Exam phobia makes it more challenging to make good grades on exams. When it comes to mathematics, things turn even more stressful to some of us. Anxiety and unwanted stress put you in the corner of high depression.
How can you get through this pressure? You know you have proper preparation, and you can do that calculation ten out of ten times when practicing. Yet, you cannot deliver the goods on exams. That’s frustrating and puts you down anyways.
Besides these hard rocks, you can try some tactics to get over your stress. There is no magic spray to vanish your phobia completely, but if you follow these tips, then you can surely gain more confidence in your board exam, especially with math.
Tips To Help Your Math and Board Exam Phobia
1. Know your Strengths and Weaknesses
The first step to fade your phobia is to know your strengths and weaknesses. Acknowledge what is creating the panic. You can make a list of weaknesses. Aside from that, you can categorize the weakness into three different levels like easy, moderate, and severe.
Try to solve the problems gradually. Take one at a time and try to start with the easiest one to solve. Once you solve your small difficulties, you will find that the severe problems are almost solved. Also, a sign of improvement will boost your confidence.
On another note, look at your strengths too. Make sure you don’t lose them on easy questions. Go through the items of strength regularly, or else you lose confidence in them. Make sure you make the best of your strength.
2. Know your calculator
Being a math student, you must have good ideas about calculators. Calculators make life easier for math exams. Some high-quality calculators like graphing calculators, offer a wide range of mathematical functions. This includes polynomials, factoring, finding ratios, graphing, and many more.
Knowing the best of your calculator saves a lot of time during exams. You can cross-check your answers too. Make sure it has a long-running battery and offers all of the versatile applications you need. It is better to not borrow a calculator during exams. Bring your own piece; that is more comfortable to operate.
3. Practice Math Everyday
This is one common formula that you must follow if you want to improve your mathematical skills. Regular math practice will grow more confidence in you, and more confidence fades phobia.
Make a schedule for your math practice. It can be weekly or monthly. Practice the topics that puzzle you. Keep repeating the same stuff. It will help to clear your concept.
4. Apply Your Learning to Real Life
Try a bit of mathematics in your daily activities. It is fun, and it clears your concept confusion like crystal clean water. Let’s say you are facing difficulties with the percentage. Try your cooking to apply a bit of mathematics.
If you have five cookies for a snack and you dip 2 of them in your coffee, then what percentage is undipped? Try to apply some simple learning into reality. This could be in your shopping, dining, games, or in any other daily activities. More real-time applications wipe out your math phobia.
5. Do Not Compare With Others
There is a common tendency for students to compare their preparation with others. The night before the exam, phone your friends just to know their preparation, which can add extra pressure on you. You feel morally down and lose confidence in no time.
It is always better to focus on your own preparation. Try to revise the items that confuse you the most. Just stay with your plan and try to stay calm in the exam hall. The more you think about others, the more stress you feel.
6. Ask Questions
Asking questions is a must to resolve your math problems. The more you ask about the problems, the more it clarifies. Some students feel shy to ask questions in the class, but that does not help at all.
Try to ask questions to your teacher or to your friend. If you are not clear about the concept, consult your teacher after class. If you do not ask, the problems remain unsolved and things get more difficult to understand later.
7. Try Meditation
Meditation is an excellent way to make yourself calm and composure. Twenty to thirty minutes of meditation in the morning can give you more focus to your work. You can try yoga as an excellent stress-busting activity. Other than that, deep breathing is also useful to eliminate stress.
8. Sleep Well Before the Exam
It is a thumb rule to get proper sleep the night before the exam. That poses more importance if it is a mathematics exam. Six to eight hours of sleep is ideal for a relaxed body and mind. On the other hand, inadequate sleep can make you anxious, and it will be difficult to focus on your exam.
9. Reward Yourself
Reward yourself over accomplishing small tasks. Let’s say you have completed two big chapters of integration today. Try to cheer this small achievement with some reward. This can be a bar of chocolate, an hour on social media, or anything else. This may sound funny to you, but it actually increases the overall output and cuts off stress.
10. Nutritious Diet
Exam pressure can dry out your calories. So, take nutritious food on exam days. Our brain requires sugar for effective functions. It is better to take sweet items like chocolates, sweet cookies, or candies. Also, enlist some protein items on your list.
Other than these, try not to take large meals at a time. This can make you sleepy and lethargic. Eating much spicy food can also create digestive discomfort. Take a healthy diet in short intervals. Do not test with an empty stomach. It has a direct correlation with the brain.
11. Stay Positive
You must believe that you can do it. If you are deep down with your confidence, then it will be difficult to pull out the good from dust. Others may try to demotivate you, but do not take them seriously. Just try to execute your plan and be positive with whatever you have learned.
It is not impossible to get out of the math exam fear. If you follow the above-listed tips, then things may fall in line. Surely, a lot depends on how you take it and how you execute yourself during the exam time.
