We have received enormous amount of stress rescue requests from candidates. Especially when the exam is approaching.
We do hope parents and educators are paying kind attention to this post.
All of the candidates are pouring their hearts out to us, crying for help, because there is really no one listening to them or helping them.
Here are some of their cry out:
- Fear of failing.
- Not being able to recall stuff I just studied,
- Not enough time!!!
- I’m so scared right now! Do you think there’s any chance I might improve in time for my examinations?
- Pressure from teachers and parents.
- Feeling like I’m not worth anything or good enough.
- I feel myself getting everything and understanding it but if I try to solve anything, it just doesn’t happen and it’s extremely frustrating.
- My teachers do not seem passionate with teaching, they are interested in being given more money incentives on top of their salaries, they want money, my school is poor to pay more money.
- I am scared from the examinations.
… and many many more.
Therefore, in this article, we will discuss how to “handle” your stress. Hope this would help you not only in your exam, you probably will carry this throughout your life. 🙂
Can We “Handle” Stress?
Contrary to popular belief, we CAN NOT “handle” stress.
Stress does not exist. It is NOT a thing that you can hold nor eat 😉
Stress is a feeling resulting from your thought.
From your ‘negative’ thought to be precise.
When your mind constantly thinking on negative thoughts, for example: you are scared to fail, or not getting an A*, or not good enough comparing to your older brothers or sisters, etc…; you create a bad feeling inside your body from all the negative thoughts.
The bad feeling that you feel, is what you call ‘stress’.
The more you want to “handle” your stress, the more you think there is something wrong about you. Then, you put more pressure and create more unwanted negative thoughts about yourself.
Why would you do that then?
Shall we agree from now on you don’t try to “handle” your stress anymore?
We only take “YES” as the answer 😉
So what should you do then? Keep reading…
1. Admit You Have Negative Thought(s)
There is really no big deal to admit we have negative thoughts. Everyone has them.
Just the courage to admit we have them, we have already eliminated most of the bad feelings.
Aren’t you feel lighter now?
Know that you can’t fight darkness with darkness. You can only fight darkness with light. By admitting the existence of negativity, you have inserted the light of positivity.
That is the most important starting point, and it is essential for you to continue to the next step.
2. Change Your Thoughts
Now that you know stress is the bad feelings you created from all your negative thoughts.
All you need to do now is – Change Your Thoughts.
Here are some steps for you to start doing that:
- Start by imagining the positive outcomes that you want to see or to have. For example: imagine you score A* in Maths, then feel the happiness feeling when you see your result slip.
As Albert Einstein said: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.“ - Make a list of things that you are afraid or frustrated of. Next, write the positive opposite of it. For example: I am scared of exams. The positive opposite you could write: I handle exam with ease / I write smoothly in the exam / I am entering the exam hall with full energy and I can’t wait to put everything I know down on the paper to show that I deserved an A* 🙂
- Know that examination is just a method used to see if you have understood the theory thoroughly and know how to present it out.
- Examination is also a way to let you find out what is your best talent. You will notice a trend that you tend to do well in certain subjects, but not the others. So, there is really no big deal if you can’t do well in Physics but trump in Arts. Because that is your best talent that you are meant to be the best in order to contribute to mankind in the future.
When you are making your list, you will notice that you have a shift in your feeling.
You will feel must lighter, your mind is clearer, you have so much energy that you want to jump into the exam hall right now, and most importantly, you will notice a big smile on your face because now you are a much happier person!
The final step is, you must train yourself to keep this happy feeling and not let yourself slide backwards again to the negative thoughts.
Step 3 will show you exactly how to do that.
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3. Get Good Results By Keeping The Positive Thoughts
The best way to keep your mind on positive thoughts is gratitude.
If you make a search, you will discover many great minds had always said the same thing about gratitude, and what kind of miracle it would bring to you.
Here are some of them:
“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Tony Robbins
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events.” ~ Melodie Beatty
Make gratitude your daily dose in your daily life.
You could be grateful for the chance to study, the ability to read and write, to be able to attend your exam at your comfort, to have a comfortable bed to sleep on each night, the luxury of clean running water and electricity, the money that have been given to you so you could continue your education, the fresh air, all your favourite food that is always available at your reach, etc etc etc …
The list is so vast that we simply couldn’t put everything here. But you get the idea of where to start 🙂
Pay attention to how you feel. If you are not feeling good, that means your mind is currently broadcasting negative thoughts.
