Managing the stress of the test this school year

It’s about that time again: college exams, perhaps the first of the semester or the first ever. You are likely feeling daunted by the material, asking yourself: How do I study? What do I study? Wait, I need to study? You may not have been prepared in high school to study for exams the way you may need to study now.

So here are some things to consider: memory research tells us that you remember better if you review the material multiple times in multiple ways; neurobiological research tells us that your brain energy peaks mid-morning to mid-afternoon; sleep research tells us that we remember more deeply and thoroughly with a restful, sound night of sleep; dietary research tells us that we perform at our peak when we eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, protein, carbohydrates and fats; and psychological research tells us that we can better navigate stressful situations when we maintain a mindset that focuses on what we can do and that we are able to succeed.

The skills you need to succeed in college are varied, and you may or may not have learned them before. We commonly feel overwhelmed when we take exams, sometimes feeling like we cannot remember what we studied, and our minds may become “blank” when we sit down to take our exam. Breathe. I mean that: Take some deep breaths. You are experiencing a natural reaction to feeling overwhelmed (it’s so common, it’s called the Yerkes-Dodson Law). Breathing will help you to reduce your momentary stress and return to “optimal stress.” Studying for an exam is about creating a recall network that we can utilize to connect new material with material we already know.

Think of it as a map. To retrieve information, you will need to trace your steps on the map to find your answer. Sometimes, you may get lost and cannot find the way. Sometimes, you may find the answer quickly. Breathe. You might have more difficulty on the first exam than others because you have to learn how to take the test as well as what you will be tested on.

Consider the resources you may need to improve and find your success: Talk to your professor if you are having difficulties with the material (that’s what they are there for); reach out to a TA or classmate who is willing to help; use The Study, an academic resource on campus that will help you to learn the skills of studying; and if you need support around your stress, consider counseling. Check out Jessica Holsman on YouTube (especially her collab with Griffith University or her channel “Study with Jess”) or “studywithtolu” on TikTok for more.