Leisure Studies Aim Higher

EXAM TIME !

Dealing with exam anxiety is something we all have to face, anyone going into an exam not feeling the least bit nervous is probably not taking the situation seriously.

Before the Exam !

Be prepared! Learn your material thoroughly, approach the exam with confidence: View the exam as an opportunity to show how much you've studied and to receive a reward for the studying you've done.

Don't go to the exam on an empty stomach. Fresh fruits and vegetables are often recommended to reduce stress. Stressful foods can include processed foods, artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft drinks, chocolate, eggs.

Allow yourself plenty of time and get there a little early. Relax just before the exam.

During the Exam :

Stay relaxed and confident, remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going to do well. Don't let yourself become anxious; if you feel anxious before or during an exam, take several slow, deep breaths to relax. Don't talk to other students before an exam; anxiety is contagious

Preview the exam, spend a short period of your exam time reading through the paper carefully, marking key terms and deciding how to budget your time. Plan to do the easy questions first and the most difficult questions last. As you read the questions, jot down brief notes indicating ideas you can use later in your answers.

When taking essay exams, think before you write. Create a brief outline for your essay by jotting down a few words to indicate ideas you want to discuss. Then number the items in your list to indicate the order in which you will discuss them. Make sure you do this rough work on the answer paper, as it may generate marks for you, if you do not complete your written answer.

When taking an essay exam, get right to the point. State your main point in the first sentence. Use your first paragraph to provide an overview of your essay. Use the rest of your essay to discuss these points in more detail. Back up your points with specific information, examples, or quotations from your readings and notes. Do not waste time restating the exam question.

Reserve 10% of your exam time for review. Review your exam; resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the questions. Make sure you have answered all the questions. Proofread your writing for

spelling, grammar, and punctuation.