The National Secondary Education Examination (Enem) will have its second day this Sunday (16). The test, which gives students from all over Brazil the chance to enter university, represents a moment of great tension for many of them. It is not uncommon for candidates to feel stressed and anxious.
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Since this is a time of evaluation, stress causes negative thoughts, which distract from the issues. Check out the three tips below by psychologist Michael Duarte, from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, to stay calm and not lose focus when answering questions
In stressful moments, like an Enem test, Duarte says it’s common for memories of past failures to dominate your thoughts. Moreover, anxiety about the future also puts pressure on students, as the test can determine their next steps. The psychologist says that the ideal situation is to focus on yourself and the preparations you have made.
— The best way to deal with this is to try to stay calm, knowing that you have studied for the test, and that you have the knowledge to answer the questions. If it doesn’t work at some point, it doesn’t mean anything, because it’s not possible to predict the outcome, he says.
Although the test has many questions, having time, no matter how small, to rest can make a difference in maintaining focus. This time can be used to go to the bathroom or drink water. Duarte suggests taking a break from changing topics.
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— By removing a little of that task, of the cognitive load and mental effort that goes into taking the test, the person is able to be more relaxed to continue. It’s like racing, if someone runs everything at once without getting used to it, they will get tired. But if you run a little, stop and keep going, it becomes easier to complete the task.
Another tip is to know how to prioritize problems, and know your limitations. Since the test has so many questions, it’s not possible to waste time on a complex question, and this can cause more anxiety and nervousness, Duarte says. At this point, it is necessary to move forward, answering questions that have the greatest chance of getting the matter right.
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-You have to work on this acceptance. Knowing that the student will not be able to give 100% in all questions, specifically because of time. So, you should focus on the ones where you have greater certainty, more confidence and assurance that you know the answer.