By Abdirahman Mohamed Idris
For most university students, examination would determine the outcome of their performance throughout the semester. The two or three hours sitting in the examination hall would see the success or failure in the four months that they spent during the semester. It is not surprising that the thought of sitting for the exam has caused great anxiety among them. Hence, students should learn to overcome stress that comes before the start of final exam, otherwise their struggling throughout the semester could go to waste.
A hard working and diligent student could face problems and fail if students poorly manage their stress level that comes before the final examination.
Here are some tips to help you overcome your stress level before the exam starts:
1. Time management is very important
If you plan for your exams beforehand you will not face any troubles during the examination period. The students become victims to the stress because of their weak planning for the exams. Most of the students wait till the night before the exam and start studying and preparing for the exam. How not to be stressed? At least the student should start planning for the preparation of exams a month before the exams. Some would say that they are busy doing assignments. You can set only two hours each day to prepare for the finals.
2. Be ready and study materials completely
After you manage your time, study smart and study hard. Some students ignore the information that is difficult to understand and do not try to read it again to comprehend. You should read the information more than one time until you understand it. Revise more than one time and do not lose hope when you forget an information you have studied before. You have to work hard to understand in order to get the knowledge which could help you in your life later on rather than studying to pass the exam while you have no idea about the information you read.
3. Exercising would help you in your study
Not only is exercise good for your overall health and fitness, but it also boosts your mental wellbeing. Exercise will help you keep you during exams. You will feel more energised and refreshed, and that will help you perform better in your preparation for the exams. Plan your day and fix some exercise around your study plan.
4. Get enough sleep before the exam day
One of the biggest mistakes that students do during the examination period is to sleep less and stay awake for long hour, which would affect them physically and psychologically. One should remember that Allah has given us our bodies as Amanah we should not harm them because they are not ours. Some would say that we are working hard and studying; we are not playing or entertaining ourselves. You should force yourself to do more Ibadah on the expense of your rest. Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “O `Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast all the day and stand in prayer all night?” I said, “Yes, O Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)!” He said, “Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them (the fast) at other times; stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you.” It is also good for you to have rest so you could study well and perform well in your exams.
4. Allow yourself enough time and go to the exam early
Some students like to revise immediately before the exam, they think that that would help them, but it will only put a lot of pressure on them. You should relax before the exam, do not study anything one hour before the exam so that your mind will be calm, and your memory will work well then.
5. Avoid going to the exam with an empty stomach
An empty stomach would distract the student and disturb his or her performance and a full stomach would also make him or her feel so sleepy, therefore consider both. You are advised to take with you a piece of sweetness or biscuits and the like to help you to forget the anxiety and perform well in your exam.
6. Face the exam with complete confidence
After you have done the means of that would lead you to success, be confident of yourself and remember that Allah would not waste your effort. The performance of the student will be very high and the stress will be very low if he or she were confident of what they have done. Sometimes even though you are confident and you have done all the means but the end could turn out to be the opposite of what you were expecting. As a Muslim you should be sure of what was written for you will happen to you whether you like it or not, and you should accept what Allah has chosen for you.
These guidelines may help you score in your exams and perform with full confidence in the examination hall. Students should plan their time wisely and avoid stressing themselves. You should remember that this is only the dunya exam and we are getting this much of stress and disturbance, how will we do in the real exam in the hereafter?***