Teenagers are given many expectations, especially academically. The pressure to perform well and the amount of information to consume can be overwhelming. Colleges will primarily look at these senior year fall semester grades, so the pressure to do well on final exams can be especially high for seniors.

So it is important to remember that stress does not have to get the best of you. Creating positive habits and stress management techniques can help you achieve more confidence in testing, practice better time management, and be more organized.

Get Organized
An important skill for minimizing exam stress is to stay organized. Otherwise, the sheer number of tasks you need to think about can get overwhelming and you are more likely to forget things.

“I try to make a to-do list, because then I have everything I need to do written down and I’m not constantly stressing myself out with thinking about it,” said junior Dylan Fulk. “The lists help me so much [so I just] make sure I have everything either on a calendar or a specific list,” she added.

Adopt a Study Style That Works
What is the best way to study? There are many different study techniques, including the Pomodoro technique, the Cornell method, mind mapping, flashcards, and the teacher method.

The Pomodoro technique includes breaks that help your mind consume the information, as well as take a break so it does not get too overworked. Set a time for however long you can study without losing complete focus, then take a 5-10 minute break. Repeat the cycle until you have gone through the entire information, or feel prepared. You can also spread this through a few days.
“I try to have small breaks in between homework. So I’ll work for 30 minutes, then grab a snack, work for an hour, then play with the dog. It’s all about making small rewards honestly,” said senior Krista Donahue.

A second technique is the Cornell method, named after Cornell University. Some high school teachers use Cornell notes for students which are made up of specific sections, the main idea, key points, and questions. You can divide it up differently if you so choose. This helps with creating connections between the smaller details and the summary of the topic.

Another method that helps with connecting points, and different topics is mind mapping. It involves creating a visual diagram using pictures, lines, or arrows to organize hefty information. This technique is a good way to visualize the big picture and force your brain to think about all of the information, and it can be used for many different subjects, particularly when you want to retain a lot of information.

One classic study technique is flashcards. Many people find this method to be helpful when needing to learn specific details about vocabulary, people, or concepts. This method is often highly recommended for math formulas, history concepts, and reading/writing vocabulary. Flashcards are used by almost everyone all over the world.

Finally, in the teacher method you act like a teacher, explaining the concept you are studying out loud to yourself, to someone else, or by recording it and rewatching the video to see what you know, don’t know, or need to improve on. Some feel this is very effective for presentations, lengthy history lessons, and math units.

Take Care to Stay Healthy
Whatever method you choose, embracing these techniques will only help so much if you don’t do what you can to keep yourself healthy. Getting a good night’s sleep, eating healthy, and being hydrated can help your brain to work faster, healthier, and more clearly.