Exam preparation · lesson 21 of 24 · free

Handling exam stress — Exam preparation tips

A little nervousness before an exam is normal and can even keep you alert. To keep it small: breathe slowly (in for 4 seconds, out for 6), use positive self-talk (“I have prepared, and I will do my best”), keep a steady routine and sleep on time. Avoid all-night cramming, skipping meals and comparing marks. If worry feels too big or won’t go away, talk to a parent, teacher or school counsellor — asking for help is a strong, smart step.

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Study tip

Breathe, talk kindly, ask — “calm the body, calm the thoughts, and share the worry”

  1. Eases stress: slow deep breaths, positive self-talk, talking to a parent, a short walk, a steady routine, asking a teacher, sleeping on time.
  2. Adds to stress: all-night cramming, skipping meals, comparing marks, bottling it up, endless scrolling, imagining the worst.
  3. Positive self-talk is kind and realistic (“One hard question is fine — I will come back to it”); negative self-talk predicts the worst.

Use it for: The weeks before exams, the night before, outside the exam hall and when your mind goes blank.

Worked example: 🌬️ Box breathing: breathe in for 5 counts, hold for 5, breathe out for 5 and hold for 5. How many counts are there in 4 rounds? → 80

  1. One round = 4 × 5 = 20 counts.
  2. 4 × 20 = 80 counts.

Check: Try it: practise slow breathing for one minute and write one positive self-talk line for exam day ✓

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🏁 Lesson 21 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

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🖨️ Exam Preparation Worksheet: Exam Stress

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