Petra Examiliotou has kindly agreed to give useful tips of advice to all exam candicates. Petra holds a BSc., Psychology University of North Wales, Bangor, UK (www.bangor.ac.uk) and an MSc., Psychosocial Studies University of Brighton (www.brighton.ac.uk). Petra has been teaching Psychology at private Colleges in Greece and since 2013 she has been working with students with learning disabilities at the Dyslexia Center – PAVLIDIS.
It’s the time of the year (and not a jolly one indeed!!) where nails get bitten, sweat is usually cold and food is either fast or absent. Why???? Simply because it is the exam period and time is just not enough!! Relax people….
We all know that a little bit of stress can be a good thing as it can keep us motivated to get down to business and focus on reading. However, too much stress could be lethal for our concentration and performance. Have you ever experienced instant amnesia the moment the exam paper reaches your desk? Yeap, this the result of stress!!
So let me give some help 🙂
To start with, STOP comparing your reading abilities with friends. We all have different reading routines so don’t try to change it simply because your friend Helen suggested that you should rewrite this essay two more times!
Stick to your timetable. ‘Later’ simply is just not good enough. Organizing your time is vital if you also want some free time
Eat right. Drink water. We are a human machine that is in need of fruit and vegetables to work properly. Dehydration could mess up your memory and without nutrients your mind won’t reach its potentials. No I am sorry, coffee is not water and a chocolate bar is not real food!
Breathe right.Whenever you feel that your pulse is starting to rise up, close your eyes, take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. 4-5 deep breaths will work their magic
In your free time do things you enjoy.Watch your favorite movie, chat with your best friend, listen to your favorite music, hug your boyfriend/girlfriend or even your mum. Anything that brings you joy and relaxes you.
Take a looooooong bath.Shower just won’t do it! You need to fill your bathtub sprinkle with Epsom salts that detox you, some essential oils that relax you (lavender, chamomile), light up some candles and just relax and enjoy.
Love your mistakes. None is perfect. Perfection is a utopia. You do not love yourself unless you love your mistakes so do not over criticize your performance. It is not the end of the world if you can’t score high or even fail. There is always a second chance.
In sum, try to take it one step at a time. Organize, read and relax. Even if things don’t go as planned, summertime is close! Best of luck !!
Petra Examiliotou
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