Josh CollinsKeep Calm and Carry On – a crash course in combatting exam-xiety
By Josh Collins (part of the Reachout ASC team)
Keep Calm and carry on – A crash course in combatting exam-xiety
When I was growing up, the slogan ‘keep calm and carry on’ was seen on every marketable item available, parodied and spoofed more times than ways I’ve shoehorned my special interests into conversation. I even remember having a Star Trek poster as a teen that replaced the iconic messaging with ‘live long and prosper’ instead, both helpful messages whatever you may be going through.
The famous slogan took off at an uncertain and scary time for many as a message of comfort, reassuring the people of wartime Britain, possibly your grandparents or great grandparents, that we all face challenges best when we are level-headed and have faith that we are doing the best we can— keeping calm and carrying on.
Anyone who has ever gone through a stressful period, which is everyone, will know that it is easier said than done, and autistic people know this better than most. Stress overloads our brains more easily, and a tendency to hyper fixate makes the stress worse.
We can all agree, the pressure to excel in our SATs and GCSEs is second to none. We want to make our parents and teachers happy, we equally fear a potential punishment or judgement from them as well. We may also have strong plans about what we want to do leaving primary school or high school, and would understandably feel awful if we do not secure the school, college, or apprenticeship, we had in mind.
It is a difficult time for almost everyone, and I am relieved I do not have to do it all again. I left high school 9 years ago, which means I have had a lot of time to reflect on these experiences and give you, the reader, the toolkit you need to deal with the exams and SATs period.
Mascots, are a fun way to ground yourself in the exam hall
I remember for our SATs, we were all allowed to bring in a small item that would be our good luck charm. They all sat on a little table at the front, cheering us on as we scribbled away. I brought in a small Buddha statue that lived on our kitchen windowsill at the time, but it could be anything, and it definitely can be related to your special interest.
Whether you believe in good luck or not, and whether schools allow you to do this now, having an item that brings you comfort has the power to get you through your exams. Autistic people naturally have an artillery of grounding strategies, they just don’t look like that to the average person.
Whether it is stimming or engaging big time with your passions, think of them like an item you can touch and sense and bring it with you into the exam. Anything that keeps you grounded, anything that reminds you of the good times before, at present, and ahead, is a thought worth savouring. Those warm feelings are your beacons of light in the exam hall storm.
Know when you’ve done everything you can
Fight the impulse to cram or study the day before. There will come a point where you will know you have done everything you can for your tests, exams, coursework, and you will know when this is when you’ve gone through all the subject matter of your exams. Before a big deadline, if you can, do something you enjoy, have a good dinner, and get some rest. This won’t be anything your parents, guardians, or teachers have not told you before, but sometimes all you need is a little reminder.
Most importantly, cramming is a form of self-punishment, it fundamentally is your brain saying, ‘you don’t do enough’, which is not true at all. No one learns well when they are perpetually stressed, and down the line this could have worse consequences. Not only could it lead to burnout, but it can also lead to you associating study with stress when you are at college, university or in an apprenticeship. Most jobs require you to learn something one way or another, and what a sad world it would be if the joy and fulfilment of learning was spoiled because of SATs and GCSEs?
Invigilators are there to help you
Most of my classmates feared invigilators, and there are many jokes online about how situations where students hoped they’d be more helpful than they hoped. At the end of the day, they are humans just like you and me. They don’t go into the cleaner’s cupboard after you’ve handed your papers in, and they’ve collected all the loaned-out rulers and compasses. Invigilators have gone through the process just like you and I have, even to this day I have the occasional throwback to my exams, and they are highly empathetic to that. If you are feeling uneasy and need some fresh air, they can do that. If you’ve run out of water and your mouth is getting dry, they have you covered. There is always the chance that you may be catching someone on a bad day, but ultimately, they are there to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need: their job is to help you if they can— ask and ye shall receive.
Grades only tell so much
No matter what grades you get, nothing about you will have changed. You will be the same person when you leave the exam hall as you entered it. Grades are not a value of self-worth, and your examiners have no idea of the amazing individual that you are, all they see is a candidate’s answers and maybe about an hour’s worth of work. One hour of your life does not and never will define you.
If you do not get the grades you need to get onto the next step, there is always another way to reach your goals. Have a good chat about your goals with your parents, friends, and teachers, and see what you can find out about other plans. Having another plan in mind will help put your mind at ease about failing. In reality, exams such as SATs and GCSEs are a tool to get onto your next step to make your dreams come true, not a barometer on your worth as a human being.
No matter what stage of your life you may be in, keeping calm and carrying on is the way to go. Though it is never easy, knowing that you are doing your best to study and also to enjoy yourself do not go against each other, but actually work hand in hand to make your life more fulfilling and to help you tackle your exams head on.
