Family and community medicine consultant, Dr. Mohammed Bakr Saleh Qandieh, confirmed in special statements to Al-Youm newspaper that the exam period represents a pivotal stage in the educational journey of students, as its importance is not limited to being a measure of academic achievement only, but it is a real test of the student’s psychological and mental abilities in dealing with pressures.
This period is of paramount importance not only to the individual student but also to the family and the educational community as a whole. Successfully managing this phase is an indicator of a student's maturity and ability to organize their time and priorities. Educational experts point out that exam anxiety is a global phenomenon, but dealing with it effectively can transform it from a psychological obstacle into a motivator for achievement.
The psychological factor: the gateway to excellence
Dr. Qandeh explained that the psychological aspect plays a pivotal role, sometimes even more so than the cognitive aspect, during exams. Excessive anxiety and unwarranted fear of failure can lead to what is known as "mental shutdown," hindering information retrieval even for high-achieving students. He emphasized that psychological preparation should begin early by boosting self-confidence and instilling the belief that exams are a means of assessing acquired knowledge, not a tool for intimidation or punishment.
Smart strategies inside the exam hall
In offering practical advice on how to approach an exam, the consultant pointed to an effective strategy: starting with the easier questions first. This advice is based on psychological and scientific principles, as answering correctly and quickly at the beginning of the exam gives the student a significant morale boost, reduces stress, and buys them extra time to focus on the more complex questions later, thus creating the mental balance that is so crucial at that moment.
The importance of sleep and combating sleeplessness
Dr. Qandeh strongly warned against common bad habits among students, most notably staying up late the night before an exam and consuming excessive amounts of stimulants. Medical studies have repeatedly confirmed that sufficient sleep is the time when the brain "archives" information and consolidates it in long-term memory. Therefore, staying up late not only leads to physical exhaustion but also weakens concentration and distracts the mind, making information retrieval a difficult and slow process.
The role of the family and surrounding environment
Dr. Qandeh concluded by emphasizing that psychological preparation is a shared responsibility between the school and the home. He urged parents to provide a calm and supportive environment and to avoid putting their children under psychological pressure or comparing them to others, noting that emotional support and continuous encouragement are the true fuel that propels students toward excellence and success with confidence and competence.
