(Montreal) The final exam period, which is well underway, could be a major source of stress for some students and it’s important that they are well equipped, experts warn.
Posted at 10:08 am.
Jean-Benoit Legault The Canadian Press
“The stress we feel comes from recognizing a situation that may seem to require resources beyond our limitations, making us feel unable to cope with the task at hand,” explained the professor Marie-Hélène Véronneau, a Specialist in Academic Success in the Psychology Department of UQAM.
It is important for young people to understand the source of their stress, she adds. Stress resulting from a situation that transcends us can trigger anxiety and cause skidding, Ms Véronneau said. However, when that stress is below a certain level, it’s possible to channel it to “improve our performance” by “focusing our energy on something important.”
Therefore, it is crucial that the child can interpret his stress correctly, she emphasized.
When the student understands, “I’m stressed because I can’t pass my exam,” there is a risk of slipping. On the other hand, if the student understands, “I’m stressed because the situation ahead is something I care about, and the fact that I’m feeling stressed doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to fail.” “It just means that my body wants to help me prepare for it”, that’s a very positive thing.
Marie-Hélène Véronneau, Specialist in Academic Success in the Psychology Department at UQAM
In order to get your stress back under control, you must first be aware of the current situation. Mindfulness meditation is gaining popularity in Quebec schools, and researchers are beginning to take an interest in it from a scientific perspective. Several meditation apps are also available on smartphones.
Then, long breaths through the nose help the body break free from this panic-like state within a few minutes. The heightened state of vigilance remains, Véronneau said, but we are then better able to reflect on and plan for the actions to be taken to deal with the situation.
It is also important to identify the resources needed to prepare the student for the exam that awaits them.
Last year, in May and June, almost eight million teaching aids were produced by Alloprof to help students with their final exams.
During the same period, almost half of the questions asked by students in the Peer Support Zone related to mathematics. This year, young people have learned that the results of the Ministry of Education’s unified French test have dropped significantly over the past year compared to 2019.
“It creates a little pressure, a little extra doubt, so maybe there’s a little stress,” Alloprof spokeswoman Annie Harvey said.
One in seven young people had doubts about their ability to pass their final exams, was a question Léger recently asked on behalf of Alloprof. This fear that gnaws at young people is obvious.
“Never with numbers like that I get bogged down in my exams and never know what to do,” BrontosaurusInsolite4314 recently asked in the Alloprof website’s zone d’entraide.
“My exams at the ministry are coming up, I don’t know what to do to really revise everything. Do you have any little lessons for me that I don’t want to miss! ! ! ! ! ! asked QuartzRose9920.
“I have a math test (and) I don’t know where to start with my review,” asked PerleJaune5579.
“Young people will realize that they are not the only ones with questions because we see them literally raining down those questions,” said Ms Harvey.
She emphasized that math is still the “favourite teaser” of many students, especially since it often doesn’t take much to get into a dead end. A simple question not asked in class can be enough to get the youngster into trouble, which is why it’s interesting to be able to talk to experts on the phone.
“We need to get rid of this embarrassment. “There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” Ms Harvey said. All questions are relevant. »
The organization offers various printable tips and tools to make study time easier. Among other things, it contains explanations of how to create good notebooks, tips for coping with stress and stimulating memory with the help of a mental map, or tips for improving concentration.
“An exam is a photograph of your learning at X or Y time of the year, it’s not a reflection of who you are,” Ms Harvey said. While we believe study is essential, we do not reflect our grades. We must encourage effort. Well-researched 62%, where the child has worked hard, are sometimes worth all the gold in the world. »