The Inner Game of Exams
In 1972, Timothy Gallwey published a book entitled “The Inner Game of Tennis”.
The book was a runaway success, receiving dithyrambic reviews. I highly recommend you read it.
It is hardly about tennis; its main thesis is of more general application and is quite interesting indeed. If it sounds self-evident today, it is partly due to Gallwey’s contribution. Here it is:
"It is the thesis of this book that neither mastery nor satisfaction can be found in the playing of any game without giving some attention to the relatively neglected skills of the inner game. This is the game that takes place in the mind of the player, and it is played against such obstacles as lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt, and self-condemnation. In short, it is played to overcome all habits of mind which inhibit excellence in performance.”
These dicta, in my view, apply to exams as well, which is why I gave this blog post the title “The Inner Game of Exams”.
When it comes to sitting an exam, you can be your own worst enemy, even if you are very well prepared. Sometimes, especially when you are very well prepared.
You start doubting yourself. You think that the question cannot possibly ask what you think it asks, since you understood it relatively easily. Surely, it shouldn’t have been that easy for you to understand?
Your heart starts racing. The examinees around you are writing like maniacs. You are off to a slow start. Surely, they must know more than you since they started answering straight away? Surely, the student that starts answering first must possess an advantage?
Everything is suddenly magnified. "I will not do well in this exam. I will fail all my exams! I should have never entered law school. I will never become a lawyer anyway. What was I thinking?”
An avalanche of self-doubt creeps in just because you succumbed to a nanosecond of doubt.
It does not have to be this way.
Before each and every exam, try to put things in perspective. What’s the worst case scenario, really? Not in theory, e.g. Armageddon, but in reality, personally for you? You will soon realise, it’s not that bad after all.
As I write in my free PDF guide, which you can get by inserting your email address at the bottom of the homepage or on the landing page:
"In summative assessments the student that does well is not necessarily the student who studied the most, but the student who managed to correctly apply her legal knowledge to the exam question, while properly managing time and stress.”
Slowly and steadily, try to become that person. Your course leaders are there to help you. Time is your ally. Keep calm and practice!