When the date of the test that scares us so much is approaching, it is not uncommon for some sensations such as stress or anxiety to take hold of our mind.

To prevent the nerves generated by the fear of the exam from betraying you at the moment you have to put your knowledge into practice, take good note of the five psychological tricks and strategies we offer you below.

5 tricks to avoid nerves before an exam

The great day has come when you must take that very important exam for which you have been preparing so much. After weeks or even months of intense study, today is the day to reflect on all you have learned and achieve the goal of passing. However, for many people this stressful time can turn into a nightmare: they go blank , their pulse quivers, they start to sweat, they forget their answers… and all the effort can be wasted.

Psychological stress is normal at this time, but it can play against us if we don’t learn to manage it. If we are too upset during an exam, we will not be able to reason and remember data as accurately as when we are calm and collected.To avoid these nervous situations before an exam (or at least to learn how to manage these situations), today we are going to learn five tricks to get psychologically prepared for the test .

1.The day before the exam

The day before the test, the ideal is not to open any books . You shouldn’t study: just engage in other activities that allow your mind to relax. Trying to study the day before the test can lead to increased tension that you feel, and your brain is not prepared to soak up knowledge under those circumstances.

As for the minutes before the test, the advice goes along the same lines: although it is common to see all students reviewing their grades and notes at the last minute while waiting for the test to formally begin, many of them are not aware that this only brings about a greater state of anxiety.

Besides, it is highly probable that you can’t learn anything new in those five or ten minutes of review: think that your preparation must have started weeks and even months ago, and all the knowledge and information you have been acquiring is well consolidated in your brain.

2. Be on time

Don’t forget the importance of being on time, especially on this test day. If you arrive at the centre early, you will have extra time to prepare your tools , and in case something unexpected happens you will have room for manoeuvre and you will be able to deal with it. If you arrive late at the centre, your sense of nerves will increase, from the moment you leave the house feeling stressed and seeing that you are going at the right time, to the moment you arrive at the centre in a hurry: this will have a negative effect on your mental state during the exam. Also, keep in mind that at most colleges and institutions where you will be taking the test, being late for the test can be grounds for direct failure.

Therefore, calculate the times well (think that there can be unforeseen events of all kinds) and you will be able to organize yourself better to get to the center with a sufficient margin of time that allows you to be calm.

3.Talking to other students: care

During the pre-test waiting period, there are two types of people: those who withdraw into themselves to meditate or summarily review some notes, and those who begin to ask others and show themselves to be unusually communicative. Here you must do some self-reflection and decide what strategy is best for you.

If, for example, you are a bit of an obsessive person and you tend to get nervous before a test because your thoughts take hold of you, you might want to have some friendly conversations with other students about the test you are about to take: that might help you to get rid of your nerves and go into the classroom with a clearer mind. However, if you have noticed that talking to other students before the exam makes you more tense (it is not uncommon for you to talk about topics that are going to be on the exam, and you may feel that you are less prepared than you thought), consider taking the opposite strategy and withdraw more into yourself , trying to focus your mind in an optimal state. Ideally, following one strategy or another, try to be calm and run away from sources of stress.

4.Think about where you will go after the test

After handing in the finished exam, you will notice a feeling of relaxation and relief : the die is cast. If you think of something satisfactory to do when you have left the centre, your brain will relativise the importance of the test and this will help your nerves to dissipate. In this way, it will be easier for you to answer the test questions more calmly and anxiety will not block you.

5.The importance of thinking positively

For all facets of your life in general and for preparing exams in particular, it is essential that you think positively . If you focus on achievement and work hard to pass that exam you fear so much, you will be building your chances of success. The mind has great power in the achievement of our goals. Trust your options, study what you need and you will arrive at the exam much more calmly and focused on success.

If you follow these five tricks, I’m sure your exams will be a total success. Good luck!