Any remedies for exam panic?
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I thought I'd turn to you lot to try and help me with my abysmal performance in exams, maths in particular. The problem seems to have started last year when I did my first AS exams. It'll all start well, until I encounter a question I find difficult, then no matter what I try and do, the rest seems to go out the window. I completely blank, on pretty much everything, totally overlook the obvious, overcomplicate everything. I don't think it's anything to do with my preparation because I'm always hitting 90% in all the practice papers I do at home/college in exam conditions, and feel like I know my stuff.
I really don't know what to do about it, and I'm feeling more worried about than ever, as this really is my last chance to put it all right. I've got 3 maths exams throughout June, and really need a B, absolute minimum. What I find really odd is that my best maths result was for one I really didn't feel confident in, and as I had 4 other maths exams decided I would just have to retake in the summer, so only did maybe a hour or two of revision right before the exam, went in to the exam with a totally laid back attitude and came out with my best ever maths result. If only I could remain as calm as I did in that one.
I'm seem to get on ok with my other two subjects, but I've never really had a bad experience as such with them, mind you, any mathsy bits of physics exams can also have me in a panic, but each time I screw up a maths exam, I feel even worse in the next one.
Can anyone suggest anything? Things like rescue remedy, having a sweet or two in the exam and stuff has all been suggested, will they help? I know it's all in my head, but am really battling with it, I just want to sort this out now, as I really don't want to consider the options if it all goes sour.
I thought I'd turn to you lot to try and help me with my abysmal performance in exams, maths in particular. The problem seems to have started last year when I did my first AS exams. It'll all start well, until I encounter a question I find difficult, then no matter what I try and do, the rest seems to go out the window. I completely blank, on pretty much everything, totally overlook the obvious, overcomplicate everything. I don't think it's anything to do with my preparation because I'm always hitting 90% in all the practice papers I do at home/college in exam conditions, and feel like I know my stuff.
I really don't know what to do about it, and I'm feeling more worried about than ever, as this really is my last chance to put it all right. I've got 3 maths exams throughout June, and really need a B, absolute minimum. What I find really odd is that my best maths result was for one I really didn't feel confident in, and as I had 4 other maths exams decided I would just have to retake in the summer, so only did maybe a hour or two of revision right before the exam, went in to the exam with a totally laid back attitude and came out with my best ever maths result. If only I could remain as calm as I did in that one.
I'm seem to get on ok with my other two subjects, but I've never really had a bad experience as such with them, mind you, any mathsy bits of physics exams can also have me in a panic, but each time I screw up a maths exam, I feel even worse in the next one.
Can anyone suggest anything? Things like rescue remedy, having a sweet or two in the exam and stuff has all been suggested, will they help? I know it's all in my head, but am really battling with it, I just want to sort this out now, as I really don't want to consider the options if it all goes sour.
Mobile Chicane said:
Propanolol (from your GP)
I've used beta blockers before when I was suffering from panic during public presentations.The problem is that (for me anyway) it acts like a "rev limiter for the brain", and you end up missing the crucial bit of edge. I ended up delivering poor presentations but not really caring. Better to just develop a bit of confidence by knowing your subject.
Also, drugs are bad, m'kay.
Practice and past papers by the bucket load, every single one you can get your hands on - exam setters are not very imaginitive usually so the same style of questions will come up over and over again.
There will be tough questions, so you need to accept that and find a strategy that works for you. Perhaps skip them and leave them to the end (although that could put more time pressure on the hard questions).
There will be tough questions, so you need to accept that and find a strategy that works for you. Perhaps skip them and leave them to the end (although that could put more time pressure on the hard questions).
Hi mate, firstly I really sympathise, I struggled badly under exam stress at uni.
I was fine throughout school upto GCSE (Found it easy upto there though), but then completely flunked A-Levels by putting in zero effort.
Anyway, I managed to sort myself out and got to uni a few years later and it was going really well, but then come exam time I was convinced I was going to fail like with my A Levels, despite working very hard this time!
It peaked for me in the 3rd year of 4, and at that point I actually went to see my GP (sounds a bit wimpy but really, I was stressed to hell). Anyway, they offered to prescribe Beta-blockers, but I opted not to take them. It was just good to talk to someone tbh and they explained how important it is to stay calm and find time for some relaxation.
