How to deal with test anxiety

As finals loom up ahead, many students are becoming anxious over their final grades. The usual anxiety within students can be detrimental to their success but it can actually benefit them as well. A little anxiety before a test is totally normal, but when these thoughts creep up during and before the test; it can be very difficult to cope with such pressure during certain circumstances. In this article, we will talk about different ways in which students can deal with test anxiety.

To begin with, it should be clear that test anxiety can affect people ranging from primary, secondary, college, or Phd programs. It is important to also acknowledge that you are not the only one going through such feelings, as this can make one feel more and more depressed. The first tip is to know what information is going to be on the test. When one does not know what to study on the test, he/she will start to feel overwhelmed at the amount of information that they have to cover and will start to doubt if what they are studying is actually correct. However, when a student knows how much he/she has to study, he/she can make a plan based on that and have a concise list of objectives they want to accomplish.

The second tip is to study early and in different spots. One of the biggest drivers of test anxiety is cramming absolutely everything in the last moment. Studying little bits over time can improve brain recognition of certain topics and allow for a stress-free and coherent flow of information instead of a bunch of crammed information being thrusted down at once without much interpolation and comprehension of the ideas and facts. Studying in different spots allows the student to retain information better by pointing out where he/she learned or reviewed a certain topic and in which context it was done. Furthermore, the next thing one can do is to learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, autogenic relaxation, and progressive muscle relaxation where you focus on tensing and then relaxing each type of muscle group. In return, these exercises slow down heart rate, lower blood pressure, slow breathing rate, improve digestion, maintain blood sugar levels, reduce stress hormones, reduce muscle tension, improve concentration, improve sleep quality, lower fatigue, reduce anger, and boost confidence.

Having good sleep habits is also huge to the impact students will feel before and on test day. Students might often think that spending all-nighters studying will allow them to grasp all of the information and finish through all the material covered on the test. However, the amount of sleep that they get is related to how well they are able to memorize things and whether their brain is going to be at its maximum peak. Exercising also ties into sleeping because when students sleep a healthy amount each night, they will feel energized and alert for the day ahead. Once they are alert, it will be easy for them to exercise and get their body moving which will in return release some of the tension that they have.

Finally, the last thing that students can do to conquer test anxiety is to ask a teacher for help. When students realize they do not understand a certain topic, they will experience a rise of adrenaline and fear for not knowing something that might potentially be on the test. While it is hard enough to review all the topics learned in an entire semester, a teacher can be an extremely valuable resource when in need. A teacher might explain something in a way that is easier to understand and can also clarify various concepts on the test. Speaking of teachers, counselors can also be a great resource. Relating an issue with a professional counselor can also help ease problems. Often times when students seclude a problem to themselves, they start to feel so alone and hopeless. However, when they communicate and let their problems out at someone, it makes the journey a whole lot easier.