Immediately find anything you could be grateful for to shift to positive thought.
***
Last but not least, please know that you are a worthy human being. Everyone is.
We are all here to do something important. We are all equipped with a special talent that only we have, no one else.
And we are meant to find out what we are good at, so we could contribute this talent to mankind. When you are contributing your best talent for the benefit of mankind, you will be rewarded handsomely (a.k.a earning a lot of money). 🙂
So now, go out there and score A*!




325 responses
Dear IGCSE,
I want to study pharmacy and I’m not really sure of the subjects to offer.
But the confusion comes when am asked if I am going to write A math.
So actually am asking if I need A math for pharmacy.
Hi Princess,
Usually, the required subjects for pharmacy/medicine are: English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Add Maths. As such, you may be required to take Maths. Furthermore, we strongly suggest you to check with the university you wish to apply to, and get confirmation on the required subjects for pharmacy/medicine.
HI…I am an IGCSE student from India.I am writing the IGCSE exam in 2019..I am already in the study mode . I am now completely banned from playing games or anything that could create a disturbance to my brain…It is not stress what i feel…although fear has taken over a little.
Hi Kishan,
Yes, it is never too early to start your revision. You can revise the subjects from the beginning. Highlight the important facts that you think could be on the test (you should refer to the latest syllabus on what is expected during exams here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-subjects-syllabuses/). You can then use the past exam papers (https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-past-exam-papers/) as your revision. Start with the latest papers as they have the newest syllabus format and continue with the older ones date back from 5 to 10 years. Then, revise on the most common mistakes that you always seem to make. Pay attention to the most common mistakes you always seem to make. Make notes and revise them, so you can avoid making the same mistakes in your actual exam.
Furthermore, we suggest that you draw up a study table and block in all activities, classes, and any household or other responsibilities you may have. Include meal times and travel time. BE REALISTIC. This should be an actual timetable, which is possible, not some ideal that can never be achieved. Work out your most effective study times and pace yourself throughout the day and week. Do not beat yourself up. Good luck!
Can we redo our IGCSE after we obtained bad marks or we just have failed in our life and career if that’s so ?
Hi Tom,
Don?t lose hope – obtaining bad marks does not mean ?have failed in life?. If you wish to retake your exams, you are free to do so. The result will not replace the old one. However, you may choose which certificate to use based on the highest achieved grade.
You might be interested in our online revision course. These had helped numerous students to score A*. Read more about our online courses here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-revision-courses/. Our next revision courses will be in March 2019. Do subscribe to our newsletter so you won?t miss our announcement.
Hi… I m a student and I will be sitting for IGCSE exam in 2019. I would really like to go for medicine ( Dermatologist). My most weakness is in Physics which I’m really not good at it. I would like to know if this subject would be needed for someone who wants to become a doctor in the future.
Im currently taking ( Bio, Chem, A.Math) would they be helpful in my career except Physics ?
Hi Jason,
Usually, the required subjects for medicine are: English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Add Maths. As such, you may be required to take Physics. Furthermore, we strongly suggest you to check with the university you wish to apply to, and get confirmation on the required subjects for medicine.
You might be interested in our online revision course. These had helped numerous students to score A*. Read more about our online courses here: https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-revision-courses/. Our next revision courses will be in March 2019. Do subscribe to our newsletter so you won?t miss our announcement.
hi! thanks for the tips it was a little helpful. but i would really like if you tell me tips on how to study computer science. so i have recently shifted from ICT to computer science at the last minute since i shifted countries and the school didnt offer ICT. I have my pre boards in a week and i have no idea what to do , the teacher only briefed me with 2 chapters. so could please suggest me any tutorials or websites where i could possibly try to study the WHOLE portion in a week! i have my final exam in october but my pre board is next week. please help me !!!!
Hi Nida,
First of all, relax. Make sure you?re well rested before you sit for an examination.
You should start doing your revision based on the latest syllabus: (https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-surebjects-syllabuses) and practice with the latest past exam papers (https://www.skolatis.com/cambridge-igcse-past-exam-papers/). Start with the latest paper as they have the newest syllabus format and continue with the older one date back from 5 to 10 years. Then, revise on the most common mistake you always seem to make.