4 ways to survive exam weeks

As the more experienced college students know, courses are tested and graded in different ways. Some teachers prefer just one exam at the end of the course, others hand out a final assignment. There's also a group that splits the exam in two parts, having one part halfway through the course and the other by the end, just as there are teachers who base the final grades for their course on several assignments. Last but not least, there are teachers who like to combine some of the above. No matter, however, how your course is tested and graded; it brings stress. Assignments mean deadlines and exams mean putting hours into learning all of the course material. How to survive this stress?

1. Remember that everybody in your class is stressed, too. It is perfectly normal to feel nervous for your exams and assignments. If you were not nervous, you would probably either be someone who is such a genius who passes all courses no matter what, or you would be apathetic about your studies. Talk about this stress with each other and try to help each other get over it by discussing course materials together and explaining issues to each other. 
2. Make a time schedule for yourself. Be it on paper, in your head, on your smartphone, or on your computer, it is important that you have some idea of what you want to do when (and maybe even where and how). This way you make concrete what has to be done and how much time you have for it. It also shows you where you might have some gaps for other activities than studying.
3. Take some me-time. I know it is tempting to pull all-nighters for studying and writing your papers, but this really won't do you any good. Allow yourself to sleep and to calm down before you are going to sleep. So, keep doing your yoga exercises, read an easy-going and fun book in the evenings, listen to your favourite music, watch a movie, or whatever calms you down and gets you ready for a good night.
4. Look forward and don't panic. While you may always feel you did not study as much as you should have, once you are taking the exam, you usually know more than you think. In multiple-choice exams, many of your correct answers come down to recognition, rather than to recall. If you are not sure about your answer, make an educated guess. If you really forgot the exact formulation, just blindly guess and go with your first intuition. In open-ended question exams, it is best to just start writing. As you write, most of the time you come to remember other related things. Neither question type is reason for concern. And remember, everything will pass, even this exam week.

Note: although it is normal - and even healthy - to be somewhat nervous and stressed, some symptoms may indicate severe exam fear, such as procrastinating studying, sleepless nights, hyperventilation and not being able to focus on the course material because of the stress. In this case, it is wise to consult with an academic advisor or tutor (or some other staff member you trust) to ask what you can do about it. Most universities will have student psychologists or student coaches who are there to help students overcoming the problems that are most common in the student population. Inform there for private consults, coaching sessions, or groups that offer techniques to cope better with your exam fear. 

If you have more tips and advices to share, leave a comment and maybe I will incorporate your advice with your (nick)name in the next exam-related post. Also, if you would like some more specific advice, let me know. I am happy to share my experience and knowledge with you!