Reducing Your Test Anxiety

Plan

• Plan what you will need to study
• Plan when you will study
• Plan to study the material over several days

Study

• Study in a well lit area at the same time each day.
• Study in an area free from distraction.
• Study extra sources if possible to enhance your understanding

Don’t

• Don’t over-study.  Take a break from studying, watch a movie, take a walk, etc.
• Don’t study up to the last minute.  You will stress yourself and confuse yourself if you try to cram a lot of information into a small amount of time.
• Don’t wait until the day before the test to ask for help from your instructor or tutor.  If you are confused about a concept, ask for help right away.
• Don’t rush through the test.  You may skip a step or skip a question.

Do

• Do get enough sleep
• Eat a starch, a fruit, and not too much sugar before an exam, according to nutritionists.
• Do get to the test site early
• Do bring extra pencils or pens
• Do have a backup calculator or backup batteries
• Do bring a watch to keep track of how much time you have and to pace yourself.
• Take a deep breath
• Take your time and pace yourself.
• Work methodically through the test by answering all the questions you are sure of first, then going back to the others in the time you have left.
• Make sure that you have an answer for each question.