How to Combat Exam Stress

As exam season is fully underway, it is natural for stress to arise. So, we are sharing our tips for combating the inevitable.

1. Plan Effectively – Organise your time efficiently using resources such as planning calendars and time management tools, such as the Pomodoro technique, to ensure you feel adequately prepared for exams.

“Success is when preparation meets opportunity.”

2. Practise Positive Self-Talk – Self-compassion and positive affirmations can help counter a negative mindset and build a more balanced, healthy internal narrative. Master your mindset, and the rest will follow.

“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

3. Breathe Mindfully – Simple breathing techniques such as box breathing or the “4–7–8” method can help regulate emotions and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Even a few minutes of intentional breathing can restore calm and improve focus.

“The 4-7-8 breathing technique is where you inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds, reducing anxiety and stress.”

4. Prioritise Sleep – Research by Dr Matthew Walker shows that a good night’s rest is crucial for learning and memory retention. Sleep before learning prepares the brain to absorb new information, and sleep after learning locks that information in.

 “When sleep is abundant, minds flourish.” – Dr Matthew Walker

5. Make Time for Connection – Whether that be sharing your worries with a friend or taking time in between revision sessions to have a meal with family – remember that rest is productive. Your support networks are there for just that – support.

“A problem shared is a problem halved.”

We recognise the demands of this period, and wish the very best of luck to all our students taking exams over the coming weeks. We are rooting for you!

For more resources, watch The Wellbeing Hub’s webinar: “Helping Students to Manage Exam Stress”.

Cover Artwork by Ruyi, MMI Student.