Are you feeling stressed this exam season? Throughout this article, we will provide you with ways to manage stress and study more effectively.

1. Meet with your teachers

Making sure you understand the course material and exam structure before your exam will save you time, stress and help you to feel more confident and prepared. Meet with your teachers before the exam to go over course content, and take the extra time to ask them questions. Your teachers are an additional study resource and are there to help you succeed. Ask them if they have any tips or tricks on how to study for your upcoming exam and you will be surprised just how helpful those tips can be.

2. Connect with peer mentors

Visit the Student Services/Guidance office at your school. They are a great place to start, as they can provide you with digital learning resources, worksheets, apps to help with reducing stress and tips to help with keeping your notes organized. They can also connect you with a school/public social worker if you are looking for someone to talk to. Once you get to post-secondary, you can access support services including personal, career and academic counselling, tutoring services and more! At King's we also offer King's Academic Mentoring Program (KAMP), which pairs incoming students with senior student peer mentors. Learn more about our support services, including KAMP.

3. Explore library resources

Visit your school librarian for assistance searching for articles, books and other research material for papers and exams. Oftentimes your library will have materials and resources to assist student learning, so make sure you chat with your librarian to see if they can help you with your study needs. Studying in a quiet environment with limited distractions can help you to focus. It also can be helpful to study in a designated study area and not your bedroom, so that way your brain has time to shut down and relax at night and is not associating your room with a study and thinking space, allowing you to rest.

4. Take care of your mental health and wellness

It is crucial to give your brain a rest and focus on your mental health during exams. Taking breaks will give your brain a chance to refresh and will make your study sessions more productive. Some students find it helpful to study in spurts. For example, if you are studying for 20 minutes, try taking a 5-minute break before starting your next topic or lesson. During study breaks, try your best to relax and unwind. You could meditate in a quiet space, go for a short walk, chat with friends, or anything else that makes you feel relaxed. It is important to make time for daily movement, take screen breaks throughout the day and get some fresh air. Remember that although grades are important, your own mental health and well being takes precedent. You cannot be an effective learner without taking care of yourself. Find more information about Mental Health and Wellness in education.

We wish you all the best this exam season and hope to see you here with us at King's in the fall!