Managing Test Anxiety
Plenty of us have been there—in the exam room, palms sweating, heart racing and then suddenly… your mind goes blank. I know this feeling all too well, and it hits me even after preparing day in and day out. Test anxiety affects tons of students, including myself. While this feeling can be very isolating, especially mid-exam, you are not alone.
I’ve struggled with test anxiety for as long as I can remember. A single challenging question can trigger it, making me doubt everything I’ve studied. And although I don’t have it all figured out, I try to implement techniques when this happens to calm me down.
1. Breathe. First, I will breathe. This sounds so simple, but it’s easy to forget in the moment. When I notice signs of panic, I pause to take a few big deep breaths. This helps ground me and allows me to think clearer going forward.
2. Close your eyes. Just for a few seconds, I close my eyes. I try to push away the negative thoughts and focus at the task at hand. Often, I even try to visualize the question I just read. Sometimes giving myself just a second to sit with it helps the answer come to my mind.
3. Replace negative thoughts with positive. Sometimes, it’s hard not to spiral in these moments. Rather than saying, “I could’ve tried harder,” I say “I studied the best I could.” Or instead of saying “I can’t think of the answer to this problem,” I tell myself “I can come back to this with a clear mind.”
As someone with test anxiety, I know that the usual advice– “study harder” – isn’t always helpful. I could study for weeks and still feel nervous. It is important to recognize where this feeling stems from. For me, it’s due to the pressure I put on myself. When I let go of my expectations and just tell myself I know what I know and I can only try my best, I often excel in my performance.
My advice? Set realistic goals, work hard so you have no regrets, and take care of yourself. While exams are important, your health and peace of mind are more so. Treat yourself with kindness, and you’ll likely see positive changes in both your mindset and performance.