The second largest city in Ireland, and home to several students, Cork is an excellent destination for students who wish to study abroad. Students from all over the world choose to study in Cork due to the academic reputation the universities and colleges hold.
One of the major challenges that international students face is not being able to handle the exam stress. This can be due to many reasons, one of the most common ones being the drastic change in academic expectations from one nation to another.
Universities & Colleges in Cork
- University College Cork
- Griffith College Cork
- Cork Institute of Technology
Examination Stress
If you are a student in Cork or are planning to study there in the coming intake, then this article is for you. It is natural to feel stressed when exams are just around the corner, but it is essential to know how to manage that stress. Exam anxiety is real, but it can impact your results negatively if you don’t pay attention to the signs and symptoms that your body is exhibiting. Humans experience different types of symptoms, such as Cognitive, Behavioral, Physical and Emotional. Some of these symptoms are given below.
Physical Exam Stress Symptoms:
- Headache
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Increased Heartbeat
Emotional Exam Stress Symptoms:
- Low Morale
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Mood Swings
Cognitive Exam Stress Symptoms:
- Self-Criticism
- Forgetfulness
Behavioral Exam Stress Symptoms:
- Loss of Appetite
- Isolation
- Procrastination
Managing Stress: Tips & Tricks
- Start Early:
- One of the major mistakes that students make during their education years is waiting till the last day to start studying. It is important for students to realize that to start studying early is essential and results in better marks. When students study on the last day, their aim is to complete the entire syllabus in one night, which means they overburden themselves just before the exam. Therefore, always start studying early, so that you get enough time to prepare well for your exams, and without the stress of covering all topics the night before the exam.
- Understand Concepts:
- Many students focus on rote memorization, which refers to the process of memorizing everything from line to line. This method is not always helpful, since sometimes the syllabus is vast, and students don’t understand anything. If you choose to follow this method, and you forget the starting of one line, you may end up forgetting the whole sentence. Instead, focus on understanding the concept that the topic is trying to teach you. When you read a topic with the aim of understanding what the concept is trying to teach you, you are likely to remember it better and write better in exam.
- Take Breaks:
- It is very important for students to give themselves the time they deserve. While studying is important for your career, taking me-time and keeping a check of your mental health is equally important. The reason why taking a break between your study sessions is important is because it gives your brain some time to process what you just learned, and enough time to prepare for what is next. These breaks can be anywhere between 10-20 minutes, since every individual’s recharge time can be different. So, don’t forget to give yourself a break, because you deserve it.
- Stay Organized:
- If you’re staying at off-campus accommodation in Cork, make sure your study desk is well organized. It is always best to keep all your study materials, notes, practice books and more in an organized manner, so that you don’t have to spend time searching for it later. A way to keep your desk organized is to first remove anything that is not important or relevant to your education from your desk, and then stack your books, and other materials subject-wise. Have separate notebooks for registers, and make sure your night lamp, pens, highlighters, sticky notes and more are all available right there.
- Practice Mindfulness:
- As mentioned earlier, keeping a check on your mental health as a student is essential. During exam days, or just before the exam week, students face extreme stress and anxiety. One of the best ways to keep yourself stress-free and cope with anxiety is by following mindfulness practices, such as meditation, positive affirmations, mindful breathing, journaling, among others. The idea is to calm your mind that is full of stress. Students can also do so by exercising, going to the gym, doing Yoga, Pilates or simply going for a quick walk or run. All these practices can help students with their stress during exam-time.
- Sleep Routine: For the brain to function properly, it is very important to have a normal sleep routine. Students often start staying up late at night, pull all-nighters, sleep all day or sleep very little when exams are just around the corner. Having a disturbed sleep routine can impact stress level significantly. Moreover, if students don’t sleep enough, or are not experiencing quality sleep, they will not be able to pay attention to their studies or exams. Such unhealthy sleep routines and practices can also lead to problems in personal, social, academic and professional life. Some common problems that come with disturbed sleep routine include skin breakout, dark circles, fatigue, irritability, lack of concentration, mood swings, lethargy, and more.
- Time Management:
- Another common problem that students nowadays face is not being able to manage their time properly. This is because many students have a bad habit of procrastinating their study time. “I will do it tomorrow”, “I will do it tonight”, “I will do it in sometime”, such excuses are never ending with students nowadays. When finally, the date of exam approaches, students start panicking as their syllabus is left but there is no time. Therefore, it is important for students to learn how to manage their time efficiently. They can do so by creating a timetable which is realistic. Start by dividing your days and hours as per the subjects and topics that you need to cover.
- Seek Help:
- Whether you are an international student in Cork or a young professional, it is important for you to understand that everyone on this Earth experiences stress. What you are feeling is not happening only to you, and there are many ways to cope with this examination stress. If after trying everything, you still feel that you are unable to cope with the stress, you can always seek professional help. Students can seek help from their university counselor, professors, peers, family or other loved ones. Remember, it is important to share what you are feeling, so that you can get the help that you need. With professional approaches and techniques, you will learn better about how to cope with stress in life.
Conclusion
Students from all over the world experience stress every now and then, and especially when exam time is nearby. But with the tips given above, students can learn how to cope with this examination stress better. So, note these down at the earliest. All the best!