C o m b a t i n g Te s t A n x i e t y Okay—you know what the test will be on. You’ve
reviewed the subjects and practiced the skills on which
you will be tested. So why do you still have that sinking
feeling in your stomach? Why are your palms sweaty
and your hands shaking?
Even the brightest, most well-prepared test takers
sometimes suffer bouts of test anxiety. But don’t worry;
you can overcome it. Here are some specific strategies
to help you.
Take the Test One Question at a Time Focus all your attention on the one question you’re
answering. Avoid thoughts about questions you’ve
already read or concerns about what’s coming next.
Concentrate your thinking where it will do the most
good—on the question you’re answering now.
Develop a Positive Attitude Keep reminding yourself that you’re prepared. In fact, if
you’ve read this book or any other in the LearningEx-
press Skill Builders series, you’re probably better pre-
pared than most other test takers. Remember, it’s only a
test, and you will do your
best . That’s all anyone can ask
of you. If that nagging drill sergeant voice inside your
head starts sending negative messages, combat them
with positive ones of your own. Tell yourself:
■
“I’m doing just fine.”
■
“I’ve prepared for this test.”
■
“I know exactly what to do.”
■
“I know I can get the score I’m shooting for.”
You get the idea. Remember to drown out nega-
tive messages with positive ones of your own.
If You Lose Your Concentration Don’t worry about it! It’s normal. During a long test, it
happens to everyone. When your mind is stressed or
overexerted, it takes a break whether you want it to or
not. It’s easy to get your concentration back if you sim-
ply acknowledge the fact that you’ve lost it and take a
quick break. You brain needs very little time (seconds,
really) to rest.
Put your pencil down and close your eyes. Take a
deep breath, hold it for a moment, and let it out slowly.
Listen to the sound of your breathing as you repeat this
two more times. The few seconds this takes is really all
the time your brain needs to relax and refocus. This
exercise also helps you control your heart rate, so you
can keep anxiety at bay.
