Regents Survival Kit

Adeeba Aman ’28

It is the month of doom and gloom…Regents month!! As the Regents approach for New York students, levels of anxiety are shooting up like rockets. Students from all over the state are cramming, studying, and reviewing millions of packets. This is all because they are under pressure to perform well on the Regents. Lucky for us, Regents are mainly for graduating from high school, since colleges outside of New York do not accept the Regents. However, it is still an enormous deal because it condenses one year of studying into a single test packet. So, how should we manage our time and stress?

While it may feel extremely overwhelming, preparation does not have to mean many late nights of constant studying. One of the best strategies is to create a study schedule several days before exams start. Breaking the exam into smaller sections allows students to feel more composed and improves memory retention. Also, practice tests, flashcards, previous notes, and past Regents exams can allow the students to be more familiar with the material and format. Studying with peers may also help, especially by explaining arduous topics to one another.

All of these techniques may be overwhelming; that is why managing stress is equally (if not more) important. Constant pressure and lack of sleep may cause the student to not perform to the best of their ability, and it makes it harder to focus! To help with this, students should get enough sleep, eat regular (healthy) meals, and stay hydrated to improve concentration skills and energy levels. Studies have found that many students listen to music, go on walks, or exercise to help with clearing their minds after studying. Instead of just focusing only on scores, everyone should remember that one test (or a few tests) do not define students' future success or level of intelligence.

Many teachers and counselors often encourage students to focus on progress rather than perfection. Obviously, Regents exams are important, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle matters even more! When walking into the exam room, the students who are well-rested and confident will make a huge difference, compared to those who are fatigued. As mentioned, students should consider preparation, consistency, and self-care as the keys to success.