How to overcome exam fear

by Chinna
(Hyderabad)

I cannot remember answers after reading. I could not concentrate well in exam halls. My handwriting is also not good when i write in exams. How can i overcome this problems. Give some valuable tips,suggestions.

Doug's Reply. It is normal and even helpful to be a little nervous during an exam. But when you are so worried that it interferes with concentration, then it is time to do something about it.

An obvious first step would be to find ways to relax both before and during the exam. You don't want to be too relaxed, of course. Ideally you want you mind to be highly focused but not overly tense.

A very good way to achieve a state of relaxed mental alertness is through meditation. The practice of regular meditation has been shown to lower the heart rate and improve concentration.

The easiest form of meditation is probably "awareness" or "mindfulness" meditation that focuses on breathing. It doesn't require any equipment or special training, either.

During mindfulness meditation, you pay close attention to your in and out breathing. You attempt to clear your mind of all distractions. A typical session may take only 10 or 20 minutes.

For more information, see my Meditation and Memory page. On that page is a link to a meditation website that has a free instructional video that demonstrates how to meditate.

Besides relaxing the mind and enhancing concentration, there is some evidence that those who meditate regularly enjoy an improvement in memory and thinking skills. Apparently, meditation stimulates growth in the cerebral cortex of the brain. This is the part of the brain responsible for higher thinking and brain function.

Before your next exam, try to relax your mind by meditating for a few minutes. This should help to immediate lessen some of the exam fear.

Realize, too, that you can only do your personal best. And if you do your very best on the exam, you have the right to feel proud and satisfied no matter what your grade might be.

Best regards,
Douglas
Memory-Improvement-Tips.com