Quick! You need to remember 20 formulas for Maths! Oh, you can’t remember your quotations for English? You’ll fail all your exams! Exam season is quickly approaching and students may feel inundated with doubts and fears, overwhelming their thoughts like dark storm clouds. I spoke to multiple students who have exams coming up to ask them about their thoughts and feelings. 

 

Emotions are at an all-time high as students are gearing up for end of year exams. One student said, “I feel so unprepared even though I’ve been revising a lot.” It’s clearly been hard for students to remain self-confident when the thought of testing their ability comes up. Confidence crumbles quickly and the butterflies in our stomachs conquer all. For some, getting an unsatisfying grade may feel like the end of the world. However, many feel like it’s crucial to not let this stress and anxiety take over.

 

How does one cope with the stress of exams as it embeds itself into the very fabric of our lives? It certainly is difficult to balance revision with leisure; one student remarked, “I tend to just spend hours on end studying because I feel like I can’t waste a single second.” Advice on coping with exam stress is abundant, as teachers, parents and even the Internet constantly encourage students to take some time for themselves. Moreover, different students have different methods to reduce anxiety. Some choose reading, some choose watching movies, some like to draw - many students tend to find comfort in their hobbies during stressful times. Other techniques, such as breathing exercises and talking to others, are typically considered by many students to be incredibly helpful. 

 

Overall, tough times are ahead and while many students may feel worried, one must believe in their own ability and skill to push through. In the end, the catastrophic doomsday disaster students perceive exams to be are just exams. As one student summarised, “Believe in yourself, and try your best.”