Failing an exam can damage students' self-esteem and disappoint their peers, teachers and parents. It can even prevent students from achieving their dreams. For these reasons, many students go through unhealthy amounts of anxiety and stress during exam season. Parents and teachers should learn the best ways to help students cope with stress during exams in order to protect their mental and emotional wellbeing.
The Guardian shares some of the most effective ways to help students cope with stress during exams. Students who know how to mentally and emotionally cope with the stress during exams have a better chance of succeeding and maintaining a happy disposition throughout the exam season.
When the stress of the school year finally hits you pic.twitter.com/UA9IdtX1Sp
— MORGAN(: (@morganicmanes) April 27, 2016
1. Encourage Students To Talk
One of the best ways to help students cope with stress during exams is to allow them to voice out their concerns. Students release a lot of repressed anxiety and tension when they are able to voice out their concerns and fears about a particular issue.
Parents and teachers should let students know that feeling anxiety during exams is perfectly normal. They should also teach students that their anxiety and stress should be used as motivation and not as hindrances to their success.
2. Be Optimistic But Honest
Parents and teachers should avoid being patronising and condescending toward students who are feeling anxiety and stress during exams. Adults should share relevant experiences and give some practical tips on how they handled those problems when they were students.
3. Do Not Put Too Much Pressure On Students
Not putting too much pressure on students is one of the best ways to help students cope with stress during exams. "Some pressure does help children achieve more, but expecting the unachievable only makes them do worse," AlterNet explains.
