Sometimes you take a really difficult exam, and you don't know if you will be able to get through it. Sometimes, you even forget to study and you are stuck in the worst position, ever. The following are the stages that I go through whenever I have a hard time taking an exam.

1. You walk into the exam, and realize that you might not make it out alive:

Sure, you studied--but this course was way more complicated than you ever could have imagined. Maybe you just aren't cut out for this class anymore.

2. The professor starts handing out the exam, and you give yourself a little pep talk:

Okay, so you might not get an "A," but you aren't completely clueless. You are smart. You can pass this thing.

3. You are handed the exam, and you see that it is about 10 pages:

How is this even allowed? What did we cover in this course that made this exam over 3 pages anyway? You look around to see if the other students are just as stressed as you are, but everyone seems to know exactly what they are doing.

4. You look at the first question, and you know the answer:

Okay, so maybe you aren't that bad at test taking. Maybe you just psyched yourself out. Isn't the first question supposed to be the hardest one anyway?

5. You realize that you just got lucky, and the rest of the exam is really difficult:

You start to go through options in your head about what to do next. Can you just leave? Maybe college isn't that important.

6. You realize that there is a short answer section, and you can't just use the process of elimination anymore:

Okay, so now it's time to improvise. Maybe if you throw around some fancy lingo, the professor will think you are really smart. You start to fill in the short answer questions in the best way that you can.

7. You are halfway done with the exam, and you are getting pretty good at winging it:

Maybe you will be able to graduate this semester. Your GPA doesn't have to suffer like you are suffering through this exam. You start on the essay questions, and you are almost done with the exam.

8. You start to think about the good qualities you have to make yourself feel better:

This exam doesn't have to define you. As you walk over to the professor to hand it in, you lift your head high. You are a good person. That's enough to get a job, right?

9. You leave the classroom and you are filled with emotions:

Some of these emotions include regret, sadness, and a little bit of anxiety. Maybe you don't have to go to graduate school. You can just create a new life plan, right?

10. You get your grade back, and you passed:

You are not going to question the professor on his grading. Maybe you just have to be more confident in yourself. Nevertheless, you passed. Your GPA is saved, and you can start focusing on ways to get through the GRE.