In recent days, there is an intense period of tension in universities as Mid-Term period is approaching. One of the main factors that causes this tension is the stereotypes developed by the students about mid-terms such as “the week when courses you do not attend take revenge”. The biggest tension is among the students who are new to the university and who will take their first examination. In contrast with the common belief about mid-terms, these examinations are not competitive, but an opportunity for students to assess their academic knowledge and see their faults. However, this distorted idea about the process triggers the intense anxiety levels.

A certain level of anxiety is functional, it increases motivation, but it is a known fact that intense anxiety in the process also leads to many negativities. First, causes people to forget what they know, mental deadlock, failure in potential, causing the questions to be perceived and interpreted differently. In addition, many physiological symptoms such as short breathing, sweating and tachycardia may also occur.

Istanbul Gelisim University Lecturer Psychologist Cansu Yurtseven informed the students about what they should do in order to make this process more comfortable. She said: “First of all, students should perceive the examinations as a goal which will contribute them in occupational ways instead of considering them as a tool to achieve a course. This will make them feel comfortable. Underlying reason of lack of self-confidence and anxiety is the lack of information and habit of individuals to study without functionality. If a student attends the class, takes notes and performs his/her responsibilities about the class, self-confidence will increase and anxiety will decrease.”

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY TO STUDY

Psychologist Yurtseven added that another factor is the postponement of study and works to the last day. She continued: "Postponed responsibilities accumulate, accumulated responsibilities demoralize the person and arouse a feeling that they cannot be achieved. Any one who tries to stand up with a load he/she cannot carry, will suffer and even tremble. Although one could think that he/she is able to learn by studying on the last day, he/she might remember studying that specific subject during the examination, but not the answer. Because the person tried to memorize the content. What is memorized is forgotten, and what is learned will preserve permanence. Therefore, responsibilities should not be postponed and they should be completed on time, and the subjects to be studies should be studied gradually in line with curriculum.”
 
POSITIVE THINKING MOTIVATES

Psychologist Yurtseven continued: "Fear of failure is also a condition that negatively affects the person. Instead, the motivating aspect of positive thinking is known.”

"In this process, the student can begin with the step we call "cognitive restructuring”. "Cognitive restructuring can also be described as changing the personal perspective about the situation. Instead of saying “This course is harder than others”, one should day “This course will require more workload than others”. When one says “This course is harder than others”, the message delivered to subconscious is “this is hard, so it cannot be achieved”. However, when one says “This course will require more workload than others”, the message delivered to subconscious is “This might look hard, but I can achieve this if I work harder”. Positive thinking causes positive consequences. Perfectionism is another major disadvantage. As individual becomes more ambitious to be perfect, he/she considers the option of failure and increases the stress level. Therefore, perfectionism is one of the archenemies during examination periods.”

DO NOT THINK ABOUT YOUR PAST FAILURES, BUT THINK ABOUT YOUR PAST ACHIEVEMENTS

Psychologist Yurtseven stated that one of the factors that will increase anxiety is reaching to place of examination at last minute or delay. She continued: "When the person cannot adjust the timing, the level of stress regarding whether he/she can reach or not starts to increase while on the road. This causes the decrease of potential. To be at the place of examination before the examination is a comforting and calming thing. Insomnia is a condition that decreases the efficiency and causes the students not to realize their potential they expect in the examination, so it is important to pay attention to the fact that you have slept well in the night before the examination in order to have a low level of anxiety and achieve the examination.”

Psychologist Cansu Yurtseven concluded her statement as follows: “We all had times when we failed and when we were successful. During the examination period, remembering these failures and focusing on them cause intense fear and anxiety. In this process, rather than past failures, one should focus on the past achievements. This will instill hope. Thinking about previous achievements will motivate you and reduce the level of stress and anxiety. If the level of anxiety is still high, and if this has a negative impact on the achievement, then one should seek the assistance of an expert”.