SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS have been urged to sleep and eat well during their State exams, which begin this week.
The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) urged students to stay calm and focused as they begin the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams on Wednesday.
Clive Byrne, NAPD’s Director, said State exams can be a stressful time for students: “Our advice to students is to make sure they get enough sleep, eat well, and take one exam at a time. Make the best use of the time that is left to study but do not overload your brain with too much information. Prioritise those areas that you or your teacher has identified as most likely to come up. And stay in touch with family and friends without creating too many distractions.”
NAPD advised students to stay positive during the exams and to avoid exam “post-mortems” and other students telling you how well they did. “Do not dwell on the past, stay confident, and always look to the next exam,” Byrne said.
He also advised students to avoid skipping meals, especially breakfast and lunch, and to bring healthy snacks and water to the exam centre.
Students should avoid late-night study, and allow time to wind down before going to bed. If you are feeling anxious, try proven relaxation techniques such as measured breathing and slowing down your pace of thought.
When the exam comes around, take five minutes to read through the paper and identify the questions you can answer best. Stick to your plan for how long you will spend on each question, and be as methodical as possible. If there is something you do not understand, ask the supervisor. When it is all over, enjoy yourself responsibly.
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