Test Taking Anxiety

[Sunshine]

Wow, studyhard, that is GREAT advice! It's amazing what small changes in diet can do. Blueberry, I feel your pain. I tend to freak out during the test, especially right before reporting the scores. I, too, didn't have this problem when I was younger. Sometimes it helps to find a quiet place, close your eyes, and picture yourself taking the test and passing. Even if it's just five minutes in your car before the exam, imagine exactly how you want the event to play out (arriving, taking the test, passing w/ desired score, leaving, etc.). I guess it's sports psychology .

[blueberry]

Thank you everybody for all your suggestions and support. I feel better already!
Gosh, I love this place!

[studyhard]

Sometimes it helps to find a quiet place, close your eyes, and picture yourself taking the test and passing. Even if it's just five minutes in your car before the exam, imagine exactly how you want the event to play out (arriving, taking the test, passing w/ desired score, leaving, etc.). I guess it's sports psychology .

Oh! Yeah, along those lines, did you know that most people actually going around mentally practicing being nervous? I talk about this with my music students--if they're nervous about a performance, what is going on in their imagination? They are imagining everything that could go wrong. What if I hit a wrong note? What if I miss a cue? What if I break a string unexpectedly? What if my hands are shaking so that I can't play? In other words, they are practicing being nervous. How does that help?

My psychological advice to anyone facing a situation wherein they might be nervous is to NOT THINK ABOUT IT! Don't imagine the test questions being hard. Don't fret ahead of time about how you'll be hot and shaky. Don't imagine that horrible moment of clicking the "Report Score" button. We all have those fearful and trying times but rehearsing them in your mind only makes it much, much worse. It doesn't even do much good to sit there and tell yourself, "I won't be nervous, I'll be fine, I won't be nervous, I'll be fine..." because you're STILL THINKING ABOUT IT.

So! Study for your test but don't think about any of the anxiety associated with it. Don't imagine yourself walking into the testing center with a knot in your stomach. Think about something totally unrelated, like, say, chocolate. Don't think about those Frightfully Tough Questions you might encounter. Think about something, like, say, new shoes. Getting the picture? When those scary thoughts pop into your mind tell yourself, "Yeah, sure, maybe I'll be nervous later but I don't have to be nervous RIGHT NOW" and go read a book or do something that forces your brain in another direction.

Summary: Listening to your fears ahead of time only makes things worse. Don't do it.

[Ruddigore]

Think about something totally unrelated, like, say, chocolate. Don't think about those Frightfully Tough Questions you might encounter. Think about something, like, say, new shoes.

Hm, I think thoughts of new shoes might stress me more.

But really, this is excellent advice. I just changed what test I'll be taking this Friday a few days ago, so I'll be employing these sort of techniques all week.

[Farmerboy]

My psychological advice to anyone facing a situation wherein they might be nervous is to NOT THINK ABOUT IT! Think about something totally unrelated, like, say, chocolate. Don't think about those Frightfully Tough Questions you might encounter. Think about something, like, say, new shoes. Getting the picture? When those scary thoughts pop into your mind tell yourself, "Yeah, sure, maybe I'll be nervous later but I don't have to be nervous RIGHT NOW" and go read a book or do something that forces your brain in another direction.

Summary: Listening to your fears ahead of time only makes things worse. Don't do it.

This is so true and really works! For my senior recital I used these same "brain tricks" and wasn't ever nervous. Sometimes we all have to take back our minds and make them focus on the positive.

I do think butterflies in the stomach are normal between the end of the test and hitting the report scores button! I got an adrenalin high every time!

[Namivie]

Instead of visualizing something negative, visualize something positive! See yourself confidently answering the questions, and the Congratulations screen when you click report the scores! Picture what you're going to do when you finish the test and you've passed (for me it's a schlotskzy's original sandwich & a Dr. Pepper).

I get majorly nervous, and those things help me.

[codface]

Even though I have had (social) anxiety problems for many years, the tests themselves haven't bothered me.

This morning was the exception though. I did not feel like I knew the material well. I was out of town this weekend so I couldn't study till I got home Sunday night and my test for Psychology was at 8:30 am this morning. I stayed up till 2am this morning cramming and didn't get to bed till almost 3am. Then I overslept! My wife frantically wakes me up telling me it's 8:10, and it's a 30 minute drive to the testing center!

I jump out of bed throwing my clothes on and call the testing center and the nice lady there tells me that if I can be there in half an hour, she'll let me take the test. So now, I'm off the the races!

Long story short, I made it there and passed with a 61.

We create our own anxiety. I should have studied more than I did and I should have gotten plenty of sleep, woke up refreshed and had breakfast. I brought this panic on myself.

This should be a good example of WHAT NOT TO DO!

Patrick

[MCunningham]

I find that if I'm feeling excessively anxious before a test, I go for a long run. Seriously, it HELPS. I'll bet you don't even have to run, just do some kind of intense physical exercise. It'll make that anxiety disappear!

Good luck!

[freeda]

I don't get test anxiety but I do at the dentist, and let me tell you....

xanax.


It's a life saver!