(Montreal) The period of final exams which is in full swing could be a major source of stress for some students and it is important for them to be well equipped, warn experts.
“The stress we feel is something that occurs when we detect a situation that perhaps seems to require resources that are beyond us, that we may not feel able to cope with this that is asked of us,” explained Professor Marie-Hélène Véronneau, a specialist in academic success in the psychology department at UQAM.
It is important for the young person to understand the source of their stress, she adds. Stress that results from a situation that is beyond us can be a source of anxiety and lead to a skid, said Ms.me Veronneau. But if this stress does not exceed a certain level, it becomes possible to channel it to “improve our performance” by concentrating “our energy on something that is important”.
It is therefore crucial for the child to be able to correctly interpret his stress, she stressed.
If the student understands, “I’m stressed because I can’t pass my exam”, there’s a risk of slipping. On the other hand, if the student understands, “I am stressed because the situation that is coming up is something that is important to me, and then the fact that I feel stressed does not necessarily mean that I’m going to fail, it just means that my body wants to help me prepare to face it”, it is already a very positive thing.
Marie-Hélène Véronneau, academic success specialist in the psychology department of UQAM
Being fully aware of the current situation is the first thing to do to regain control of your stress. Mindfulness meditation is more and more popular in Quebec schools, and researchers are beginning to take an interest in it from a scientific point of view. Several meditation apps are also available on smart phones.
Then, long breaths taken through the nose will help the body, in a few minutes, to distance itself from this state close to panic. The heightened state of wakefulness persists, said Mr.me Véronneau, but we are then better able to reflect and plan the measures to be taken to deal with the situation.
It is also important to identify the resources necessary to equip the student for this ordeal that awaits him.
Last year, in May and June, nearly eight million teaching aids were produced by Alloprof to help students with their end-of-year assessments.
During this same period, almost half of the questions asked on the Peer Support Zone by students were related to mathematics. This year, young people have heard that the results of the Ministry of Education uniform test in French have dropped considerably last year compared to 2019.
“It puts a little pressure, a little extra doubt, so maybe there’s a little stress,” said Alloprof spokeswoman Annie Harvey.
One in seven young people would have doubts about their ability to pass their final exams, according to a question Léger recently asked on behalf of Alloprof. This anxiety that gnaws at young people is obvious.
“In this kind of number I always sink in my exams I never know what to do”, asked recently BrontosaurusInsolite4314 in the Zone d’entraide of the Alloprof site.
“My ministry exam is close, I don’t know what to do to really revise everything. Do you have any little lessons for me, I don’t want to miss! ! ! ! ! ! asked QuartzRose9920.
“I have a math exam (and) I don’t know where to start for my revision”, questioned PerleJaune5579.
“The young person will realize that he is not the only one to have questions, because we see them literally raining down, these questions,” said Ms.me Harvey.
Mathematics remains the “pet peeve” of many students, she pointed out, especially since it often does not take much to find themselves at an impasse. A simple question not asked in class may be enough to put the young person in trouble, hence the interest of being able to speak to specialized speakers on the telephone.
“We have to get rid of this embarrassment. There is no silly question, launched Mme Harvey. All questions are relevant. »
The organization offers several printable tips and tools to facilitate the study period. It includes, among other things, explanations for creating good note sheets, tips for managing stress and stimulating your memory using a mental map, or even tips for improving your concentration.
“An exam is a photo of your learning at an X or Y moment of the year, it is not a reflection of your person, recalled Mme Harvey. Even if we agree that studies are essential, we are not the reflection of our grades. We must encourage effort. A well-studied 62% where the child worked hard, sometimes it’s worth all the gold in the world. »