LIFE

Imagine studying a week in advance for your long-awaited chemistry exam. At this point, you definitely know all the information like the back of your hand. As the teacher places the test in front of you, you start to overthink your answers, and your mind goes blank. If this has happened to you before, you might have test-taking anxiety. It's normal to feel anxious before a test, but that shouldn't get in your way of being a star student. Here are four tips for combatting negative feelings before taking an exam.

Think positive thoughts

It's perfectly fine to hype yourself up before an exam—you should aways be your biggest supporter! Instead of thinking "I'm totally going to fail," try these alternatives instead:

"I can do anything I put my mind to."
"I'm going to ace this exam."
"There is nothing to worry about."

Arrive early to class

The last thing you want on test day is to arrive late. Not only will this mess up your flow, but you'll also be scrambling to get yourself together. Arriving early to class allows you to get your test-taking supplies ready and briefly look over your notes.

Don't compare yourself to others

Once the teacher hands out exams, it might feel like your peers are zooming through their pages. Don't compare yourself to your classmates, because everyone operates at a different pace. Even if they finish thirty minutes earlier than you, dont fret. Double-check your answers and take your time. 

Get a good night's sleep

This may seem like a no-brainer, but getting a good night's sleep will improve your alertness and your memory. It'll also put you in a better mood, so say "goodbye" to self-doubt!

Looking for more school-related content? Check out these articles:
📚 How to get through a boring book for English class
📚 5 ways to ground yourself when you're feeling overwhelmed this school year
📚 Try these study hacks to end your procrastination habits

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by Nadia Payne | 12/6/2022