Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

I know some people who get a stomach ache on the morning of exams, or cannot sleep the night before, or bite their nails. Worrying causes these problems. Not only is worrying bad for your health, but it really is useless at this point. Worrying and getting nervous will not help you get a better grade.



You should have been working hard and learning all year long. There is no time to study everything only one or two days before the exam, but there are good ways that can help you get ready for exams, do well on them, and stop worrying.



Go to bed early. Your body needs enough sleep and rest before exams. You will be able to remember more, think more clearly, and do better on exams if you get a good night’s sleep.



Eat a healthy breakfast before going to school. Your brain needs a lot of energy to work at its best, and food gives your brain energy. Some good breakfast ideas are: cereal and milk, or toast and jam, or eggs and toast, or walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds, or dates and nuts, or fresh orange juice and labneh sandwich. Eat well, but do not overeat, because eating a big meal will make you feel heavy and sleepy.



Wake up early. Avoid rushing in the morning. Wake up early; take the time to pray, eat breakfast, read some notes, and greet your family before heading off to school.



A quick revision before the exam can help you remember important information. A day or two before exams, it is a good idea to make flashcards of important words and their definitions, or important dates, or laws of math or science. Test yourself with these cards, or make it into a game you play with your friends.



Relax. Take a deep breath and calm down. Moving around nervously in your seat, biting your nails, and worrying will not help improve your grade. By relaxing you give your mind the chance to focus and concentrate.



Pack all the equipment you will need one night before your exam. Before you go to bed the night before your exam, make sure you have everything ready, such as: two pencils, eraser, sharpener, blank paper, a water bottle.



Answer the easy questions first. Answer all the questions you know first. If you get stuck on a hard question, mark it, leave it, and come back to it later.



Be quiet during the exam. Do not even try to talk to other students during the exam, it distracts yourself and also other students in the classroom.



Do not cheat! Looking at someone else’s paper is cheating. You will feel terrible later on, because if you get caught cheating, you will get a failing grade. And if you do not get caught, you will still feel bad because you know that you do not deserve the good grade.