It is noted that many students experience bouts of fear of exams every time. This feeling of fear is not limited to students who are not diligent in their studies, but is also common among diligent people. The student may have studied hard, preparing himself for the exams, and even reviewed the entire syllabus several times. However, in the exam committee, when the papers are distributed, the students become anxious and nervous. Here, the mind stops thinking completely, as if it has experienced a state of temporary paralysis of thought, and it becomes difficult for him to remember the answers.
In addition, there are other physiological symptoms that start to appear, such as sweating of the hands and feet, feeling cold, and an abnormally fast heartbeat. Everyone has experienced these feelings at some point in their lives. But what is exam fear and what is the reason behind it?
What is exam fear?
Fear of exams, or what is called exam phobia, is a real feeling and not a figment of the imagination. Scientifically, the feeling of fear of exams is called (Examinophobia). It is a mental disorder that most students face, but it is often ignored by parents and teachers.
Why ignoring the feeling of fear leads the student to inevitable failure
This is because many parents and even teachers believe that fear of exams is a sign of weakness and negligence on the part of the student. They ignore the idea that the student has actually worked hard in studying and that his fear stems from not studying the subject well. They also claim that the student refuses to face the reality resulting from his weak abilities.
Although Fear of exams can occur at any age and is not necessarily specific to a certain age. However, this feeling usually begins during early childhood and adolescence - the stages in which the mind and emotions are formed, and in which the student's actual capabilities are tested through tests and challenges.
Although there are several reasons for fear of exams, the main reason that tops all other reasons is the fear of failure in the exam itself.
The most important reasons for fear of exams
There are many people who confuse the reasons for fear of studying on the one hand and the reasons for fear of exams on the other hand. Here the specific reasons for fear of exams will be presented in detail, while you can review the article on the reasons for fear of studying to know the difference.
Many people believe that fear of exams is due to not being well prepared for the exam. This fear is what leads to the feeling of stress that most students face. However, this theory has been ignored by specialists who have explained that it is not necessary that the ones who suffer from stress and fear are the less prepared students. On the contrary, people who are fully prepared for the exam also feel more stress and fear of exams than others.
If you, dear reader, are one of those who face these feelings of fear, you know that this is not an easy thing. You may feel that you are the only one who faces this problem, but exam phobia is very common. Nervousness and anxiety are very natural reactions to stress, to the point that it affects students’ abilities and performance in exams.
- Biological causes
In stressful situations, such as before and during an exam, the body releases a hormone called adrenaline. This hormone helps prepare the body to deal with what is about to happen and is commonly referred to as the fight or flight response. This response essentially prepares you to either face and deal with the stressor or run away from the situation entirely. In many cases, this adrenaline rush is actually a good thing, as it helps prepare you to deal effectively with such challenges.
For some people, their anxiety symptoms can become so extreme that they find it difficult or even impossible to concentrate on the test. Symptoms such as nausea, sweating, and hand tremors can make people feel even more stressed, especially if they are focusing on their test anxiety symptoms .
- Mental reasons
In addition to the biological causes of anxiety, there are several mental factors that can play a role in test anxiety . Students’ expectations are one major mental factor. For example, if a student believes that they will perform poorly on an exam, they are more likely to feel anxious before and during the test. After repeated exposure to test anxiety, a student begins to feel like they are in a vicious cycle. Students may begin to feel helpless in the face of that feeling and change their perceptions in a positive way. After experiencing anxiety during one test, students may become so afraid of it happening again that they actually become more anxious during the next test.
How to reduce fear of exams?
- Make sure you are prepared
This means studying well for the exam so that you feel comfortable and accomplished in completing the material with a full understanding. Don’t wait until the night before the exam to start studying. If you’re not sure how to study, ask your teacher, parent, or even a classmate for help. Being prepared will boost your confidence, which will reduce your test anxiety.
- banish negative thoughts
If you start having anxious or defeating thoughts, such as “I’m not good enough,” “I didn’t study hard enough,” or “I can’t do this,” push those thoughts away and replace them with positive thoughts such as “I can do this,” “I know everything about the subject,” and “I studied hard.” These positive thoughts can help reduce stress and anxiety during and before an exam.
- get enough sleep
A good night's sleep will help you focus and remember. Learn about the benefits of sleep for the body and health
- take a deep breath
If you start to feel anxious while taking the test, take a deep breath, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Take each question one at a time and give it as much time as you need. Do this by taking as many deep breaths as you need between each question. Make sure you give your lungs plenty of oxygen, as this will help you focus and feel calm.
- Avoid the perfection trap
Don't expect to be perfect. We all make mistakes and that's okay. Knowing that you've done your best and worked hard is really all that matters, not being perfect.
On the other hand, students are exposed to another type of anxiety, which is the fear of studying itself, and many are confused about how to get rid of this feeling. Through the article ( 8 effective ways to get rid of study fear), you can reach a final solution to this problem.
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