With exam season quickly approaching, students everywhere are starting to panic. How do we prepare for exams? What are the best study methods? How can I handle the stress? Well, here are some tips from a senior who has been in your position.

The first step is to relax and remember that you have been in these classes for a while. You know more than you think you do. Over stressing is the fastest way to mess yourself up! If you take a few deep breaths, trust what you learned, and focus, you are more likely to do well on your exams. One way to calm testing anxiety is a breathing method that even soldiers use to calm their nerves; it is called the 4-7-8 technique. Breathe in for four seconds, hold it for seven, and breathe out for eight. Repeat a few times, and this is scientifically proven to help calm the body!  Of course, also remember the basic tips that everyone has heard since elementary school: eat breakfast, get good sleep the night before, and always show up prepared with the proper materials. Set your materials and clothes out the night before, so that you won’t have the stress of hurrying around in the morning. This will help clear your mind so you can focus on what’s most important. Also, studies have proven that chewing gum for a little bit before your test can help improve cognitive function! Physical movement of any sort can help get blood pumping to the brain, and gum is one easy way to stimulate this.

Now, as far as study methods go, there are a few ways I have discovered that work best for me. The best of all of these though has been Quizlet. You can use flashcards, take practice exams, and play study games. This website works best for quick facts and vocabulary. However, if you have to memorize long facts or a lot of material, the best way to memorize is to write it twice! You’ll be more likely to remember if you write it multiple times.

Finally, always remember to reward yourself after a test. You worked hard, so treat yourself with a movie night or a nice bath. Rewarding yourself can make the whole testing process easier, because you have something to look forward to in order to shake off the stress after testing. Good Luck Devildogs!