THE MAKE-OR-BREAK EXAM
Some time over the next couple of weeks, you may face a make-or-break exam–the exam that is worth 40 percent or 50 percent or 60 percent—or even 100 percent of your grade for a course. Most of us would rather do a project, an extensive assignment, or even a group project than one of these heavily weighted exams. But if that’s what we have, then the plan is to make it and not let it break us.
Today I’m going to talk about what you can do leading up to the exam, and then actually writing it.
First, leading up to the exam: I’m assuming you have studied the syllabus, your texts, notes and labs reasonably effectively. The exam is coming up shortly, and you are concerned about choking. It’s easy to say this is just like any other exam, except more so, but that probably is easier to say than to believe at a gut level.
I want you to spend ten or twenty minutes estimating the actual probability that you will bomb the exam. Your grades so far, particularly your recent grades, are a pretty good indicator of the range you can expect on the next exam–except you may do better if you have kicked it up a notch in terms of your study techniques. It is more probable that you will not bomb the exam than that you will. Still, the fear may be there.
So face your fear. Imagine the worst case, and what positive action you will take: I know one student who got through their Master’s with a 3.8 by telling themselves before big exams or presentations, “If I don’t make this exam, I can clean houses,” and then on to the positive outcome, “If I make this exam, I will feel so good I will spend the afternoon at the park with my camera.”
The thoughts to replace angsting about choking or blowing the exam are (a) accept the fear, (b) plan for the worst case, and (c) visualize the best case–how you will feel and how you will reward yourself.
Cast the two security statements on the thumb and index finger of one hand. Use them when you catch yourself catastrophizing about the exam. You will have them on your finger and thumb, in case you start to choke during the exam. Endorse yourself for catching catastrophizing thoughts and replacing them.
In your study review, identify your strength areas and itemize them, mentally pressing points into your fingertips. Identify your weaker areas and how you will address them if they are on the exam–answering as well as you can means that at least you likely won’t get 0/5 on short answer questions that touch your weakness.
Second, the night and morning before the exam, follow the usual exam drill: Do your last review of the material and syllabus. Pack your bag with everything you will need. Park it by the door. Set your alarm, and follow your sleep hygiene. The next morning, eat a light breakfast. Allow time to get to the exam with 10 minutes to spare. Stay away from the cluster of chattering, anxious fellow students by the door. Go to the bathroom, and enter the exam room.
Write the exam. Follow the usual exam writing protocol I’ve blogged about. When you find yourself starting to choke, press the key index finger and thumb secure thoughts into your thigh, endorse for doing that, then decide what to do about the question that triggered you–for example, guess, come back to it, or take a fair stab at it. This is particularly useful for the surprise question you weren’t expecting. Once you have caught your breath, pause, and ask yourself what you know that is closest to what is asked. You may know enough to answer right away, or you may mark it for return.
I have to say it again, although I have said it before and said it often. Use all of the time you are allowed.
That’s it. You’ve finished the make-or-break exam. And you aren’t broken. You’ve also polished a technique for dealing with make-or-break situations down the road–exams, presentations, oral defence, asking the boss for a raise, making a sales presentation, arguing a case.
Enjoy that reward before you move on to getting ready for the next exam.
And if you want to focus on the particular challenges you face during exams, connect with me and strategize: [email protected]
The information in this blog cannot take the place of support from your own mental health professional or community health resources. Reach out to them. And IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS PLEASE DIAL 911.