Exam anxiety means different things to different students who generally, especially at this time of year, experience feelings of tension and uneasiness during their exams. And they have used different tips, practical and relatively easy to implement, to face their anxiety when the test arrives. A high school student said that the best way for him to deal with exam anxiety was to find a place that is conducive to studying. “There is nothing like studying alone in a quiet atmosphere, and even better with dimmed lights. By eliminating distraction, “It helps me concentrate and understand more,” said Muhammad Al-Shehri. Armed with better understanding of the textbook and notes using this tip to study, Al-Shehri's hand is no longer shaky when he writes his name down on the answer sheet, he said. Al-Shehri's father helps create that calm environment for his son. “My father usually takes my younger brothers and sisters out of the house when I start to study,” he said. “I just can't bear their noise,” he added. But Fahd Al-Tamimi said that a quiet environment makes him fall asleep. “I feel much better just studying when my family is around. As I get more engaged in my textbook and notes, I just drown out the noise around me,” he said. Despite medical recommendations to avoid caffeine, some students like Khaled Ali, find hot coffee and tea to be their best friends when studying long hours for exams. “They are like energy drinks that keep me going and focused during the exams,” Ali said. The distinction between hot and cold has become blurred for some students during the exams, however. A cold shower works wonders for Tariq Al-Muhammadi, a student who jumps into the shower before opening a book to study for an exam. A cold shower releases his tension and gives him more energy, he said. “Even the most difficult subjects start to make sense afterwards,” he added. Some students, like Ali Al-Ghamdi, study and read while walking around inside the house or the backyard. “I have tried it and it works. It makes memorization of important information much easier,” he said. Using this tip, nothing goes blank inside the exam room, he explained.
