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Testing Times

Exam stress doesn't occur most strongly during the actual examsbut in the few weeks just before them. The climax is usually the night before when last minute preparations confirm your worst fears (страх).There are, however, some simple ways of dealing with the problem.

First, one must know that the night before is too late to do anything. Much better to go to a dance, for a walk, to the pictures or to play a game rather than increase stress by frantic efforts to plug in gaps (затыкать пробелы) in your knowledge.

The brain is a complex bio-electrical machine which, like a computer, can be overloaded. It does not work continuously. When you study, your brain reaches its maximum efficiency about five minutes you start work, stays at it for about ten minutes and then it is down. Indeed, after thirty minutes your attention wonders (отвлекаться), your memory shuts off, and boredom (скука) sets in.

For this reason, the best way to study is in half-hour sessions with gaps in between of aboutthe same length. It even helps to change subjects and not keep at the same one, since it reduces the boredom factor.

Study stress was experienced by Isaak Newton, the greatest mathematical genius, and by Einstein. Newton had a depression after his efforts on gravity.