Q.Priya has her board exam in two days. She has studied reasonably well but keeps feeling a churning stomach and cannot stop worrying that she will forget everything on the day of the exam. Suggest, using specific strategies from the chapter, what Priya could do over the next two days to bring her exam anxiety down to a helpful, motivating level rather than a paralysing one.

Priya should combine monitoring strategies (light review/rehearsal, positive thinking, seeking support) with blunting strategies (relaxation, brief exercise) rather than continuing to worry unproductively or cram entirely new material. …

The chapter distinguishes two broad coping strategies for exam-related anxiety: monitoring (taking direct, effective action) and blunting (softening the stress response), and Priya's two remaining days call for a realistic combination of both, rather than either unproductive worry or last-minute cramming of unfamiliar material.

Monitoring strategies for Priya: she should do a light, well-organised review/rehearsal of material she has already studied — going through likely question patterns and previously attempted questions — since this builds a sense of predictability and control that directly reduces the exam's stress potential; she can mentally rehearse (visualise) herself sitting the exam calmly, confidently, and doing well, which is a form of inoculation that prepares her mentally for the real situation; she should also practise positive thinking, explicitly listing out the specific thoughts that are worrying her ('I will forget everything') and rationally countering each one, while deliberately reminding herself of her genuine preparation and strengths; and she should seek support — talking to a parent, friend or teacher about how she's feeling, since voicing the worry to someone close typically makes the situation feel more manageable than it seemed while it stayed unspoken.

Blunting-type strategies for Priya: she should build in short periods of relaxation — sitting or lying comfortably, relaxing her muscles, and calming her flow of thoughts — since anxiety this close to the exam is a sign her sympathetic nervous system is overactivated; and a short period of light exercise or physical activity each day can help channel away this excess physiological arousal so it does not keep building. …