5 Tips for Conquering First-Exam Jitters: A Guide to Staying Calm

Your first actuarial exam can feel overwhelming. All that hard work and prep comes down to just a few hours. The pressure is real, but so is your preparation.

To help you walk in with confidence, we asked coaches Austin Wallestad, Kaitlyn Staut, Jonathan Lai, and Fred Brautigam to share how they handled their own nerves, especially during those first few high-stakes exams.

Check out these tips for staying calm from our Coaching Actuaries coaches!

1. Treat the Night Before Like It's Part of the Exam

Believe it or not, how you spend the evening before exam day can set the tone for the big day itself. Our coaches shared what helps them feel grounded and ready without burning out the night before:

• Coach Austin: “I usually go get a really good meal, and just go to bed early. There's usually no point in staying up late and stressing over it.”
• Coach Kaitlyn: “I like to study a bit in the early evening, then eat a good meal for dinner. After that, I like to just take some time to relax before going to bed pretty early. Getting a good night’s sleep is key for me to feel calm and confident going into an exam.”
• Coach Jon: “The most studying would just be a light review of the material, maybe even actively skipping some of the harder stuff. I'd double check the things I need to bring to the test center, pick out something comfortable to wear during the exam, then get an early rest.”
• Coach Fred: “I do something to take my mind off of the exam. For example, I might watch a movie or read a book—anything that makes me forget about the exam.”

The best prep might not be another set of practice problems. It might be rest, routine, and a calm headspace.

2. Start Your Day With Intention and Ease

The morning of the exam can either add stress or ease it. From breathing techniques to routines that create a sense of control, our coaches described how to show up ready to focus:

• Coach Austin: “Honestly, I'm usually not all that calm the morning of an exam 😅 I recommend drinking coffee and reviewing note cards.”
• Coach Kaitlyn: “I like to wake up with plenty of time to sit and eat a little bit before the exam. I also like to read through a few notes I have or do a few practice problems to get into the exam taking mindset. This makes me feel slightly calmer and more prepared.”
• Coach Jon: “I sometimes do slow, prolonged exhales. And I say a prayer before starting the exam.”
• Coach Fred: “I make sure not to add any additional stressors like running late, etc. Instead, I have a good breakfast and do things at an easy pace, which includes getting to the exam hall a bit early. Preparing stuff the night before helps with this.”

Creating a calm, purposeful morning routine can anchor you amid the nerves and give your brain some clarity.

3. Have Confidence in Yourself and Your Preparation

Even if you're well prepared, nerves can sneak in. Our coaches emphasize that calm often returns once you start answering questions, get into the flow of the exam, and recognize that you know more than you think:

• Coach Austin: “I was very nervous when I had to retake FM. But after I sat down and started answering questions and realized how well I was prepared, the nervousness just went away.”
• Coach Kaitlyn: “My nerves were at an all-time high when I had to retake exam P. All I could think about was the worst-case scenario and what would happen if I needed to retake it again. However, going into my second attempt, I was feeling much more prepared than I was the first time, so this gave me an extra confidence boost.”
• Coach Jon: “There was one exam where I was ill-prepared because I didn't practice enough for it. While taking it, things seemed pretty bleak and panicky. I just prioritized the stuff that I was more confident in, and tried to not be distracted by questions where I wasn't. It likely would've been fair had I failed, but I got a 6.”
• Coach Fred: “The first time I sat down for Exam P, I noticed that during the first 5 minutes I had gotten nervous. I had spent months studying for the exam and none of the questions were familiar to me. My mind started to wander into thoughts like how bad it would feel to fail, especially because a friend of mine had passed the day before. I dealt with it by skipping to a question that I knew I could do. Then, I did another one like it. Slowly, I got my confidence back and was ready for the fight.”

When anxiety creeps in, remind yourself: You’ve done the work. Now let your preparation do its job.

4. Reset Without Losing Your Momentum

Everybody hits tough patches during an exam. The difference lies in how you respond. Our coaches advise using mental resets and small tactics, like skipping questions or adjusting your reading pace. These tips should help you regain clarity and move forward:

• Coach Austin: “Take a deep breath, remind yourself that you're an adult, and just handle your business. You haven't passed or failed until time expires, so make the most of the time you have.”
• Coach Kaitlyn: “Remind yourself that you’ve prepared so much for this, and a few tough questions are not going to set you completely back. I like to move on to some easier questions and come back to the more difficult ones with a fresh set of eyes. After answering more questions, I feel a lot calmer attempting the harder ones.”
• Coach Jon: “Anything that will help keep the momentum going, most commonly skipping questions that seem harder to answer. Confidence and speed are aspects of exam-taking that cannot be neglected.”
• Coach Fred: “I find a few easier questions to attempt. Also, to make sure I’m not rushing through question prompts, which can be a source of feeling overwhelmed, I read each question twice while writing down what is given. To slow down my reading rate, I will mouth the words silently like I am reading them aloud. Oftentimes, slowing down like this helps me better understand what a question is asking and as a result possible solutions start coming to mind.”

Even when you hit a wall, small shifts in focus, like answering an easy question first, can help you break through.

5. Lower the Stakes—and Remember You're Learning

When you’re just starting out, you might pressure yourself to pass right away. But Coaching Actuaries coaches say there’s value in how you study, not just in whether you pass. Adapting and learning from the process is key:

• Coach Austin: “Studying harder than you might feel like you need to is probably worth it, just so that you're so prepared on exam day that nothing can shake your confidence.”
• Coach Kaitlyn: “Failing an exam is not the end of the world! Obviously, failing an exam is not ideal, but it's more common than you think, especially in this field. What matters most is your ability to adapt and refine your studying approach to keep pushing forward.”
• Coach Jon: “Passing or failing an exam is far from the end-all-be-all. Sometimes the hard work of preparation is a lesson unto itself. Be ready to really work hard!"

Coach Fred also leaves you with this last tip: "Focus on the concepts, first and foremost, and make sure to do mock exams under strict exam conditions. How you practice often determines how you perform.”

Every coach on our team has faced the same stress and doubt that you're feeling. Their advice is clear: Prepare well, trust yourself, and keep perspective. Remember, this first exam isn’t just about passing. It’s about learning how you succeed and building the resilience to keep going.