I have a difficult exam coming up, how do I calm myself down?

Question

I have this terrible calc class that I'm busting my butt in. We have an exam tomorrow that I've done nothing but study for all week....And I still feel reaaaaaaaaally under-prepared. Due to high anxiety, I've been an emotional wreck all day, which has made it extremely difficult for me to concentrate. I know that I need to calm down, but how?

Answer 1

Once you walk into the classroom tomorrow, your preparation is done. At that point you will be able to relax, because no amount of worry at that point can help your score.

So allow yourself to look forward to the start of the test. ENJOY your studying tonight, because it's getting you closer to the goal of walking into that room.

Answer 2

Well there isn't much you can do about this exam, so relax and if necessary take your medicine. The best way to prepare for anything in mathematics is to attend class, do the homework and try to understand the underlying principles being taught. If you take a look at your calculus textbook you will find it that it has about 20 or 30 pages of theory explaining the derivative and integral and the other 1100 pages are examples. If you don't do good on the exam, point out to the prof that it took over 300 years for the world's best mathematicians to accept the concept of the limit where delta x approaches but never gets to 0. In all of mathematics there are only four operations: addition, subtraction , differentiation and integration. All the rest, factoring etc are only clever manipulation of symbols.

Answer 3

TONIGHT:
I'll tell you why you know you can relax. You have done the work. That's it. Nerves are good. Try to get enough sleep tonight.

THE EXAM:
Have a good breakfast. My advice is to read and reread every question. It's amazing how many students have done the study but misunderstand or misread the questions due to nerves or reading too quickly. If you have time left after you have finished go over your answers again. And it does sound as though you will. Good luck.

Answer 4

Close your eyes and concentrate on taking deep, slow breaths.

Imagine yourself taking the test with confidence and doing well.

Imagine yourself someplace relaxing, like the beach. Visualise the sights and imagine the sounds.

Clench the muscles in each part of your body one by one. Hold for a count of ten, then slowly release. Then move on to the next body part.

Google "relaxation techniques" and "stress management" for more.

Answer 5

Breathing exercises, concentrate on breathing deeply and think only about your breath. Continue this for two minutes and it should help you to become centred. As it only takes a short time this can be done in the actual exam if you find yourself getting anxious.

Answer 6

If you have studied all week long, you shouldn't worry about it. Be confident when you walk into the class room tomorrow. Don't let being nervous be a fear of yours. If you have studied all week long, and you fail, then it wasn't meant to be. Good luck, though!

Answer 7

Deep breathing
Classical or New Age music (Mozart works for me)
muscle relaxation (tighten your muscles for 10-30 seconds, then release)

Answer 8

just try to do you best on the exam its not worth getting upset about just relax and have fun go to movie hang with friend (if you have any) and study if you can

Answer 9

yoga almost always calms me down. take a hot bath or drink some hot herbal tea...better yet...do some yoga, then take a hot bath while drinking the tea :) good luck on your exam

Answer 10

do nothing but have a 5 minutes nap,then 5 minutes deep breathing.and thats it!