Maintaining a confident, positive attitude while studying and during your exam can enhance your performance. In order to feel confident, you must understand the material covered on the exam. Plan ahead how you will study and then execute that plan. Give yourself a number of days to study; do not try to cram the night before. Also, taking practice tests with the same types of questions that will be on your exam can help you feel less anxious while testing.
Nutrition impacts brain function, and blood sugar impacts heart rate. Maintaining good nutrition--including drinking enough water--the week before the exam can help your mind stay sharp and focused during the exam. Most importantly, eat breakfast the day of the exam. This will keep you from being distracted by hunger while testing.
Do not stay up all night studying the night before the exam. Sleep deprivation impacts focus and the ability to recall and apply information. Instead, use the night before the exam for review and relaxation. Review notes and materials created and used during the preparation process. Get to bed early enough so you will feel well rested in the morning.
Wake up early enough to give yourself plenty of time to get to your exam site. If you are taking a classroom exam, try to arrive early. Give yourself time to completely wake up and settle into your surroundings before the exam.
Instead of jumping right in and answering the first question on the test, take time to skim the exam questions and answer choices. Make mental notes of the questions that might be more difficult and the questions that you should be able to answer easily. Answer the questions you feel are easy before tackling the more difficult questions. There is no rule that says you must begin by answering question number one and end with the last question on the exam.
If you begin to feel anxious, bring your awareness to your breathing. Taking a long, deep breath can help refocus your attention and slow racing thoughts. Deep breathing decreases heart rate, and increases oxygen flow in the body. Breathing deeply relaxes tense muscles, and releases endorphins that can relive minor aches and pains associated with anxiety.
Take advantage of breaks if they are offered during the exam. Get up, stretch, walk around, go to the restroom. Try not to engage others in conversation or allow your mind to wander too much during breaks. Keep your focus on your need to refresh yourself so that you can continue with your exam. If you are not allowed breaks during which you can get up and move around, simply give yourself a brain-break. Do as much to stretch or shift your body as you can without distracting others around you. Take some deep breaths, then move on with the test.