How to deal with exam stress

Submitted on January 23, 2004

Send to friendBy Ken Sherwood If it’s exam time, there is stress. If it’s the beginning of the new semester and teachers have laid out the expectations for each course, there is stress. So, the big question is how can I handle stress and make it a positive force in my school life? Many teens today crumble under the growing weight of stress caused by school. Many teens resort to alcohol or drugs to escape reality because they can’t deal with stress. Many people try to finish required assignments or study at the last minute, even waiting until the class before a test to prepare for an exam. I think that stress can prevent a student from learning material that they would otherwise be able to learn easily. More importantly, people miss the point that Jesus should be the center of our lives no matter what. If teens want to relieve stress effectively, they must first take steps to make Jesus an active part of their life. Although planning ahead is very important for success, if students don’t pray and ask God for help, stress is very hard to overcome. I relieve excess stress all the time by playing guitar and singing Praise and Worship songs. I find that when I sing songs that say what I feel, I receive much more peace than I would if I tried alternate routes to happiness. Praising God with others at Mass is essential for me to stay stress-free. Faith and trust in God are so important because even when I am completely stressed out, I still know that God can help me to take care of my problems. Ken, a junior at St. Mary’s High School, is a member of the Jazz Band and has had a poem included in the school newsletter. He is involved in his parish and belongs to both the youth group and Boy Scout troop in his parish. By Kim Knaust My most important piece of advice is to relax, both while studying and during any test or exam. Simple details are forgotten, directions are misread and glaring mistakes are made when students get stressed. To avoid the "cram time" stress, I would suggest doing regular study. When a big test or exam is on the horizon, it is not necessary to do serious study right away, but it is a good idea to look over study guides, highlight key topics in notes, and retrieve old tests and quizzes. Past tests give students the best idea of what to study. In general, if something is not important enough to be included on a test, then it will not appear on an exam. By gathering notes and tests and completing study guides, a student is already halfway finished with the preparation. When the serious studying begins, it is important to be comfortable. While it is not a good idea to study in front of a TV, listening to soft music can be conducive to good study habits. Also, taking breaks during study time is important. Too much studying at one time can be as harmful to a student’s grade as too little studying. Take a break, do something else, let your subconscious absorb what you’ve studied. Finally, do only a light review the night before then a full night of sleep. Kim, a junior at St. Dominic High School, is active in the Writer’s Guild and International Club and is a member of the National Art Honors Society. By Sarah Rall Don’t overstress. You’ve already put a lot of time and energy into this course: The test or exam is review. Get lots of sleep: Power naps work great. Do regular study: When a test is scheduled, start early to review information. Organize a study group: It helps to talk over concepts with a group of classmates. During serious study, take breaks, watch a short TV show, read a magazine, check your e-mail, eat a healthy snack. Don’t study one subject for a long period of time: Study each subject with a break in between. Know what concepts are important to focus on — ask your teacher. Exercise: Head to the YMCA to work off some stress. Don’t wait until the last minute to study: No matter what you’ve heard, cramming is not that helpful. Before you begin any test, exam, class presentation, or project, pray hard, then "Let go and let God!" Sarah, a senior at Cor Jesu Academy, is president of the French Club, and is very active in community service and her youth group.