom as we normally think of relaxing when we are there. Rather put up a screen to close off your resting area when studying in your bedroom.
n Manage your time when studying and in the exam room.
n If you must listen to music, find something that has no lyrics and it must be played gently so that you can focus, or rather study in a quiet place.
n Leave your cellphone out of the room when studying as it will distract you even when it is on silent.
n Before sleeping have some relaxation time to calm yourself down and it helps doing something completely different from studying.
n The night before the exam, visualise yourself at the venue and have a positive feeling that you will succeed, as this will put you in the right state of mind.
n Go to the bathroom before the exam starts.
n On the day of the exam, go straight to the exam venue, avoid going to your friends as they might start asking you questions and might cause you anxiety.
n Before starting with your exam, read through instructions carefully and start by answering sections that you do know and are confident in as this will also build your confidence.
n Divide your paper in terms of the allocated marks and be disciplined when the time you have allocated for each question is up. Rather leave space and carry on with the next one.
n After the exam make sure you relax first before tackling the following subject.
“It is important for parents to try and be understanding and not nag their children, especially during their breaks.
“Be positive so that they too can do the same and help them to relax.
“Encourage them and don’t bully them into studying.
“During exam time cut down on the chores that your child normally does in the house as they need as time to study,” adds Arnott.
