Article May 6, 1967 Issue

Overcoming Fear of Examinations

[For young adults]

EDGAR F. WRIGHT

Industry is constantly looking for outstanding talent among college men and women which will develop into successful management and leadership. This search, which is widespread on the campus, encourages a race against time and a struggle for high marks. So far examinations have presented the only practical way to measure educational attainment and assure success in finding jobs.

Many students approach examinations with fear, which assumes various forms: fear that they have not learned all the answers; fear that they cannot remember them; fear that they will not accumulate enough correct answers to obtain the coveted marks. Sometimes these fears tempt students to adopt deceptive methods, the worst of which is direct cheating. But deception only shortchanges the user. If he does get by the exam, if he does obtain a job, he may be tempted to continue the practice of cheating. Sooner or later he will either lose the job or fall into the mediocrity which his own faulty methods have invited. The Bible says, "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it."^{Eccl. 10:8;}

Many students do not succumb to dishonesty; but if they permit fear to fill their consciousness, they will struggle along with only partial success or even failure in preparing for and taking examinations. Christian Science shows one how to cope with the fear of examinations through self-knowledge, the knowledge of oneself as God's reflection. This calls for preparation by prayer, which destroys fear, brings confidence, and establishes one's expression of man's God-given dominion.

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