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Posted Jan. 6, 2014

Postgrad Exam Time: Top Tips To Avoid Panic

It is no secret that postgraduate exams are some of the most difficult challenges that you will face. As they represent what can be years of hard work, it will often times feel as if suddenly that "all of your eggs are in one basket". Of course, the exams aren't the only things that you will have to worry about. The time leading up to these exams will be literally crammed with study sessions, sleepless nights and even the occasional fear that you will perform inadequately and jeopardise your future. Still, remember that all of these feelings are perfectly normal and if anything, they will help to hone and sharpen your sense leading up to examination time. Although these feelings are natural, there are always a few ways to make certain that during these exams you will not "freeze up" or otherwise let panic get the best of you. Let us look at a few sure-fire tips to avoid these scenarios.

Pace Yourself!

Whether you have been a part-time student or you have engaged in a full-time study programme , the length of these exams will most likely appear quite daunting at first glance. Think of an exam as if it were a marathon. It is better to not look at the total distance which you will need to run, but to aim for certain milestones along the way. If the exam contains two hundred questions, look to complete a fraction of these at a time before you take a slight pause. This approach will help prevent you from becoming fatigued and will allow you to periodically clear your mind.

Stretch If you have ever undertaken a lengthy exam in the past, you are well aware that sitting in one position for an extended period of time can cause discomfort in the back, shoulders and legs. There is no logic in simply trying to "soldier" through this pain, for it may serve to distract you from the task at-hand. While there are indeed a number of extremely useful tips and tricks to prepare for these exams , physical discomfort can detract from these efforts. So, make it a point to stretch every ten or fifteen minutes; even if this only equates to turning and twisting your back in your chair. Not only will this help to relieve tension, but it will give your mind a brief respite from what may be proving to be a challenging set of questions.

Put Perfection Aside (Temporarily) One of the mistakes that postgraduate students will make is to not move on to a subsequent question or essay until they are absolutely certain that their answer is one hundred per cent correct. In fact, this is one of the primary factors in why some postgraduates will fail to complete an exam. Instead of shooting for the stars the first-time around, leave the most tricky questions unanswered for the time being. Finish the exam and then go back and take a look at those that you had trouble with. The main reason that this trick will work is that there are times when a question that occurs later in the text will trigger a memory that will help you answer the previous question that was left blank or partially completed. Even if you fail to find the answer at the end, the chances are high that this will only represent a small portion of your overall score. Furthermore, never forget that partial credit is commonplace during postgraduate exams.

Above all, never forget that the examiners will appreciate the amount of stress you are under; after all, they have been there themselves. These few, simple tips will help to ensure that your "big day" will be handled in the best way possible and that any panic can be left outside the examination room door!

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