You get your script back, and the mark is… not looking good. What happened? You know you studied for this. Shucks! What you feared would happen is exactly what occurred—you made blunders throughout the entire paper.

We all know this feeling all too well—when all your preparation is eroded because you lost your calm, panicked, and made silly mistakes. But why were you panicking? You wanted to do well. Then you started to worry if you knew enough. Then you realised you were worrying. And that turned into worrying about the fact that you were worrying. Before you knew it, it had snowballed into full-blown panic—and the result? Avoidable errors and a paper that didn’t reflect your potential.

So, how do you escape this traumatic loop?
You don’t. You’re doomed forever.

Just kidding.

Luckily, you have me. Let’s be real—keeping calm under academic pressure isn’t some magical trait that some lucky students are born with. It’s a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned, practised, and mastered over time. You don’t just wake up calm and composed; you have to take the right steps to build that calm.

And those steps? They boil down to two key things: your actions and your thoughts.

To really master this, you need to address four key areas:

• Your Actions Before the Assessment

• Your Thoughts Before the Assessment

• Your Actions During the Assessment

• Your Thoughts During the Assessment

Handle these four sections well, and you'll transform into a Zen master—even during the most stressful assessments. Let’s dive right in.

Actions Before the Test

Keeping your calm in an exam starts long before the test day. The first step is preparation. Have you actually studied? I mean really—have you understood the scope of your assessment? Have you ensured that you are not only well-prepared, but that you feel well-prepared?

If the answer is yes, then already you’ve started building a foundation of calm. Once you’ve done the work, you’ll naturally feel more confident and composed.

Now, here’s a golden rule: once it’s 10 PM the night before your test, stop studying.
Yes. Stop. Studying at the last minute does not boost your confidence—it destroys it. Imagine walking into your test while trying to hold onto something you read just an hour ago. Even if that topic doesn’t appear in the paper, the panic of trying to retain it will shake your confidence and trigger anxiety. So, at 10 PM—close the books and give yourself permission to rest.

That brings us to another crucial factor: sleep.
You need a good 8 hours of sleep to be at your best emotionally and mentally. If you go into your exam on 2 hours of sleep—or worse, none—you’ll be tired, irritable, and far more prone to making careless mistakes. Sleep isn't optional; it's essential. So again, stop studying by 10 PM and go to bed.

Also, double-check the time and venue of your test before you sleep. You want to avoid unnecessary surprises. Don’t wake up at 7:00 AM and then check your schedule—what if your exam is at 7:30? The last thing you want is to sprint to your venue. Running increases your heart rate, which only amplifies anxiety. Trust me—you don’t want to walk into an exam already out of breath.

On the actual day of the test, here’s a simple rule: avoid test content altogether. That’s right—no last-minute notes, no flipping through textbooks, and no watching “quick summary” videos. You’re better off going in not knowing one fact than going in with a panicked mind. Panic doesn’t just make you forget—it creates more errors in the topics you actually do know.

Also, avoid panicked classmates like the plague. Panic is contagious. If your friend is having a breakdown 5 minutes before the exam, step away—gently—and find a quiet space. In fact, it’s best to avoid people completely before your test. It’s not like they’ll help you, and they might even throw you off with incorrect information or last-minute doubt.

Now here’s one of my secret weapons: gentle music or a calm walk before a test. This helps me set the mood and makes it clear to others that I want to be left alone. (Side bonus: it gives you a mental reset.)

Back in school, I used to hand-feed chickens before exams to stay calm. True story. It was my way of slowing down and centering myself. So yes, do what works for you. Just make sure it’s calming—and not academic.

Thoughts Before a Test

Now listen—it’s no use doing all the right things if your thoughts are sabotaging you from the inside. If, deep down, you’re repeating:

“I’m going to bomb this. I know it. I never get anything right.”

Then I hate to break it to you, but you’re setting yourself up for disaster.

Let me remind you of this powerful Bible verse:

Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

If you tell yourself “I don’t have this,” guess what? You won’t.
But if you tell yourself, “I’ve got this,” then you’ve already started moving in the right direction.

