How to Survive Exam Anxiety (Without Losing Your Mind)

It's 2 a.m. You've been staring at the same page for forty minutes. Your brain feels like cotton candy. Your phone buzzes with people claiming they haven't even started. Welcome to exam anxiety and stress.

Here's what I've learned: the panic isn't the problem. Your body trying to protect you is actually doing its job. The problem is we don't know what to do with it.

Stop Fighting the Anxiety: Understanding Test Stress

Feeling anxious before an exam is completely normal. It doesn't mean you're not prepared. It doesn't mean you'll fail. It means you're human and you care.

It's normal not to feel 100% confident. Confidence comes from taking the test, not from feeling confident before it.

What Actually Works: Proven Study Strategies

• Study smarter, not harder.   Read, close the book write what you remember, check what you missed. Your brain actually learns this way.

• Take real breaks.   Study 45-50 minutes, then genuinely step away. Your brain processes better when you're not forcing it.

• Sleep is not optional.   Seven to eight hours is one of your best weapons. Sleep deprivation won't help your exam performance.

• Talk about it.   Tell someone how you're feeling. If it's overwhelming, reach out to a school counselor.

• Have a pre-exam ritual.   Review main concepts for 20-30 minutes the night before. Eat real food.

• Remind yourself:  "I've prepared. I'm doing my best. That's enough."

  
  

  Managing Panic During the Exam

• Breathe. In for four counts, hold for four, out for four.

• Skip questions you're stuck on. Come back to them.

• Answer what you know first. Build momentum.

The Real Talk

Your test score is not your worth. Yes, it's your ticket to an academic institution. And that's the truth. That won't be the end of your story.

You've got this.