With university exam season just around the corner, the pressure is officially on.
Lecturers are wrapping up modules, markers are prepping their red pens, and students everywhere are starting to feel the familiar pinch of pre-exam stress.
But it doesn’t have to end in a late-night meltdown. Academic experts and mental health professionals are stepping up to offer some crucial, down-to-earth advice on how to survive – and thrive – your exams.
It sounds obvious, but leaving everything to the last minute is the biggest trap students fall into.
International University of Management (IUM) lecturer Leena Tekla says there is often a massive gap between the number of students who qualify for exams and those who actually pass them.
“We often experience a high failure rate of students during exams compared to exam qualification, simply due to them not having studied enough,” she says.
The solution? Getting a head start.
Tekla encourages students to manage their time wisely, revise early, and give their brains a chance to actually digest the material rather than cramming it all in the night before.
Once you’re sitting at that desk, your strategy changes. One of the most common ways students lose easy marks isn’t because they don’t know the material, but because they didn’t actually answer the prompt.
When you get the paper, take a deep breath. Read through every single question thoroughly. Make sure you truly understand what the examiner is asking, before you pick up your pen.
Taking those few extra minutes ensures you deliver exactly what is expected, rather than rambling off-topic.
Exam anxiety is real, but there are practical ways to keep it from taking over.
Let’s Talk Psychology counsellor Ferdinand Yolela stresses the importance of mental readiness and keeping your cool.
He says the best way to keep panic attacks at bay is to study well in advance so you can walk into the room with confidence.
Try not to overthink the weight of the situation.
Instead, view the exam just as any other standard test you’ve already taken.
