Thread by @Staysaiff

With the #CSS2022 exam starting in roughly a week's time, a lot is being said about what should or should not be done in this final leg. I'm sharing below some points that helped me handle the #pressure and eventually resulted in me giving my best on the exam day.
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1. Sleeping for Success: No matter how good your prep is, you wouldn't be able to perform optimally if your mind isn't fresh. Sleeplessness before the exam is a pretty common issue. By the point you realize you're unable to sleep, you've already lost some crucial hours.
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Your sleep cycle may have varied during Ramzan but now's the time to get it back together. If you start now, rewinding your schedule an hour a day could help you synchronize with the exam cycle.
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2. The Peril of Panicking: There are two types of panicking that are usually associated with the exam - before the exam and during it. I believe both can ruin your months-long effort.
To overcome pre-exam panic, go out and get some fresh air, watch comedy, or take a day off.
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Panicking during the exam is a lot more consequential. If you are able to control your nerves in the first 10 minutes after looking at a difficult question paper, you'll do fine.
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Our US History paper last year was a bit unorthodox. Nothing I had prepared was applicable. I barely knew 1/4 questions based on my current affairs knowledge. Had I panicked, I would have been out of the game - others left the exam hall early on.
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I gradually broke down questions and revisited my passive knowledge to see what applied. My goal was to at least surpass the 33 marks barrier. I eventually scored 52 marks - a lot more than I would have if I had panicked.
Something similar happened in the P&C paper.
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3. Getting Your Juices Flowing: Giving 2 exams a day, 6 days a week, is quite an exhausting process. Having something sweet to eat/drink as a glucose source can help you regain some energy.
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I drank lots of Orange Juice and Chilled Lattes throughout my exam. OJ can really wake you up. Other citrus drinks also have a similar effect.
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4. Behold the Body Aches: While the mental aspects of the exam week are well known, its physical pains are usually overlooked. Candidates appearing in the exam spend at least 6 hours per day sitting in an uncomfortable posture with a bent back on a wooden chair.
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This can cause body aches over the course of the week - which, at the very least, can be annoying. While having painkillers can provide momentary relief, it's better if you actively avoid sitting with an awkward posture.
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5. Thinking of Means and not Ends: I believe candidates accrue a lot of pressure by thinking of the exam's results than the exam itself. Your goal should be to give your best attempt in the exam - the results may not be entirely up to you.
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Thinking about the result is therefore a futile exercise, doing more harm than good. Think about the exam instead and how you can improve your performance in it.
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6. Revise the Old, Avoid the New: I think this part is self-explanatory. It's better to polish what you already know at this point than study extra material and mix things up.
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7. Paper Attempting Technique: I did a session on this a while back. It might prove to be helpful:
facebook.com/watch/live/?re…
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This is not an exhaustive list ofc. Others may have had different experiences with the exam. I do not claim that these points are universally applicable - but I do hope they prove to be helpful to those seeking help.

Please spread the word.

Wishing you all the best! :)
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