Edugist

Africa's Education News Source

10 steps to overcome UTME fears and anxiety

Fear and anxiety can suddenly make you forget all you have read and wonder if you are just dull or your village people are after you.
Tired african american guy holding head and looking at book, getting ready for exams, library interior
Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox.

Fear and anxiety can suddenly make you forget all you have read and wonder if you are just dull or your village people are after you.

Thank God you are reading this write up because we are about to teach you how to approach your exams with confidence and guess what? Confidence does the opposite of what fear does! It releases a certain hormone in your body that helps the mind remember things a lot better.

How to build confidence and banish text anxiety

Causes of test anxiety may include a fear of failure, lack of adequate prep time, or bad experiences taking tests in the past. Like I wrote in the first three opening paragraphs you’re not alone. Here’s what you can do to stay calm in the days leading up to and during your test.

1. Be prepared

Yes, this seems glaringly obvious, but it needs to be repeated often. Preparation always puts you in a comfortable position knowing that whatever is thrown at you will be handled. If you need help studying simply visit www.passnownow.com/register to get all the secondary school exams study material you need

2. Get a sound sleep

Cramming is never the answer, and pulling an all-nighter can exacerbate your nerves. Having adequate rest (9–10 hours per night) is likely to be more beneficial than rereading a text until dawn (But if you ARE up late studying and have a question, our on-demand tutors are there for you.)

3. Eat right

Eat a nutritious breakfast before the test and pack smart snacks for ongoing energy. Look for foods that offer a steady stream of nutrients, rather than a sugar high followed by a crash.

Read also: UTME 2023:10 things to do if you want to score above 300

4. Get to your exam centre early.

Feeling rushed will only ramp up the anxiety. Pack everything you need for the exam the night before and set the alarm, so you can get out the door on time. (Make sure you don’t have to borrow any test tool)

5. Have a positive attitude.

Come up with a morale-boosting mantra like “I can do this” or “I worked hard and deserve this.” remember people this before you and succeeded you won’t be the last.

6. Read instructions carefully

Read the directions thoroughly and read all answers before making a choice or starting the essay. There is nothing worse than putting time into a question and realizing you are not solving for x, or the essay is off-target. Slowing down can help you stay focused.

7. Just start

The blank page can maximise your anxiety. After you’ve read the directions, dive right in by scheming through that sifting and answering the easy questions first. This technique will quickly boost your morale to attempt harder ones.

8. Do not pay attention to what the next person is doing

Read also: Book review: Synopsis of ‘Life Changer’ a novel for 2023 UTME/DE 

Everyone else is scribbling away? Ack! What do they know that you don’t? It doesn’t matter. Pay attention to your own test and pace, and forget about the other students in the room.

9. Watch the clock

Realising that time is almost up and there are lots of test questions left can make it hard to do anything useful in those final minutes. Stay on course by scoping out the whole test before getting started. Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each section. If there’s time to recheck, even better.

10. Focus on calm breathing techniques and positive thoughts

Deep breathing can slow down a beating heart or a racing mind, so practise these techniques at home. The very act of concentrating on breathing and thinking can biometrically alter those anxious feelings.

Sometimes just remembering that this nerve-wracking experience is the joy of saying yes I went through it and made it out successfully. Best of luck in your exam go and ace it! Edugist loves to see you conquer the world of academics.

Read also: UTME 2023:Everything you need to know about JAMB mock exam

Share this article

All right reserved. You may not reproduce or republish Edugist content in whole or part without express written permission. Only use the share buttons.

Support Edugist’s goal of giving education a voice

Even a small donation will make a difference.

Related Content

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Adeola
Adeola
1 year ago

Chai. This just saved me. I have been nursing fear of the unknown oh. This is a game changer for me and it will defintely go a long way to help me. Thanks for sharing.

1
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
WeCreativez WhatsApp Support
Our customer support team is here to answer your questions. Ask us anything!
???? Hi, how can I help?
Scroll to Top

Fill the form below to download the WASSCE 2024 Timetable

Be the First to Know When we Publish new Contents

“Stay ahead of the educational curve! Subscribe to Edugist’s newsletter for the latest insights, trends, and updates in the world of education. Join our community today and never miss out on valuable content. Sign up now!”