Annual exams kicked off at DUT yesterday (October 8, 2012). To help students cope with exam stress and anxiety, the University’s Student Counseling and Health Department has prepared tips that will assist students to do well in their exams.

Almost every student experiences feelings of anxiety or stress before writing an exam, especially if it’s a major one.

Even the most confident student will have questions such as ‘have I prepared adequately?’, ‘will I be able to cope with exam questions?’ or ‘will I pass?’

While anxiety can help you do better in your exam by keeping you on your toes, it can also become a problem if it causes you to blank out during an exam or cause you to muddle up your answers.

While exams are generally a stressful period, this does not have to be the norm. The Durban University of Technology’s Student Counseling and Health Department has strategies to help students curb stress anxiety.
“Mentally shout ‘stop’ when you start to feel anxious. Eliminate negative self talk and replace it with positive statements like: ‘I’m studying and I did well during the term and should do well in this exam’. This may curb your anxiety and bolster your confidence. Expect to come across questions that you can’t answer during the exams. Don’t feel anxious and upset”, says Student Counseling and Health Director Naseem Haniff.

If you cannot answer a question, focus on answering the one you do know, advises the psychologists at the Student Counselling & Health. They also warn students from doing last minute cramming, saying that this is guaranteed to increase one’s stress and anxiety levels.

The Psychologists have given the following tips when preparing for examinations. “Eat food with nutritional value. Never diet on the day of the exam. Limit your intake of harmful substances such as alcohol, nicotine and other harmful drugs as these negatively impact on your concentration. Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep will impact on your concentration and memory. Focus on the task at hand. Focus on studying for and responding to questions on the exam rather than potential negative consequences”.

To reduce anxiety in the exam room, students are urged to try these practical tips:
• Identify those questions you are able to answer with ease and answer these first. This will boost your confidence.
• Examine the marking scheme and divide your time accordingly. This will give you the opportunity to answer all questions.
• At all times focus on the goal of answering your questions rather than the end result.
• Shut out the world. If you feel a panic attack coming on during an exam, put down your pen, sit back and relax, close your eyes and shut out the world. Think of nothing. When you have calmed down sufficiently, resume your exam.

If you have any difficulties, professionally trained psychologists at the DUT Student Counseling Centre are willing to assist. They are located at the Lower Library Complex (next door to Financial Aid) Steve Biko Campus.

–Sinegugu Ndlovu

Caption: Third-year DUT Accounting Student Sihle Mavundla goes over his books in preparation for an exam.