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.