Writing an exam is tedious enough on its own but the stress that's involved in the preparation just makes the whole situation so much worse! Wouldn't it be nice if you could walk in cool and calm, all your notes at your fingertips without a care in the world?

The Exam Stress

Everyone around is busy scribbling and you haven't got a clue about what to write! You were up all night revising and going over every little detail so why is it that you can't remember anything right now? Don't worry, you aren't alone in this phenomenon and it's not against the law to care about your grades! You can still ace the exam if you just plan ahead and avoid the late nights, if you just follow some simple and extremely basic guidelines.

1. Highlighters are your best friends. - Identify the key points and don't get lost in the waves of information. To avoid being overwhelmed with the syllabus and the sheer amount of knowledge that you have to retain, just remember the key points and the rest will automatically follow.
2. Eat healthy. - Just because you're busy studying doesn't mean that you should neglect your health. A lot of students, especially those in high school and college, go overboard with the caffeine in the race to stay awake without considering the burn out at the end. Tea and coffee are really bad for your health, they raise anxiety and turn you into a nervous wreck!
3. Exercise and get that blood pumping. - Nobody's asking you to hit the gym every day. Take 20-30 minutes off to stretch your legs and jump around a bit so that your stamina increases and so that the exam stress doesn't get the best of you!
4. Get some rest. - Sleep on time and get up on time. You need your sleep to retain the information you've been cramming. Just like you need to rest your muscles after the hitting the gym otherwise they would cramp up, your brain tends to tire out, which is why it's essential that you take some time off to recharge.

On the day of your Exam

Get a good night’s rest before the big day. Get up a little earlier if you have to but don't skimp on your nap time. Eat a good breakfast so that you have enough energy to sit through the exam without worrying about your blood sugar and all that icky stuff that can make you feel low when you're stressed out. You don't have to stuff your face, but have something!

When you're in the exam room, take your time. Understand the question before you start writing away because silly rushed mistakes are a student’s Achilles heel. Got stuck? Don't know how to answer this question? Don't worry about it because you can always come back to it later. Don't waste precious time fretting over things you don't know and instead finish off the questions that you do!

Shocking studies have shown has over 60% of young students all over the world feel sick right before an exam. Has anyone ever stopped to wonder why that is? At the end of the day, all you can do is to give it your best shot! Prepare well, work hard and give it all. After that, you shouldn't be any doubt that you were the best that you could be and that's all that counts!

Author's Bio

Steve Davids is a guidance counselor working with DoMyAssignment.net. He has extensive experience with students facing psychological and physical side effects of stress.