My recommendations are;
1. Get some excercise inbetween revision
2. Eat well
3. Knock of revising at a reasonable time and get some sleep
4. Get to your exam good and early so the worry of being late is one less thing to stress about
5. Spend the time waiting to go into the exam chilling out alone, don't be tempted to cram last minute and DON'T get into a 'so what do you know' type of conversation with fellow examees!
6. Plan your time in the exam, don't spend the whole time on the first half of the paper - using past papers you should know your way around the paper and what you have to do - ie answer 2 of 6 questions.
7. If it gets to much for you in the exam, don't sit there and panic, ask to go to the toilet, sounds silly but a little air and 2 minutes away from the exam can do wonders
8. Plan a few beers after the last exam
Good luck with it all!
I was fine throughout school upto GCSE (Found it easy upto there though), but then completely flunked A-Levels by putting in zero effort.
Anyway, I managed to sort myself out and got to uni a few years later and it was going really well, but then come exam time I was convinced I was going to fail like with my A Levels, despite working very hard this time!
It peaked for me in the 3rd year of 4, and at that point I actually went to see my GP (sounds a bit wimpy but really, I was stressed to hell). Anyway, they offered to prescribe Beta-blockers, but I opted not to take them. It was just good to talk to someone tbh and they explained how important it is to stay calm and find time for some relaxation.
My recommendations are;
1. Get some excercise inbetween revision
2. Eat well
3. Knock of revising at a reasonable time and get some sleep
4. Get to your exam good and early so the worry of being late is one less thing to stress about
5. Spend the time waiting to go into the exam chilling out alone, don't be tempted to cram last minute and DON'T get into a 'so what do you know' type of conversation with fellow examees!
6. Plan your time in the exam, don't spend the whole time on the first half of the paper - using past papers you should know your way around the paper and what you have to do - ie answer 2 of 6 questions.
7. If it gets to much for you in the exam, don't sit there and panic, ask to go to the toilet, sounds silly but a little air and 2 minutes away from the exam can do wonders
8. Plan a few beers after the last exam
Good luck with it all!
HundredthIdiot said:
Mobile Chicane said:
Propanolol (from your GP)
I've used beta blockers before when I was suffering from panic during public presentations.The problem is that (for me anyway) it acts like a "rev limiter for the brain", and you end up missing the crucial bit of edge. I ended up delivering poor presentations but not really caring. Better to just develop a bit of confidence by knowing your subject.
Also, drugs are bad, m'kay.
As for other people's suggestions, the skipping question thing, is all well and good, except I end up flicking though several at time, totally blank.
Thing is I do love maths, but only when I'm not sat in a exam.
Either find an easy question & work through that while you settle or read over the bits you've already done while going through how you answered it. Everyone has moments like that but it's just a case of getting by until it passes. The main thing is not to freak out, just sit there & relax for a bit, if you need to spend 10 minutes doing nothing while you regain your composure so be it, you'll answer the rest of the questions better as a result
I've always suffered from exam nerves. From O Level right the way through to
degree exams. Quite often I would throw up minutes after getting out of bed.
I know what you mean about panicking. I was doing a question on Partial Differential equations
during the 2nd year of a BCs Maths and Computing course. I misread a question which made it seem ten times harder than it should be and almost immediately, my stomach dropped, and my face got about 100 degrees hotter. From then on my mind turned to jelly and I couldn't remember anything
I was reading. Total panic stations.
The thing that got me out of it was to think that I'd alread failed. I sat back, and though f
k it. The worst that could happen in this exam has happend. I sat there a few minutes and composed myself.
I got myself into the mind set that the exam was screwed and I didn't care. This took the pressure off. I could then set about doing the exam and ended up with a First.
degree exams. Quite often I would throw up minutes after getting out of bed.
I know what you mean about panicking. I was doing a question on Partial Differential equations
during the 2nd year of a BCs Maths and Computing course. I misread a question which made it seem ten times harder than it should be and almost immediately, my stomach dropped, and my face got about 100 degrees hotter. From then on my mind turned to jelly and I couldn't remember anything
I was reading. Total panic stations.
