Keeping your cool in exams.

keeping your cool in exams

When the big day arrives it is too late to worry any longer over whether you have revised enough. But coping with your stress on the day itself may make all the difference to how you do. Here is some more advice from experts:

Try to have a good breakfast. Getting hungry during the middle of an exam can be distracting, especially if your concentration is already waning.

Make sure you know when and where the exam will be.

Give yourself plenty of time to get there and calm your nerves. Rushing only adds to the feeling of panic.

The night before check that you have packed your bag with everything you will need -- extra pens, water, tissues and so on. On the morning of the exam, nerves can make you forget something important.

If the nervous chat of other pupils taking the exam increases your butterflies, try and find a quiet corner for yourself.

exam test

exam tactics

exam results

Go to the toilet before the exam starts.

In the exam, make sure you take time to read the instructions and questions carefully. Many students do badly because they give the wrong number of answers or misread the questions.

Work out how long you will have to answer each question and try to stick to this.

Keep an eye on the time and follow instructions about how long to spend on different sections.

Make sure you allow yourself 10 to 15 minutes at the end to read through your work, check for obvious mistakes and ensure you have answered all the questions you need to.