For those of us not fortunate enough to have super-human immunity to sickness meaning few absences, finals are right around the corner. To keep you from stressing out about pre-final and other exam stress, here are a few simple tips that you can apply to practically any test:

1. CHILL OUT – Sometimes anxiousness can be beneficial for adrenaline while taking your test, but most of all you need to calm down. Do your best of course, but remember: no matter how bad you do on your test, there are always alternatives to make everything okay. It’s not the end of the world!
2. Don’t Rush – You obviously want to get your test over with, but keep in mind that if you take it once, having given your all, you most likely won’t have to take it again. So take things one at a time; you’ll thank yourself later.
3. Study… But Don’t Over do it – Look over your notes and your reviews a few times prior to your test, but DO NOT CRAM. Studies show that temporary cramming does nothing but distract the brain from concentration. Make some flashcards or other study devices that will help by focussing you for your long term memory.
4. Go to Sleep – Seriously, this one is the most important thing you could do to benefit you on your future tests. This cannot be stressed enough: if your body is sleep-deprived, your brain will instinctively go into over-drive. Fight or flight methods such as these cause the body to temporarily freak out, meaning your brain will focus on far too many things at once, making it impossible to concentrate.
5. You Got This – Remember, you’ve been trained specifically for this exact test. You know this information, and you’re only human. You’re doing the best you can as a high school student, and that’s all that can be asked of you. Good job!

Hopefully these few tips can help out anyone looking to be freed from test anxiety in the future. Just relax, and remember that everything works out. And when you do get overly stressed, take a step back, and think about cute dogs or anything else that relaxes you.
Good luck!

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