The thing that got me out of it was to think that I'd alread failed. I sat back, and though f
k it. The worst that could happen in this exam has happend. I sat there a few minutes and composed myself.I got myself into the mind set that the exam was screwed and I didn't care. This took the pressure off. I could then set about doing the exam and ended up with a First.
A little bit of a different slant on it here from an 'after the exam' point of view.
I am a worrier so usually the issues start for me a couple of minutes after leaving the exam.
A technique that I employe is the question(s) that you are the strongest on, read them back through before you leave the exam. This will leave you in a positive frame of mind as instead of remembereing the questions you messed up on, the 'easy marks' you earned will be in the forefront of your memory of the exam.
Helps me anyway.
Other than that, preapare as well as you can. Have all bases covered and get an early night.
There really is more to life than academic gradings.
I am a worrier so usually the issues start for me a couple of minutes after leaving the exam.
A technique that I employe is the question(s) that you are the strongest on, read them back through before you leave the exam. This will leave you in a positive frame of mind as instead of remembereing the questions you messed up on, the 'easy marks' you earned will be in the forefront of your memory of the exam.
Helps me anyway.
Other than that, preapare as well as you can. Have all bases covered and get an early night.
There really is more to life than academic gradings.
Jesus. I remember exams.
Assuming you've done all your study beforehand, I always used to find the following approach worked well for maths.
1. During perusal, write down any formulae you might need or have been cramming to remember. Then they're done and dusted.
2. After that, sit back and have a leisurely read through the paper. Make some notes as you go if you like on ideas for solving. Don't rush and don't start answering or doing calculations. You'll get a feel for the easy and hard questions, the latter will percolate around your brain without you even realising
3. Once you can start or feel like starting (I sometimes used to read and think for 30 mins before I began writing), then just work through questions from easy to hard. Don't expect to be able to answer all of them (you may not have time or have the knowledge). Just do the best you can with the time and tools available.
4. I used to chew sweets (sugar rush helps your brain process) and the chewing helps with stress
5. Remember. Its just an exam. You're not pressing the doomsday button. This isn't an excuse to do no work, but rather to give you sufficient perspective that you don't develop a peptic ulcer in the process.
Assuming you've done all your study beforehand, I always used to find the following approach worked well for maths.
1. During perusal, write down any formulae you might need or have been cramming to remember. Then they're done and dusted.
2. After that, sit back and have a leisurely read through the paper. Make some notes as you go if you like on ideas for solving. Don't rush and don't start answering or doing calculations. You'll get a feel for the easy and hard questions, the latter will percolate around your brain without you even realising
3. Once you can start or feel like starting (I sometimes used to read and think for 30 mins before I began writing), then just work through questions from easy to hard. Don't expect to be able to answer all of them (you may not have time or have the knowledge). Just do the best you can with the time and tools available.
4. I used to chew sweets (sugar rush helps your brain process) and the chewing helps with stress
5. Remember. Its just an exam. You're not pressing the doomsday button. This isn't an excuse to do no work, but rather to give you sufficient perspective that you don't develop a peptic ulcer in the process.
With a maths exam, you can always pick up method marks. For A level, if you get a hard question and don't know what to do, first identify what subject it is.
Then if it's, say, differentiation then just differentiate it, if it's trigonometry then throw the formulas at it, because those questions always require you to do something like that, so you can pick up a fair amount of the marks without understanding what the question is asking.
And, if it's taking ages, with over a page of working, then you've done something wrong, so move on to the next question. Good luck!
Then if it's, say, differentiation then just differentiate it, if it's trigonometry then throw the formulas at it, because those questions always require you to do something like that, so you can pick up a fair amount of the marks without understanding what the question is asking.
And, if it's taking ages, with over a page of working, then you've done something wrong, so move on to the next question. Good luck!
I know how you feel, i have my driving test this afternoon.
Failed it numerous times, lessons & mock tests go fine, i just blank out on the actual test.
Passed my bike test no problems, 1st time with 1 minor.
Just going to try and treat it like any other driving lesson and see what comes of it.
Failed it numerous times, lessons & mock tests go fine, i just blank out on the actual test.
Passed my bike test no problems, 1st time with 1 minor.
Just going to try and treat it like any other driving lesson and see what comes of it.
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