6 Ways to Overcome Test Anxiety

While it is completely normal to feel nervous before a big test, some students experience debilitating anxiety.  Test anxiety is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that are uncomfortable and distracting during a test; test anxiety can manifest as physical tension, self-deprecating thoughts, increased heartbeat, nausea, or other types of discomfort, and it is sure to take away from your focus on the test.  Below is a list of ways to attempt to ease your test anxiety and allow you to perform at your utmost potential.

1. Be Prepared
This may seem obvious but it is worth repeating.  Waiting until the last minute to cram in all of your studying will result in less information retained.  Prepare yourself by learning what will be on the test (to the best of your knowledge) and what format the test will be in.  Once you know what you’re studying, you can organize your study material and create outlines.  Even if you are unable to use notes or outlines on the test, taking notes in a systematic way will help you to memorize the information.

2. Study with Other People
Studying in a group is more effective and enjoyable than studying by yourself.  Working with other people will motivate you to be more proactive in your studies because you need to add something to the group.  Likewise, it is helpful to bounce ideas off other people and compare notes; it is possible that someone else caught an important concept that you might have missed.  While studying with a group is helpful, it is might also be beneficial to hire a test prep tutor to ease your anxiety.  To learn more about test prep tutors at iAchieve Learning, click here.

3. Don’t Ignore a Disability
Before you take an important test, make sure that you have addressed any underlying conditions that might affect your ability to read, focus, learn, or concentrate.  Conditions like ADD or ADHD can directly affect your comprehension of test questions and your ability to concentrate for any period of time.  Students diagnosed with learning disabilities or impairments are entitled to different testing accommodations, such as extended time on the test or a separate (less distracting) location to test.

4. Don’t Ignore Your Needs
Do not let the stress of a test cause you to neglect your basic human needs.  That is, don’t forget to eat, drink, exercise, sleep, and breathe.  If you stress yourself out to the point where you’re not eating and sleeping then you’re already at a disadvantage on the day of the test.  Eat a light and nutritious meal before the test so that you can concentrate on the questions, and not on the rumbling in your stomach.  Make sure to get at least eight hours of sleep so that you’re alert, as tests are usually timed and you want to tackle each question efficiently.

5. Challenge Negativity with Logic
Anxiety often brings with it negative and irrational thoughts.  Before the test, arm yourself with logic and positive self-talk to counteract the negative racing thoughts.  For example, if you find yourself thinking, “I am going to fail because I always fail,” instead remember that you studied as hard as you can and you are armed with all of the skills you need to pass the test or you wouldn’t be taking it; also, avoid “always” or “never” statements to begin with.

6. Don’t Pay Attention to Others
One of the easiest ways to get caught up in testing anxiety is to think about how other testers are doing and how long it is taking them to complete the test.  Pay attention to your own test, work at your own pace, and try to tune out other people in the room.

Written by Marlee Chizhevsky