WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
If anxiety is interfering with exams, plan both the academic preparation and the support you may need. A timetable alone is not treatment, and feeling anxious does not mean you failed to prepare. Start with the next exam’s demands and contact appropriate support before the deadline.
Separate uncertainty from the learning task
Write down what worries you about the exam. Is it the material, time pressure, the room, technology, travel or what a poor result might mean? You do not need to diagnose yourself to identify a practical question. Keep the list short enough to act on.
Then split it into items you can verify and concerns you need help with. “Which calculator is permitted?” belongs with the exam office. “I cannot sleep and keep avoiding class” deserves a conversation with student wellbeing or a qualified health professional. Treating both as failures of willpower can delay the right help.
Make the format familiar in manageable steps
Check the official format, duration, question choices and allowed materials. Use representative practice provided by the course where available. Begin with a short task if a full timed paper feels unmanageable, and build familiarity with the process rather than demanding a perfect rehearsal immediately.
After an attempt, distinguish a knowledge gap from a process problem. Knowing how to solve a question after seeing the answer is different from recalling the method independently. Running out of time may call for reviewing question selection or answer length. Keep a brief error log so that preparation addresses observed problems.
Prepare an exam-day logistics sheet
Record the location or login process, required identification, arrival instruction, permitted equipment and contact for technical trouble. Pack or test those items before the day. For a remote assessment, follow the institution’s rules about devices, room setup and permitted resources.
Decide what you will do if something goes wrong. If you feel unwell during an exam, notify the invigilator or use the stated online support process. Do not silently leave, use prohibited help or assume you can explain the problem after results without following the required procedure.
| Possible difficulty | Preparation task |
|---|---|
| Unclear instructions | Ask the course or exam office before the exam |
| Technology concern | Complete the approved system check |
| Time pressure | Practise a short representative section |
| Ongoing health or access need | Contact the relevant support service about the process |
| Illness on the day | Know how to notify the exam authority |
Ask about support without assuming an automatic adjustment
If you may need an adjustment, contact disability or student support early and ask what evidence, assessment and deadlines apply. A diagnosis, a previous arrangement or a teacher’s suggestion does not itself tell you what this exam provider will approve. Get the arrangement confirmed through the proper channel.
A useful first message is: “I am experiencing difficulties that affect timed assessments. My next exam is on this date. Could you explain the support and assessment process?” You do not need to send detailed private records to every lecturer. Ask which office should receive sensitive information.
Protect ordinary routines and recognise when help is needed
NHS guidance recommends seeking help when stress is difficult to manage, self-help is not helping, or daily life and university work are affected. A GP or appropriate local health professional and university support are possible starting points. This article provides an academic planning approach, not a diagnosis or a promise to remove anxiety.
After the exam, make a short factual note of any problem that needs reporting, then follow the institution’s process promptly. Wait for confirmed results before recalculating your GPA. A difficult exam feeling is not a mark, and repeatedly guessing a result can consume time without adding useful information.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-10. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
