Exam anxiety can affect adults preparing for academic examinations, professional qualifications, assessments and other situations where their knowledge or performance is being evaluated.
For some people, anxiety develops during the preparation period. For others, difficulties arise immediately before or during the examination itself, even when they have prepared thoroughly.
Exam anxiety may involve physical symptoms, anxious thoughts, difficulty concentrating, self-doubt or concern about forgetting information under pressure.
“I went to see Annette because I had high exam nerves, I found that no matter how much work I did leading up to the exams I just fell down on the day through panic and anxiety. Thanks to Annette I was able to pick myself up and think a lot more positively and managed to develop a great balance of nerves and relaxation leading up to and on the day of my exam. I felt like a completely different person by the end of our sessions. Thank you!”
How Exam Anxiety Can Present
The pressure associated with examinations and assessments can affect people in different ways. You may experience:
- Anxiety in the days or weeks leading up to an examination
- Difficulty concentrating when studying or revising
- Worry about failing or not performing as expected
- Self-doubt despite having prepared thoroughly
- Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, shaking or butterflies in the stomach
- Difficulty thinking clearly when under pressure
- Feeling that your mind has gone blank
- Overthinking questions or second-guessing answers
- Difficulty settling before an examination
- Anxiety associated with previous examination experiences
For some people, exam anxiety occurs specifically in assessment situations. For others, it may form part of broader anxiety, perfectionism, performance anxiety or confidence difficulties.
Working With Exam Anxiety
My approach combines Solution Focused Therapy, clinical hypnotherapy, coaching and evidence-informed psychological approaches according to the individual and the particular difficulties they are experiencing.
Our work may involve exploring anticipatory anxiety, patterns of thinking associated with examinations, fear of failure or judgement, confidence and the physical responses that can accompany anxiety under pressure.
Depending on your circumstances, sessions may incorporate therapeutic discussion, clinical hypnosis, guided relaxation, visualisation, cognitive reframing and practical strategies that can be used during preparation and around examination situations.
Rather than following a standard programme, sessions are tailored to the individual, their circumstances and the particular assessment or examination they are preparing for.
Exams, Assessments & Professional Qualifications
Exam anxiety is not limited to school or university examinations.
I work with adults preparing for a range of academic and professional assessments, which may include:
- University examinations
- Professional qualifications
- Accountancy and legal examinations
- Workplace assessments
- Professional accreditation
- Practical examinations
- Interviews involving formal assessment
- Other situations where knowledge or performance is evaluated under pressure
Who I Work With
I have worked with adults experiencing anxiety, confidence difficulties and performance-related concerns for over fourteen years.
Clients have included university students and adults undertaking professional qualifications and career-related assessments, including people working in accountancy, law and other professional environments.
Some seek support specifically for examination anxiety, while others experience similar difficulties across interviews, presentations, professional assessments or other situations involving performance under pressure.
Sessions are available in person at my Bristol practices in Clifton and Queen Square, as well as online throughout the UK.
The Next Step
If exam anxiety is affecting your preparation or experience of examinations and assessments, you are welcome to get in touch to explore whether my approach may be helpful.
Please contact hello@annettesloly.com to arrange an initial consultation.
Explore further
Areas of Work
Anxiety
Anxiety becomes a problem when it starts affecting daily life. Hypnotherapy can enhance confidence and self-assurance while lessening intense fear and worry. Together, we develop practical skills to manage difficult situations, feel more at ease and redirect attention towards helpful possibilities.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety can create a persistent fear of judgement, self-consciousness and overthinking before, during and after everyday interactions. Personalised Solution Focused Therapy and clinical hypnotherapy can help you regulate anxiety, respond more flexibly and feel more comfortable being yourself around other people.
Confidence
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help strengthen self-confidence through constructive, goal-oriented work. We develop strategies that foster self-acceptance, transform unhelpful beliefs and help you approach everyday and high-pressure situations with greater trust in your abilities.
Fear of Blushing
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help manage blushing by addressing the anxiety and emotional sensitivity that often trigger it. Reframing negative thoughts, developing healthier coping responses and building confidence can help you feel more at ease and less judged in social situations.
Workplace Anxiety
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help reduce anxiety in meetings, interviews and professional conversations by strengthening confidence and reducing fear and worry. Learning to regulate emotions and manage post-event rumination can help you focus, perform effectively and approach workplace situations with greater ease.
Public Speaking Anxiety
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help alleviate fear of public speaking, whether you are preparing for a speech, pitch, presentation or talk. A tailored blend of psychological and physiological tools can help you manage nerves, feel more in control and communicate with greater confidence.
Stage Fright
When nerves overshadow rehearsals, auditions or performances, hypnotherapy can help strengthen calm confidence while reducing fear and self-doubt. Together, we build mental and physical skills that help you stay grounded, remain present and perform with greater freedom.
Fear of Flying
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help change unhelpful perceptions of flying and replace anxiety with greater confidence. Positive self-talk, breathing techniques and guided imagery can help regulate the nervous system before and during a flight, making travel feel more manageable.
Stress
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help you feel more empowered and in control when managing stress. Personalised techniques support a more helpful mindset, improve resilience and help the nervous system function more effectively, building skills you can continue to use through future challenges.
