After the test, what happens….
Spend a quiet moment alone. After you finish taking the test,
do not immediately talk to your friends about the test. Instead, take a quiet
walk--outside if possible. Calm down and breathe deeply. Remember that you did
the best you could in the present circumstances.
For
example, say to yourself: I prepared as well as I could with the time and
resources I had. I demonstrated the knowledge I hold in the present moment. I
am proud of my work.
Do not compare answers. After you finish taking the test, do not ask your friends what their
answers were. They could be wrong or right so comparison is not helpful.
Additionally, you might stress over not matching their answers but be right all
along. Instead, congratulate yourself for the things you did well and learn
from the areas where you think you could have done better.
Visit a good friend. After an exam, it is nice to meet with a friend, preferably not one who has taken the exam. Your friend can help support you and reduce your stress. You also can do a fun activity together that can take your mind off the test. When meeting your friend, agree to only discuss the exam for five minutes or not at all. It is important for you to release your stress rather than dwelling on the exam
Avoid ruminating about your
performance. Rumination means that you keep replaying or obsessing about negative
situations. Unfortunately, rumination can lead to depression and anxiety. If
you are ruminating about your performance, try the following steps:
Identify your fear. What scares you? Are you
afraid of failing the test? Are you afraid your performance will impact your
college entrance possibilities? Journalling can help you pinpoint your fear.
Ponder the worst-case
scenario. Can you handle
failing? Usually the answer is yes. Realizing you could handle the worst-case
scenario removes the power from your initial worry.
Realize what you
cannot control. You cannot control your results. Stop trying.
Turn mistakes into
learning moments. Maybe you did not write your essay well. What can you do to
improve? If you're in university, visit the writing center.
Additionally, you
could check out books on how to write essays. You also could ask your teacher
for feedback.
Practice mindfulness. Try to keep your mind in
the present. Look around you while you walk (versus at your smartphone).
Breathe in the scents.
Try therapy. If you find yourself
ruminating without stop, see a counselor. Counselors can help you learn
additional strategies to stop rumination
Reward yourself for your
hard work. After the exam, do something you enjoy. This will help take your mind
off the exam. Visit a favorite cafe or shop. Alternatively, you could take a
relaxing walk or buy yourself a treat. You also take a soothing bath or read a
non-academic book
Remind yourself of your
positive qualities. Our brain has a negative bias. This means it tends to have greater
activity when we are thinking about negative things. Depressing thoughts can
impact our mood more than positive thoughts. To prevent negative thinking, make
a list of all the things you like about yourself. What do you do well? What do
you enjoy? How are you a nice person? By considering the positive things about
you, you will begin to feel better.
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