Final Exam Stress
The Stress-Free Exam ~ 0/100 Score on the Final!
First, there is no such thing as a ‘stress-free university student’ and that is especially true as the time for final exams gets even closer! It’s a part of the university experience…but it DOES NOT have to take over your life, no matter how many projects and final exams you have. Consider these strategies and see how much stress you can eliminate…
- AVOID STRESSFUL PEOPLE – stress is actually contagious. So resist the urge to have an extended study session with any of your super-tense friends, especially if they are complaining about all the work they still have to do and they are breaking pencils and throwing them all over the place and/or gnawing on their furniture in order ‘to focus.’ Their stress will only add to yours.
- EAT BALANCED MEALS AND EXERCISE – seems like a no-brainer, but it’s a wonder that so many people forget it. But, skip the sugar and the caffeine (‘just say no’ to these drugs) and go for snacks like granola bar, fruits and veggies to keep your blood sugar stable. If you’re studying for a long period of time, eat some protein, too. Get out and take a 10 minute walk—it can leave you calmer and more focused.
- JUST SAY ‘NO’ – and we don’t mean drugs, although we’re not recommending them. What you need to say NO to are the people and events who want to take up your time---if you say ‘yes’ you’re probably going to be tempted to blow off studying. RESIST the urge. Say NO to the distractions and be selfish for a day---your GPA will thank you for it!
- DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME STUDYING ~ Say what? That’s right, you can ‘waste’ study time by going too long without taking a ‘mental break.’ For every hour or so that you work, take a 5-10 minute break---take a walk in the sunshine, stare off into space, repeat to yourself: “this, too, shall pass and I hope I do, too!” about 30 times. Your brain deserves the rest.
- PUT OFF JOINING PROCRASTINATORS ANONYMOUS UNTIL AFTER FINALS WEEK! – Studies indicate that procrastinators reported higher stress levels and more illness— indeed, they were physically sicker overall than students who didn’t procrastinate.
How to Score 0/100 (a semi-true story)
His professor sent him an e-mail the following day:
Dear Michael,
Every year I attempt to boost my students’ final grades by giving them this relatively simple exam consisting of 100 True/False questions from only 3 chapters of material. For the past 20 years that I have taught Intro Communications 101 at this institution I have never once seen someone score below a 65 on this exam. Consequently, your score of a zero is the first in history and ultimately brought the entire class average down a whole 8 points.
There were two possible answer choices: A (True) and B (False). You chose C for all 100 questions in an obvious attempt to get lucky with a least a quarter of the answers. It’s as if you didn’t look at a single question. Unfortunately, this brings your final grade in this class to failing. See you next year!
May God have mercy on your soul.
Sincerely,
Professor Turner
P.S. If all else fails, go with B from now on.
B is the new C
