Many students have trouble taking exams, feeling anxious and "blanking out" on what they know instead of being able to show what they know on the exam. Luckily, test-taking is a skill that you can learn to improve. If you experience this problem, you might want to take a look at this excellent guide to understanding and fighting test anxiety. The guide is written for people taking the Praxis exam (an exam students take to become teachers), but the tips are applicable to any testing situation and may give you some insights into what test anxiety is all about and how you can fight it.
Do you have any other good tips on dealing with test anxiety?
The most important tip for me is relaxation. Some podcasts from GW's Counseling site cover deep dreathing and mindfullness meditation, and can be downloaded onto an ipod or listened to using a media player.
ReplyDeleteOoops, forgot the link... http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/PodCast/
ReplyDeleteWhen I take an exam, I just go into exam mode, which for me entails blocking everything in my line of sight and focusing solely on my paper. I usually also feel like I have to sit with my knees under me--perhaps it helps blood circulation, and thus alertness. I sometimes move a little in my seat so I don't see anyone from the corner of my eye, which would otherwise distract me. With this all done, I have no problem doing my exam and doing my best. Hope my experience helps out someone else.
ReplyDeleteExcellent tips, Sarah. Thank you for sharing!
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