The final weeks of May, the floor is sprinkled with pencil shavings and note pages are being filled could only mean one thing: finals.

AP classes include exams that can earn students college credit. For other classes SOLs must be passed in order to receive high school credit for graduation. With many students involved in advanced courses, state assessments can seem intimidating for some. 

“A lot of people I know who stress over exams often say they are afraid to fail, disappoint their parents or lose out on the money they spent to take it,” sophomore Cameron Froehler said.

Test anxiety triggers amygdala hijack, a neural response by the brain that enters fight-or-flight and overwhelms emotional responses. Learning ways to navigate around this biological response by meditating, good rest or familiarizing oneself with the exam format help counter stress.

“I usually manage my stress through drawing on my study pages as a way to calm myself and take breaks,” sophomore Omari Biddle said.

Obtaining the appropriate materials and support from a student’s environment can be another solution to convert stress to confidence. Physical factors such as noise, air quality and spatial designs have proven to have an effective impact on student stress levels. These studies show that poor ventilation can cause drowsiness, anxiety and headaches which increases cortisol, stress hormones produced by the adrenal glands.

Some students believe review methods can be adjusted for better target practice to reduce stress.

“Schools can make better reviews which allow students to specifically study on topics they aren’t familiar with,” sophomore Bryan Carlton said. “Instead of making large test reviews, smaller quizzes for each subject ensures that students know that they can meet personal needs with the studying resources given to them.”