Test anxiety can be a big deal for students. Whether you have standardized tests coming up or finals, you may feel anxiety creeping in that could cause you to perform less than your best. Here are a few tips to help you conquer test anxiety.
- Take good care of your health – In the weeks before an important exam, pay close attention to your diet and exercise. Make sure that you get plenty of rest. Your brain will perform best when you are well-rested, not when you’ve spent all night cramming.
- Use short, focused study periods when preparing – Instead of cramming and losing sleep, keep your study periods brief. Spend an hour per day preparing. You could study for 20 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes after lunch, and 20 minutes before you go to bed. Adjust the schedule for when you feel the most alert.
- Keep things in perspective – Your entire future does not depend on this test, no matter how important it is.
- Channel your anxieties – Athletes are often anxious before a big game, but the big stars channel that energy into improved performance. You can do the same thing mentally. Channel the nervous energy into being focused and alert.
- Don’t let yourself spiral – If you don’t know an answer, skip the question and come back or take a deep breath and then reread the question to determine what they want to know. Don’t let one tough question cause you to doubt your ability and your good preparation.
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