The GRE is a 3.5-hour exam, the results of which will impact your academic and professional futures for years to come. That alone is enough to throw any of us into an anxiety spiral while studying, not to mention during the official exam. Here are some tips for staying calm and level-headed.

1. Give yourself the time you need

There's the mediocre score that comes from not knowing certain material; and then there's the much worse score that comes from panicking when you realize you're not prepared at all. To do well on the GRE, you must give yourself time to learn the material as well as the exam's style. Space out your studying over at least a few weeks—we recommend a few months—while continuously building up the difficulty of the material you review (if you prepare with Economist GRE Tutor, the program will do this for you). There is no point in trying to learn everything the night (or even week) before; this will only worsen your stress on test day. Create a study schedule and stick to it.

2. Exercise

Breaking a sweat will help you work out your stress and anxiety in a healthy manner. Thirty minutes of cardio (e.g., running, calisthenics, or kickboxing) can make a marked difference, not only for the typical immune system benefits but for mood elevation and mental clarity, as well. Anxiety is often connected to physiological causes as well as effects, the latter including a tendency for us to breathe shallowly and clench muscles. If cardio is too rigorous for you, thirty minutes of yoga can help gently stretch and move the body while helping with your focus and calmness.

3. Sleep... a lot.

Showing up for the GRE tired can kill your focus, so make sure you take it easy the night before – that means sleeping plenty as well as avoiding last-minute cramming. In the morning – don’t drink too much caffeine, as that will only increase your jitters. Consider sticking to green tea, which has a moderate amount of caffeine but is high in antioxidants. Tea will also help keep your stomach settled, come test time. Lastly, while sleeping well the night before the exam is a given for many test takers, we encourage you to be mindful of how much sleep you get during your studies, as well. Lack of sleep makes it difficult to focus and retain information, so don't undo your studies by skimping on rest.

4. Be prepared

It may sound obvious, but every year we hear from students who are mad at themselves for putting in weeks of studies only to show up to the exam site unprepared, barely on time, and flustered. They almost always report being disappointed in their score. Don't be that person. Review the materials you'll need to bring with you on the ETS website and pack them the night before, take a look at ETS' "What to Expect on Test Day" page, arrive early to your exam site.

5. Stay positive

This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but it’s easy for stress and fear to drive negative thoughts, which can have a notable impact on exam performance. Don’t worry about your past performance. Don't worry about how fast other people finish their test. Don't get hung up when you run into a question or two that you suspect you're answering incorrectly. Just concentrate on moving forward. This is it; all you can do now is give it your best.

Lastly, an important note: Test-taking can raise just about anyone’s stress levels, but if you feel your symptoms are severe and causing serious distress in your life, please consider seeking professional help from a doctor or counselor. Nothing is more important than your health.