Actions During the Test

Strategy 1: Read the Instructions

Before doing any questions, scan the entire paper. Get a feel for it.
Figure out:

• Which questions are simple

• Which ones are tricky

• Which require more effort

• Which ones you feel unsure about

This will give you clarity and help you mentally plan your approach. If some questions seem difficult—don’t panic. Say your mantra, breathe, and proceed.

Strategy 3: Create a Time Budget

Strategy 4: Do the Easy Questions First

Strategy 5: Review Your Work

Strategy 6: Don’t Leave a Blank Space

Thoughts During the Test

Want to take it up a notch? Say:

“This paper is easy. This paper is easy. This paper is easy.”

Even if it’s not easy, repeating that to yourself will keep you relaxed. Why not say it? It won’t hurt—but it might help calm your nerves.

Say it loud in your mind. Stay focused. Stay calm.

Conclusion

Keeping Calm Under Academic Pressure in the Cambridge Syllabus

Find a short, powerful affirmation—a mantra you can repeat. My personal one?

“We’ve got this, Don.”

All day before my test, if I feel even a bit anxious, I take a deep breath and tell myself: “I’ve got this.”

I even go into the bathroom before every exam, look in the mirror, and say:

“We’ve got this, Don. I’ve got this.”

It grounds me. It works. It keeps me calm.

I cannot stress this enough. Read the instructions carefully. Missing this step can be fatal. Imagine answering four questions when you only needed to answer two. You’d waste time and lose marks unnecessarily. So slow down, breathe, and read the instructions. (This should take 2–3 minutes.)

Strategy 2: Scan the Paper

A time budget is essential.

Let’s say you have 1 hour to answer 5 questions. First, set aside 15 minutes for revision (see Strategy 5). That leaves you with 45 minutes—so 9 minutes per question.

Stick to that time! If you take 25 minutes to answer two questions, you’ll know you’re falling behind and need to adjust your pace. It’s better to track your timing than to suddenly discover you have two unanswered questions and only 10 minutes left.

Always start with the easiest questions.

Why? Because they:

• Earn you guaranteed marks

• Boost your confidence

• Calm you down

So if Questions 4 and 5 seem doable while 1 to 3 feel shaky—start with 4 and 5. Knock them out first. Then you can tackle the tougher ones with less pressure, and apply Strategy 6 where needed.

Reviewing your work is essential—especially in subjects like maths. A single sign error can cost you marks.

Use your final 10–15 minutes to go back and double-check what you’ve done. Re-calculate, scan your steps, and make sure you haven’t missed anything obvious. A fresh look could earn you a few extra marks.

Once you’ve finished and reviewed the questions you know, shift to the ones you’re unsure about. Never leave a blank space.

Why? Because even a partial answer could earn attempt marks.

Use logic. Take an educated guess. Try a method. Think it through.
Even if you’re not confident—it’s better than nothing.

The marker can’t give you a mark if there’s nothing to mark. So try something.

And remember: only do this after answering and reviewing the questions you’re confident about.

Doing well in a test isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about answering what you know and playing smart with what you don’t.

Keeping calm during an assessment isn’t luck—it’s a skill. And like any skill, it can be trained, sharpened, and improved over time.

If this post helped you—and you know someone who could benefit from it—please share it. Sharing helps more students, and it helps this blog grow.

Let’s keep showing up, calm and confident, no matter what paper we’re handed.
We’ve got this.

Let’s say you’ve done everything right leading up to the test. But then—boom. You open the paper, and it’s the section you skipped. And it’s worth the most marks.

Now what?

Do. Not. Panic.

Take a deep breath in.
And a slow breath out.
Remind yourself: “I’ve got this.”

Now, it’s time to lean into strategy—specifically, your exam-taking strategies.

Now, throughout the test, keep feeding yourself positive thoughts.

Yes, your mind may wander. It might lock onto the question you don’t know. But catch yourself, breathe, and repeat your mantra:

“I’ve got this. I believe in myself. I can do this. I’ve already aced this.”

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