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Test anxiety is a fact of life.  Most people have experienced it at some level. For some students, text anxiety is so debilitating that it prevents them from achieving their educational and career goals.  Those students may be academically excellent but when it comes to test taking it is as though their memory and cognitive abilities have been hit by a stun gun.

Test anxiety comes in two distinct varieties: situational and anticipatory.  Anticipatory test anxiety occurs before the actual test. Students think about the upcoming test with dread; they imagine all the things that will go wrong during the test; they visualize the consequences of failure.  They believe they will never be able to achieve their dreams.  Students with situational test anxiety freeze up at the moment the test begins.  On one level they know that they are prepared but their mind is a complete blank. Both types of test anxiety can be overcome with diligence, practice, and relaxation techniques.

The first step is to be prepared.  Know your material. Set up a study schedule.  Cramming for tests is not effective and actually increases your test anxiety.  Get plenty of sleep before the test.  Studies show the well-rested students achieve higher test scores than their sleep-deprived counterparts.  Eat something before the test.

Use relaxation exercises before and during the test.  Take several long deep breaths before you begin the test and several times during the test.  Visualize success.  Imagine yourself completing the test with ease, and receiving a great score.

After the test, review what went well and what needs improvement. Congratulate yourself for doing well and remember to practice what worked.