Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette This week around 1,317,439 boys and 1,120,795 girls from the intermediate and high school will be sitting down for school exams, according to the Ministry of Education. For some students, the exam is viewed as a terrifying black ghost that is out to get them. Teachers acknowledge that a moderate and healthy dose of concern and worry is helpful as it motivates students to study harder. However, an all-out fear and genuine dread of exams can be incapacitating and could lead to poor scores on tests for otherwise diligent students. Students can be aware that they have gone overboard if they experience any of the following signs of exam anxiety, which will negatively impact their ability to study.
* Memory blocks; the feeling that all the subject material studied has suddenly been erased or wiped out from the student's mind. * An overwhelming and unfounded fear of failing. * Physical symptoms include rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, cold and wet hands. * Lower reading comprehension * Poor attention and concentration * Insomnia The following tips will help both school and college students keep anxiety levels at bay, remain focused, and do well on exams. Organize your study space, sit in a quiet place, and make sure your desk is clear of all other distractions and that you have all the text books, notes, and equipment you need for the subject at hand. Is there adequate lighting in the room? Is your chair comfortable? Is your mobile phone on silent when you start your studying session? Do you have drinking water beside you? Is your scientific calculator on your desk or are you going to waste precious time looking for it? “Ideally students should have been up-to-date from the start, reading material and revising lessons on a daily basis. “On the day before the exam, make sure that you covered the main themes of the required curriculum. It helps to use different techniques while studying in order to reinforce the concepts learned and dispel boredom. “For example, write a summary, take extra notes when studying, draw a diagram, or rephrase and explain the lesson out loud, ask yourself questions, and practice on old exams,” said Lubna Saqih, an academic and college counselor at Jeddah Knowledge School. According to Saqih, the attention span of high school kids is longer than what was previously believed. “Students between grades six and eight can manage to sit for an hour and a half straight without taking any breaks. “Time passes quickly and more will be accomplished when students focus on studying for a longer stretch of time. Students in grades nine to 12 can concentrate for up to three hours before taking a break,” added Saqih. Saqih is also against cramming information up to the last minute. In fact, she advises that students relax for one hour before going to bed by simply laying down and closing their eyes, or playing with a younger sibling, talking to a parent, going outside and looking at something pleasant such as a garden, among others. “Meditating also helps release stress and ensures that the student gets enough sleep at night along with, of course, eating and sleeping well,” said Saqih. Nutritionists recommend kicking the habit of foods that add no value to the students' mental prowess such as candy bars and soft drinks. Brain foods such as nuts, eggs, yogurt, fish, blueberries, dates, and bananas should be consumed. Ibrahim Rashad, high school math teacher and head of the math department at Al-Ekhaa School in Jeddah, said: “I often see students making the common mistake of last minute studying in the morning right before the exam. “Studying should be completed the day before the exam and students should not break up study periods into short sessions. “Students should be able to concentrate for a full hour before taking a break and resuming again. Did you know that sleeping well at night actually helps the brain retain more information? “After studying, stay away from the television and computer games so as not to interfere with the information accumulated. Sleep early and sleep right after reading,” Rashad advises. “The best way to study math is to solve as many problems as you can. The more problems you solve, the more confident and less nervous you will be. “Relax and be assured that teachers have no desire to trick, confuse, or fail students. The questions on the exam will only come from the material that the teacher has explained over the course of the semester and has practiced with the students,” said Rahsad. To soothe night-time exam jitters and aid students in getting restful sleep, make them a calming cup of chamomile tea or anise seed tea before they go to bed.
