How to Overcome “Exam Fever” and Anxiety Before a Paper: A Guide for Nigerian Students
You know that feeling.
You have read for weeks. You covered the syllabus from start to finish. You even memorized the past questions. But the moment the invigilator walks in with that brown envelope, your heart starts beating like a talking drum.
Suddenly, your palms are sweaty. Your stomach is making funny noises. And the worst part? Your mind goes completely blank.
This is what we call “Exam Fever.”
It is not “village people.” It is a biological reaction to stress. But here is the good news: it is fixable. If you are looking for how to overcome “Exam Fever” and anxiety before a paper, you don’t need magic. You need a strategy.
I’ve been there—shaking before a WAEC math paper—and I figured out how to beat it. Here is what actually works.
1. Preparation is the Only Real Vaccine
Let’s be honest with ourselves.
Most times, that anxiety you feel is your conscience talking to you. It is telling you that you didn’t cover Chapter 5.
The number one cause of exam fever is lack of preparation. When you know you are ready, the fear turns into excitement (or at least, impatience to get it over with). If you are trying to cram two years of work into one night, your brain will panic.
You need to start early. If you are already close to the D-day and feeling unprepared, don’t just panic. We wrote a guide on how to prepare for an exam in a short time that breaks down exactly how to manage those last-minute rushes effectively.
2. Avoid the “Panic Squad” at the Exam Center
You know those students I’m talking about.
They stand outside the exam hall holding their notes, sweating, and asking questions like, “Did you read that topic on organic chemistry? The one on page 204?”
Run away from them.
These people are carriers of anxiety. Even if you were calm before, five minutes with them will make you feel like you know nothing.
The Fix:
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Arrive at the venue early, but find a quiet corner.
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Put on headphones (even if you aren’t playing music) so people won’t disturb you.
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Tell yourself, “I have done my best. Whatever I know now is what I know.”
3. The “Brain Dump” Strategy
This is my favorite trick. It saved me during my JAMB days.
The moment the exam starts and you are allowed to write, do not look at Question 1 immediately.
Instead, go to the back of your answer booklet (or your rough sheet). Quickly write down all the formulas, dates, mnemonics, or definitions you are scared of forgetting.
Dump everything from your brain onto the paper.
Why does this work? It frees up your “RAM.” Once you know that the quadratic formula is written down safely on the back page, your brain relaxes. You stop worrying about forgetting it, which lowers your anxiety instantly.
4. Trick Your Body (Breathing and Water)
Anxiety is physical. It’s adrenaline flooding your system. You can’t “think” your way out of a panic attack, but you can “breathe” your way out.
If you feel your heart racing:
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Close your eyes for 10 seconds.
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Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 seconds.
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Hold it for 4 seconds.
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Exhale slowly through your mouth.
Repeat this three times. It forces your heart rate to slow down. According to Harvard Health, deep breathing sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax.
Also, drink water. Dehydration causes fatigue and headaches, which mimics anxiety. As we always say, health is better than wealth, and it is definitely better than failing an exam because you fainted.
5. Simulate the Exam Conditions
The reason the exam hall feels scary is because it feels new.
If you only study lying on your bed with Afrobeat playing in the background, the silent, cold exam hall will shock your system.
Practice like you play:
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Sit at a hard table.
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Set a timer.
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Remove your phone.
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Answer a full year of past questions without standing up.
You can find past questions on the official JAMB website or other educational portals. If you do this five times before the real exam, your brain won’t see the exam hall as a threat anymore. It will just be “another Tuesday.”
6. The “Post-Mortem” Ban
This tip is for during the exam period (like WAEC or NECO where you have papers back-to-back).
After the exam, do not discuss the answers.
You will hear people arguing: “Number 4 is B!” “No, it’s C!” If you realize you made a mistake, it will destroy your confidence for the next paper. You cannot change what you have written. Let it go.
Focus your energy on the next subject. If you dwell on the mistake you made in English, you will carry that bad energy into Mathematics.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to overcome “Exam Fever” and anxiety before a paper is a skill, just like learning Math or English.
It is okay to be nervous. A little nervousness shows you care about your grades. But don’t let it paralyze you. Trust your preparation. You have put in the work, now go in there and show them what you are made of.
Do you have a specific ritual you do before exams to stay calm? Share it in the comments below!
