mistake 3

Panicking Before or During a Paper

Do you worry that you would not have enough time to complete a paper, even before it starts? Are you very afraid that you would not be able to answer most of the questions in the paper, even before it starts? Does your heartbeat increase when you enter the exam hall and your hands sweat when you receive the exam paper? Are you at a loss of what to do for the rest of the paper, when you realize that there is one question that you cannot answer?

If you experience any of the above, or other symptoms of anxiety and panic, you need to check yourself. One of the worst things that you can do before and during a test or exam paper is to panic. Once you panic, your mind is in a frenzy and you cannot think properly. How can you attempt the paper calmly when you cannot even think properly?

Always tell yourself not to worry too much before a test or exam. Below are some good ways to reduce or eliminate your anxiety and worry:

1. Clarify all your doubts at the end of each lesson, so that they will not snowball into a big bag of questions before your test or exam.
2. Always prepare for a test or exam well in advance.
3. Don’t study every minute while you are awake. Busy yourself with some mundane household chores to take your mind off the upcoming test or exam.
4. Have a good night’s sleep before the date of the test or exam.
5. Keep reassuring yourself that you can do it. Once you stop doubting yourself, you will stop panicking.

If all else fails, comfort yourself that it is only a paper. It’s not the end of the world even if you don’t do well for just one paper.