Anxiety about failing in a test situation can lead to anxiety. Anyone can feel anxious before a test.
Test anxiety can cause severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, shortness or difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, and even panic attacks.
Test anxiety can also manifest as anger, fear, helplessness, and negative thinking. You can always turn to professional paper writers to dedicate most of your time to exam preparation. There are many coping strategies you can use if you have test anxiety. Here are 10 ways to cope.
Make sure to prepare
You can relax and reduce anxiety by being prepared for the test. This is how you can maximize your chances of learning the material:
- Ask your friends who are regular students for their advice.
- Locate a tutor in study skills.
- Join a study group.
- Learn from books on study skills.
- Learn as much information about the exam or test in advance. It is important to know the type of questions you will face and whether they will be multiple-choice, essay or short-answer.
You can watch self-talk
It is easy to get into a negative spiral of thinking when performance suffers from test anxiety. Be aware of what you’re telling yourself, and try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
Take a look at your rationality and think about what you could have said to yourself.
Visualize your success
Elite athletes envision themselves winning in competition. It is possible to do the same for test anxiety.
Relaxation strategies
Relaxation strategies include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery. These strategies can be used in the weeks before a test and during testing if necessary.
Keep Healthy
You might neglect your physical health when you are faced with multiple exams or tests. Do not fall for this trap.
Good nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep are important aspects of a lifestyle that keeps stress to a minimum. Avoid excessive caffeine and a healthy breakfast on the day of your test. This will help to reduce anxiety.
Get there early
Anxiety can be increased by rushing to complete a test. You should arrive at least 10 minutes before the test begins. Bring a book or another distraction if you are anxious about waiting for the test. Do not interact with anxious people before the test.
Focus on the Test
Focus on the task at hand. You can stop worrying if you feel anxious. Focus on deep breathing and sharpening your pencil.
Accept a little anxiety
Accept that you may feel a bit anxious before taking a test. You might not be as motivated to succeed if you don’t feel anxious at all. Anxiety becomes a problem when it becomes overwhelming.
Expect setbacks
You can always expect to have some bumps in the road if you have a poor experience or get a lower grade than you expected. You can always improve your experience the next time you take it.
Reward yourself
After the test, plan a reward. Relax and take some time to clear your mind. Do not dwell on past mistakes or fret about what you did. Give yourself some time to relax before you start studying for another test.
Interested in learning more about tips that may help reduce your test anxiety? Take a look at our blog!