Do
you suffer from Test Anxiety? If so, how badly has it influenced
your performance? Which of the techniques in the article do you
think would be most helpful to you and why?
Most students experience some level of anxiety during an exam
However, when anxiety influences exam performance it becomes a
problem.
General preparation/building confidence tips:
* Develop good study habits and strategies
* Manage time well (dealing with procrastination,
distractions, laziness)
* Organize material to be studied and learned Take a step by
step approach to build a strategy and not get overwhelmed
* Deal with outside pressures success/failure consequences
(grades, graduation), peer pressure, competitiveness, etc.
* Reviewing your past performance on tests to improve and
learn from experience Test preparation to reduce anxiety:
* Approach the exam with confidence: Use whatever strategies
you can to personalize success: vizualization, logic, talking to
your self, practice, team work, journaling, etc. View the exam as
an opportunity to show how much you've studied and to receive a
reward for the studying you've done
* Be prepared! Learn your material thoroughly and organize
what materials you will need for the test. Use a checklist
* Choose a comfortable location for taking the test with good
lighting and minimal distractions
* Allow yourself plenty of time, especially to do things you
need to do before the test and still get there a little early
* Avoid thinking you need to cram just before
* Strive for a relaxed state of concentration Avoid speaking
with any fellow students who have not prepared, who express
negativity, who will distract your preparation
* Get a good night's sleep the night before the exam
* Don't go to the exam with an empty stomach Fresh fruits and
vegetables are often recommended to reduce stress. Stressful foods
can include processed foods, artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft
drinks, chocolate, eggs, fried foods, junk foods, pork, red meat,
sugar, white flour products, chips and similar snack foods, foods
containing preservatives or heavy spices
* Take a small snack, or some other nourishment to help take
your mind off of your anxiety. Avoid high sugar content (candy)
which may aggravate your condition During the test:
* Read the directions carefully
* Budget your test taking time * Change positions to help you
relax
* If you go blank, skip the question and go on
* If you're taking an essay test and you go blank on the whole
test, pick a question and start writing. It may trigger the answer
in your mind
* Don't panic when students start handing in their papers.
There's no reward for being the first done If you find yourself
tensing and getting anxious during the test
* Relax; you are in control. Take slow, deep breaths
* Don't think about the fear Pause: think about the next step
and keep on task, step by step
* Use positive reinforcement for yourself: Acknowledge that
you have done, and are doing, your best
* Expect some anxiety It's a reminder that you want to do your
best and can provide energy Just keep it manageable
* Realize that anxiety can be a "habit" and that it takes
practice to use it as a tool to succeed After the test, review how
you did
* List what worked, and hold onto these strategies It does not
matter how small the items are: they are building blocks to
success
* List what did not work for improvement
* Celebrate that you are on the road to overcoming this
obstacle