From February onwards, children begin to feel the fear of upcoming exams. The moment exams are mentioned, tension starts building in the mind. Examinations have always been a source of stress — not just for students, but for parents as well. In fact, exam season is a stressful period for the entire family. When emotional balance is disrupted, even elders in the family end up expressing anger toward children, which only adds to the pressure on them. However, if stress is overcome effectively, achieving success in exams becomes much easier.

The moment an exam is mentioned, a student’s thoughts race like horses. Will I be able to score good marks? Can I fulfill the expectations my parents have placed on me? Will I be able to write the right answers? What if I don’t get the marks I hoped for? How will things be with relatives, friends, teachers, and classmates? These kinds of worries keep swirling in their minds. Set aside such anxieties and stress, write your exam with a clear head — and success will come to your doorstep. Reducing exam fear is entirely within the hands of the students themselves.

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Goal Setting: Setting a clear goal before beginning exam preparation keeps the desire to study strong. Deciding in advance how many chapters you will complete in a given subject before starting your preparation increases interest in studying. It builds determination to finish the chapters in that subject. Reminding yourself of your goal regularly helps you achieve the target you have set for yourself.

Planning: Students must definitely prepare a study plan. They should decide what to study on which day and how much to cover. While some students study consistently from the beginning of the academic year, others only begin studying as exams approach — and that is when tension sets in. Having a plan well in advance means you can remain fresh and calm by the time exams arrive. Plan which subject to study on which day and which chapters to complete. Write this plan on a piece of paper and stick it on the wall of your study room where it is clearly visible to you.

Time Management: Make the best possible use of the 24 hours available to you each day. Whatever needs to be completed at a given time should be finished by that time. That said, staying awake all night to study does not yield the results one might hope for. The brain tends to function most actively between 4:30 AM and 6:00 AM, making early morning one of the best times to study.

Self-Confidence: Questions in exams come only from within your syllabus. If you walk into the exam hall worrying about what questions might come, you risk being unable to recall even what you have studied. Always go into an exam with self-confidence.

Exam Fear: Fear is not something anyone is born with — we must remember that we create fearful situations ourselves and have made a habit of worrying unnecessarily. Therefore, it is important to stay mentally strong. Regularly revise your syllabus and, if past question papers are available, practice writing answers to them frequently. This will instill in you the feeling that “I am ready, no matter when the exam comes.” Many students read well but do not practice writing, which makes it difficult for them to write quickly during exams. Some others compare themselves to better-performing peers and become disheartened. Instead of giving in to such feelings, remind yourself that “no one is born a genius” and keep studying.

Encourage Yourself, Never Be Envious: Every person in this world possesses unique abilities. Always encourage yourself by recognizing your own strengths. When you observe others, instead of feeling envious, issue positive instructions to your own mind. Train yourself to recognize the special qualities within you. When you look at others, use it as motivation to improve your own abilities — building the kind of self-confidence that says “I am capable in my own right.”

Healthy Sleep: Staying awake all night before an exam to study not only harms your health but also increases stress. Make sure to allocate at least 6 hours for sleep each night.

Let Go of Unnecessary Fears: Many students experience stress even while trying to reach their exam center on time. Arriving 45 minutes before the scheduled exam time allows you to feel relaxed. Once inside the exam hall, harboring unnecessary fears — “What questions will come? Will what I studied appear or not?” — can cause you, under stress, to forget everything you worked hard to learn. Do not allow needless fears to come near you.