Medical students need to pass a nationally licensed and recognized national exam before their graduation. They take the national exam across Japan in late February. There are several studies that have examined the stress level of the students while preparing for the exam. However, there are few reports about support given to those students in order to alleviate their stress. In this study, 16 students while preparing for the exam were recommended to take a 30 minute rest in bed. In order to assess their stress levels, cortisol levels in their blood were measured. As a result, 11 out of 16 students had a decrease in cortisol levels; however, the rest of the students did not. This study concluded that taking a 30 minute rest before the exam leads to the reduction of students' stress levels. With regard to the students who did not have a decrease in cortisol levels, other factors need to be analyzed.
