Whether you’ve sat exams recently or haven’t picked up a textbook in years, exam anxiety can feel very real. So in this special episode, I sat down with anxiety coach Sam Tierney to break it all down — and help you feel calm, confident, and ready to pass.
We covered:
✅ What is exam anxiety — and how is it different from normal nerves?
✅ Is a bit of anxiety actually helpful sometimes?
✅ Why some people seem more affected by exam pressure than others
🧠 Practical Strategies for Students
Sam’s top tips for calming nerves in the run-up to your exam
How to deal with those horrible “my mind’s gone blank” moments
How to bounce back after getting a question wrong
Rewriting the “I failed before, so I’ll fail again” mindset
📚 Study-Related Anxiety
What to do if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content
How to avoid burnout or feeling paralysed before the exam
🗓 On-the-Day Tips
Breathing and grounding exercises Sam recommends
Managing time pressure and staying calm in the exam room
🧭 Mindset Shifts
How to build confidence when you don’t feel “academic”
Sam’s #1 piece of advice for anyone struggling with exam nerves
🧰 Sam’s Services & How to Connect
Sam is the creator of the brilliant course: 🎓 Master Exam Anxiety and Thrive Under Pressure: CeMAP Exam Success Blueprint
https://learning.futureinfinance.co.uk/courses/masterexamanxiety
You can find her at on Instragram @tierneyscoaching or at https://www.tierneyscoaching.com/
💬 If you’re prepping for your CeMAP exam and struggling with nerves, this episode is for you.
Send it to a study buddy. Re-listen before exam day. And remember — anxiety doesn’t mean you can’t do this.