What To Do If You Panic During The Bar Exam

What To Do If You Panic During The Bar Exam

The Bar Exam is the definition of a pressure-filled situation. Not to blow anything out of proportion, but the exam is the literal gateway to becoming an attorney. Students study for months, endure pressure from employers to pass, and don’t want to let anyone down. It’s easy to see why anxiety and emotions run high for students during the weeks leading up to the exam. Students are often provided strategies for dealing with exam anxiety leading up to the Bar Exam. However, one subject doesn’t get as much attention as the countless articles discussing strategies to combat anxiety before the exam. We’re talking about panic during the bar exam.

What To Do If You Panic During The Bar Exam

What do you do if you suddenly find yourself overwhelmed, anxious, and panicking during the Bar Exam? We’re here to let everyone know that emotions can rise during the Bar Exam and it’s actually quite common. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of! Nobody is expected to be a robot during one of the biggest exams in the country. However, how you cope with these emotions during the exam can have a huge impact on your chances of success. Here are our best strategies for controlling an exam freak-out. Be sure to also check out our guide to self-care during bar prep to help you stay focused and zen going into the big day!

Focus On Your Breath

This technique is often widely used in mindfulness mediation for good reason. If you feel your emotions getting out of hand in the middle of the Bar Exam, try this. Take two minutes and stop whatever you’re doing. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Keep inhaling and exhaling, with the focus being on your breath. How it feels coming in and how it feels going out. Feel your chest moving with each breath and the air running through your body. If your brain starts to wander or think anxious thoughts, gently return your focus back to the breath.

This technique is designed to help you become more present in whatever situation you find yourself in. Once you become present, you can focus on what’s in front of you and how to best handle it.

Take A Quick Stretch/Walk

Sometimes the best way to feel reinvigorated and refreshed is to briefly remove yourself from a situation and then return. If you find yourself experiencing feelings of panic or anxiety, try taking a short walk to the bathroom. If you find yourself not brave enough to walk, simply stand up and stretch. These quick physical activities can get the blood rushing in your body and provide a short endorphin boost. The result can often time be a refreshed or reinvigorated sensation that can recenter you.

Here are some tips on staying fit and active while you study as well!

Skip It

If you find yourself panicking because you’ve totally blanked on the second essay question, skip it and move on. There’s no sense in having your anxiety on full-blast and blankly staring at the test. Move on to another question – the question you’re struggling with isn’t going anywhere and you can come back to it. Moving on to another question can quickly help you regain your confidence and get you back on track. We’ve even heard of instances where skipping a question and working on another can help jog your memory. That can come in handy when you return to the original question.

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