The fear of failure associated with exams is technically called test anxiety. It is a form of performance anxiety; which is the self-worry about one's ability to excel at a certain task. Those experiencing such anxiety may worry about failing at the task even before it begins. This is caused by the belief that failure will result to humiliation or rejection; and made worse when the stakes are so high. Almost everyone experiences some level of performance anxiety. It is natural to have some mild form of anxiety as one approaches performance of a task, especially when it is to be done for the first time. Such fear may recur each time the task is to be performed, especially when the stakes are very high or failure may have damaging consequences. However, one can learn to overcome such anxiety. 

What one needs to do in order to overcome performance anxiety vary according to the task to be performed. For anxiety towards examinations, preparing very well ahead of the exams improves your level of confidence and thus makes you less likely to become anxious. The following tips are helpful towards preparing for exams:

Approach your studies with the examination in mind: 

Try to answer these questions as you study for the exams. What is the nature of the exams you are preparing for? Is it an oral or written exams? Will the questions be multiple choice, essay-type or subjective type (fill in the gaps) questions? How many questions are you likely to be answering in the exam? How much time will you have to answer the questions? What topics do you have to read? Make sure you study at least 90 percent of the material upon which you are to be examined.  It will be helpful to interact with people who have taken that kind of exams before and learn from their experiences. Studying previously asked questions can also help you to have an idea of what to expect.

Avoid sleepless nights: Ensure that you make good use of the day for your studies. Study in the night also, but make sure you have sufficient time for a good sleep and night rest. This will help you to be refreshed in the day as you approached your exams. 

NOTE: When the material to be studied is overwhelming, or the prevailing conditions do not warrant you to avoid sleepless nights, you may sacrifice some hours of sleep but make sure that you create time to sleep and rest at the nearest opportunity. 

Understand yourself: Are you a slow learner? How long does it take you to understand a concept? If you need long hours of study, make sure you create such time. Avoid the band wagon. Don't just join others to while away time if you need that time for your studies. Others may require less time to understand the same concept. Understand that slow learners are not abnormal people. They are just different. I, the writer of this article am also a slow learner. 

Talk to your teacher:  When possible, find out from the examiner what to expect in the examination.

 Learn relaxation techniques: Some relaxation techniques may help you stay calm and confident before and during the examination, such as deep breathing, relaxing your muscles one at a time, or closing your eyes and imagining a positive outcome.

Eat nourishing food to stay energized and NEVER take drugs or beverages (energy drinks) to stay awake to study. 

Have an exercise routine: Regular aerobic exercise, and exercising on exam day, can release tension.

Test yourself before the examination: Try to answer previously asked questions within the given time and assess your level of preparedness and act accordingly. 

Commit your studies to God in prayer: Proverbs 16:3 says commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Also ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand difficult concepts. The Lord Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit will teach us everything and also help us remember what we have learned. John 14:26 says …the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and will remind you of everything…

Balance religious activities with studies: Identify with Christian Fellowship groups but avoid the temptation to give too much attention/time to religious activities; always strike a balance. Do not spend too much time in religious meetings to the detriment of your studies. Do not be deceived that if you give the time you should have used to study for the work of God, He will miraculously cause you to perform well in exams.

While answering questions during the exams, try to focus your thoughts on the question you are answering at that particular moment and do not worry about the ones you may not be able to answer.  Sometimes, a candidate receives the question paper and quickly scans through it and discovers that there are some questions he may not be able to answer and begins to worry about them. Try to avoid this as it distracts you and can affect your ability to focus and perform well even on the questions you can answer. In most exams, only 70 percent of the scores is required from the candidate in order to pass with a distinction.

Seek help if you have a learning disability: Test anxiety may improve if the underlying condition that interferes with the candidate's ability to learn, focus or concentrate; for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or dyslexia is addressed. Let the examiner know if you have a learning disability so that appropriate support can be given you. 

May the Lord Jesus help you to overcome whatever form of performance anxiety you may be struggling with. 

NOTE: This article is written with a bias to the Christian faith and will benefit you more if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. If you are not a Christian, I encourage you to consider talking to a Christian on how you too can become one. You may read one of our articles titled Becoming a Christian or contact us at youthalivemag.editors@gmail.com or call +234803 060 8294