Coping with exam fatigue
Don’t lose focus when exam fatigue sets in. With year-end exams reaching a climax, an education expert has warned pupils to keep focus right to the end, because what lies ahead could mean the difference between make or break.
According to Wonga Ntshinga from The Independent Institute of Education, it would be a mistake for especially matriculants to feel that they don’t have the power to improve on their overall performance in their remaining papers.
He says with exam fatigue threatening a sustained effort, pupils should remember that their remaining papers could make a very real and decisive difference to their future options.
“It is worth taking stock now of where you are, engineering a mind shift, and getting to a space where you are able to stay strong, motivated and effective right until the end,” he says.
Pupils, with the help of their parents and guardians, should consider the following strategy to get them back to an in-it-to-win-it attitude:
Keep the end goal in mind
Visualise your plans for next year, and match that dream with the performance you need to get there.
Don’t abandon your end goal now that the jackpot is within sight.
Stick to your roster and avoid cramming
Keep putting in a solid, consistent effort on your remaining work in line with how you planned your approach at the start of the exams. Don’t be tempted to take unnecessary days off now, with the intention of cramming later.
Complete small tasks
Break up your remaining workload into smaller, easier-to-complete sections rather than attempting to sit down for hours at a time to study entire textbooks in one go. Now is the time to eat the proverbial elephant one bite at a time. Be easy on yourself, but be consistent in your efforts.
Avoid catastrophising thoughts
Don’t let negative emotional energy over what’s happened so far in the exams impact on what you can still do. If things have gone well, sustained effort can mean that things go even better than you aimed for. If things had not gone well, renewed and continued effort can mean the difference between having a range of study options or limited prospects.
Get a change of scenery
Finally, now is a good time to also get out of the musty study rut, and to start smelling the flowers of freedom. Take a walk, give yourself a special treat during your scheduled downtime, or do something new. There’s a whole new and exciting world waiting for you on the other side of the exams.
The Independent Institute of Education is SA’s largest private higher education institution.