Exam Stress

What is the problem with exams? Why is it that the word “exam” can turn a usually fun-loving student into a pale-faced zombie? Or a student that is normally a pale-faced zombie suddenly into 24/7 cramming.

Why do exams cause so much stress?

Well, exams judge us. Exams shows what we have really been doing all year. We may think we know stuff but exams will reveal the truth.

So it’s not exams that are the problem but us and that’s why we hate exams because they reveal the real us; they judge us. And that is why exams and stress so often go together. “I have to do well to prove myself.” “I need to be seen to be as good, if not better, than my contemporaries.” “I don’t want to let my parents down.”

So do you see? That’s where the stress comes – you only have a few hours (the exam) to prove yourself, to show what you are made of.

Stress is a defining characteristic in today’s world and at exam time it grows to epidemic proportions.

Stress is simply defined as “a factor that creates a mental, emotional, or physical strain”. It is a state of unresolved tension arising from the pressures, irritations, demands and worries of life.

Stress can breed lots of destructive symptoms which affect us mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Stress often produces a sense of anxiety, irritability, frustration, restlessness, and depression. It creates a feeling of hopelessness and disillusionment which undermines a person’s sense of purpose, direction, and meaning in life.

And this ‘exam-time stress’ can even hit the Christian, which is a shame because the Christian gospel is the exact opposite of “I need to prove myself”. The Christian gospel is not DO but DONE. It’s not what we DO to make ourselves something but what Jesus has DONE – he went through all the stress of the cross. So for a Christian to be stressed-out like the non-Christian only witnesses that there is no underlying belief differences when there should be.

Christian, you should know that you are a failure but Jesus has made the grade for you. In Christ you are loved by God. You can fail all your exams and he will not love you less. You can get all the best results and he will not love you more.

Let me briefly turn you to a passage that will help you deal with exam-stress. As you work on revision, please work on these things too.

Philippians 4

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

1. Work on Rejoicing –

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

It takes a decision to rejoice. It won’t just happen – work on it. Rejoice IN the Lord.

Who is the Lord? The great examiner. The judge of the world. He sees every failure, every wrong in your life – nothing is hidden.

Who is the Lord? He came into the world and lived for you. Where you failed, he passed. He is the sinless Son of God and gives his perfection to you.

Rejoice in the Lord.

2. Work on Gentleness –

⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Live remembering the Lord is near. Your Lord is near – your justifier, the one that makes you a child of God, a member of his glorious kingdom.

When we realise he is near, we live for him and don’t need to prove ourselves.

We become an example to others in purpose, faith, patience, love. Stress brings irritability towards others – “Stop interrupting. I need to prove myself.”

The Lord is near – that thought brings a gentleness and calm in our relation to others.

We can communicate in verbal and non-verbal ways that our God is greater than any problem. We can be gentle, not stressful and angry.

3. Work on Trust and Prayer –

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Get six words clearly fixed in your minds. These six words form the foundation of God’s therapeutic process for all worrywarts.

WORRY ABOUT NOTHING, PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Switch whatever it is from the worry list to the prayer list.

“Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh what needless pains we bear! All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”

Prayer programs our thinking, attitudes and actions to call on the Lord for everything.

Trust him to help you bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God. Ask him to help you excel in love, faith, hope, and wisdom through every encounter. Trust him for your future and therefore for life after exam results.

4. Work on guarding your heart ^–

⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

To know that you are at peace with God through Jesus will bring a calm that will transcend your circumstances and will guard you in both heart and mind. Guard your heart against the false gospel of works and success in this world. Be ruled by Christ.

5. Work on remembering the good things

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

When you are revising, turn it into praise. So if there is something good you have read, thank God for it. If you are studying a piece of literature that reminds you of truth or the make-up of a chemical that reveals an admirable designer of the universe, then praise God. Don’t divorce your studies from praise.

Encourage yourself in the Lord by recounting all the good things you have been given through Christ: his strength, his wisdom, his identity, his love, his purposes, his power, his truth, his perspectives, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his gentleness, his faithfulness and his plans for your life.

6. Work on Fellowship With One Another-

⁸ Finally, brothers,

These things are things we do together. Romans 15:32 says: ³² so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. Fellowship can often provide a potent remedy for stress. Studies have proved that interaction with loved ones and friends helps relieve the pressures of stress. So many Christian students give up church during exam times.

By Pete Woodcock