Stress Tests - Dealing with Pre-Exam Anxiety by Che Esch

Hello everyone!

One problem I have noticed that quite a few students at our school have is pre-test anxiety; that is, being stressed about a test before you take it. Studies have shown that high levels of stress can limit a student's ability to do well, in school and in other areas of their life. Additionally, being negative going in to a test, or expecting to fail, can have an impact on how you perform. I have found that often, the less stressed I am about a test, the better I feel and the better I perform. While some assessments will be more stressful than others, there are several methods to reducing your anxiety before taking tests.

Firstly, many of these tips apply mainly to large tests that will have a major impact on your grade. For minor quizzes, there is no substitute for studying. There won't be too much material on the majority of these smaller assessments, so it isn't too hard to thoroughly cover everything you need to know. Once you are confident and comfortable with the subject matter, try to refresh yourself throughout the day. If you have the test early, study a little during QRT and announcements. If you have it later in the day, review during lunch. Of course, these are good things to try for big tests as well, but for quizzes, studying thoroughly and refreshing the day of should have good results on their own. (Additionally, if you're having trouble, always take advantage of any study sessions your teacher may offer).

For bigger tests, the problem many students have is overwhelming levels of stress, rather than a lack of preparation. Many people study for hours on end, only to find themselves still anxious for the test. A certain amount of nervousness is fine, and can even be helpful; you want to be on your toes to avoid silly mistakes during the test. However, if you've studied exhaustively, you know the material, and you're still more than a little nervous, there are some helpful tips.

One consolatory remark that a lot of people give (and one of my least favorite) is the famous "What's the worst that can happen?" This is not helpful. The worst-case scenario is one of two things, depending on your priorities: either you are killed in a horrible accident, or you get a 0% on the test, and the next test, and the next test, costing you your grade in the class, and thus, your chance at college, a career, and a happy life. These are extremes, and they will probably never happen; they are also truthful answers to the question your friend has posed you. Thus, I find it better to consider two scenarios: a realistic, bad outcome, and a realistic, good outcome. By envisioning a bad outcome, you can also envision the road to recovery. Let's say you get a score ten percentage points below your goal. For most people, this means earning a letter grade below what you're shooting for: if you want a grade in the 90's (an A), you get one in the 80's (a B), and so forth. So envision yourself getting a letter grade below your goal (for the majority of students, this is a bad scenario). This will probably drop your grade a couple of percentage points down, perhaps to below where you want to be. How do you recover? By doing better on the next big test. Bad grades, while unfortunate, serve as great motivational tools if you're willing to use them. Use your test as fuel, and prove to yourself that you can do better next time.

Before the test, though, don't forget to envision your good scenario: meeting or exceeding your goal. There are few things as rewarding as studying hard for a test, and having your work pay off. Taste the victory, and make it your expectation! While it's good to be a little nervous, you should strive to be confident, both going in and coming out of tests. If you know the material well enough, and if you can effectively demonstrate all the skills (writing, algebra, etc.) that your teacher is looking for, you have the capacity to answer every single question correctly. Go in to the test ready to fulfill this capacity to the highest extent possible, and know that you can do so. This can make a world of difference in your confidence about an upcoming exam.

This is getting to be a very long-winded blog post, so I'll wrap things up here. I'm only a sophomore, so I haven't been exposed to many of the tests that students take throughout their years at the high school. However, I think that these tips apply to most tests here. Having knowledge of the material is important, but so is being confident in your ability to meet your goals. Don't go in expecting failure; strive for success! If you're still nervous about what happens if things fall apart, visualize your road to recovery; it may be a lot easier than you think.

Thanks everyone!

Che.