Oh how exams were the bane of my existence over the three of my four years studying in DIT, the constant putting off of study, the useless and terrifying cram sessions. The nerves making me want to throw up both while I was studying and during the exams. Repeating the same saga over everytime another assessment was coming and having to pull all nighters. And then for my final exams in fourth year, divine intervention through an evening rant on the phone, solved the major problems with my study issues.

I was talking to Cecilia, a girl I went to school with at home in Cork and she told me about a module she was doing as part of her course which was essentially ‘how to study’. She gave me a basic background to the different methods and said how useful she had found it, so off the phone I got and after a quick shot of coffee, I googled a few of the things she’d been on about. Now I had always heard that different people learn through different methods, but to be honest I though it was all pretty much waffle and that because most of the people I knew just learned off information to regurgitate like in school, that that was the way it should be done. Oh how wrong I was, there are so many different ways of teaching yourself something and training your mind to remember different bits of information. Sure it takes a bit longer, but once you’ve found the one for you it works so much easier. Now I’m not claiming it’s a miracle and that study is suddenly stress free with answers just magically forming in your head. But it definitely beats the vomiting, the headaches, the procrastinating and general doubt in my abilities I had experienced for every set of exams prior to this one.

So off I went, still with a little doubt and only a little nausea and the results were so much better, I couldn’t believe it. Being honest, most people around me probably couldnt believe it either!

Come on now Jen get to the bloody point....Ok here goes, below is a “Taking tests with less stress” advice piece from the councelling service. Don’t shy away because I said counselling, they know what they’re on about.

Here are the points I found most relevant, i.e. Jen in study mode!

  * Increased desire to put things off, my mind was always procrastination central

 * I will leave it too late to study just like the last time

 * Physical complaints...headaches, nausea etc

 * Panicky and anxious feelings

 And the tips that applied to me most from the counselling service piece

•  Positive attitude: I can do this if I really put my mind to it
•  Picture yourself being successful and handling the test without excessive stress
•  Anticipate test questions and practice sample questions
•  Eat a Healthy breakfast, no that does not include sausage rolls!!
•  Get a proper nights sleep, you need to be able to think on your feet in an exam
•   Read the whole paper through and start with the question that you are most comfortable with (for those of you thinking ha I’m not going to be comfortable with any of them, suck it up and think of the exam as showing anyone you don’t think believes in you that they were wrong).
•  Use educated guessing when your out of other options but avoid waffling.

Exams are never nice, they’re never a laugh but everyone in the Students’ Union wants to make it as easy for you as possible so if you need and help, information or just a chat pop in to us and take a seat or pick up the phone.

Best of luck,

Jen Jordan

How to cope with test anxieties…..

• Panicky or anxious feelings
• Short temper or tendency to blame others
• Increased desire to put things off
• Negative self talk (see below)
• Physical complaints e.g. headaches

• They are all smarter, more intelligent than me.
• I should never have taken this course, I know I’ll fail.
• What’s the point anyway.
• Why can’t I do better, my whole life is failure, I’m not capable of being good at anything.
• I will leave it too late to study just like the last time.

• I can succeed if I really put my mind to it.
• I am learning to use effective study strategies.
• I’m learning how to cope with pressure.

• Seek help from your lecturer and/or counsellor about study techniques
• Get organised.  Tidy up and organise your notes and other material.
•  Make a special set of notes that contain summaries of information that requires more of your attention.
• Use study methods that give ample feedback.  To help identify areas that need more review, have a friend or family member quiz you.
• Anticipate test questions.  Use information from your notes, lectures to predict test questions.  Allocate some time Find out as much as you can about the upcoming test.

• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Allow time for a healthy breakfast.  Avoid sugary foods, they may give you an   “energy boost” but the effects will wear off quickly and will leave your energy level lower than before you ate.
• Check that you have all the necessary supplies
• Allow extra time to get to college the day before the test.