Some people benefit from a being a bit nervous as it pushes them to do their best. Others find that they become simply too anxious to concentrate on their work and can even become physically ill. These people are convinced that they never do themselves justice in exams and this makes them feel even more anxious, setting up a downward spiral of worry and illness.

The good news is that there are all sorts of things you can do to minimise these symptoms and increase your confidence. First, try and work out exactly why you are feeling so anxious: 

• Are you being put under too much pressure by your parents, teachers etc, or are you simply asking too much of yourself?
• Are you too often in the company of negative people?
• Do you feel your revision plan hasn’t been as effective as it should? 
• Lack of exercise
• Too many stimulants (coffee, tea, alcohol, cigarettes etc)
• Bad studying posture?
  

• You haven’t done enough revision
• You won’t be able to answer the questions – you’re going to fail!
  
  
  

• If you don’t calm down you won’t be able to do justice to yourself
• No revision you can do in the last 24 hours before an exam will make any difference to how you do.
• Read the exam paper through completely before you pick up your pen.