KASIE’S KORNER, Text Anxiety

You have been to every class, and completed all of your homework. You wrote every essay, read every page and now you are studying for the big test. You reviewed all of the material and you know you are ready for this exam. You arrive at your class and you are confident you know the material. As the teacher passes out the test, you are starting to hear a ringing in your ears. The print on the test begins to blur and you feel as if you are going to be sick to your stomach! Has this ever happened to you? If you have ever experienced a similar reaction, you may suffer from test anxiety. Just what is this terrible feeling?

Test anxiety is real. Many people have suffered from its effects. Test anxiety happens for various reasons. It happens to some people because they do not feel prepared. Others feel test anxious only in certain subjects, like math or science, because they have had difficulty in those subjects in the past. Still other people develop test anxiety because they are afraid they may not perform well. I have experienced the effects of test anxiety, and it can be very upsetting. Unfortunately there is no magical way to make test anxiety disappear. However, there are some strategies that have worked for me and hopefully some of these will work for you, too.

• Be prepared. Some students become anxious during tests because they believe that they are not quite as prepared as they intended. The truth is studying a little bit each day has more benefi t than cramming just before the test. You will feel better about your preparation and will perform better on the test.

• Practice breathing deeply. Did you know slow, deep breaths actually help you to relax? Breathing allows your brain to think more effi ciently. Oxygen will also help you focus. It is a great tool to relieve stress.

• Focus. Sometimes during a test, test anxious people will lose their focus. Instead they watch the clock or the person next to them that seems to have all the answers. This behavior sometimes adds to anxiety. Focus on your own test. If you have to, whisperread the questions and think about what might make sense. Underline the important parts of the questions and concentrate on what you already know. It won’t be too hard for you when you stay focused.

• Think positive thoughts. Think of a time you learned to do something that was hard for you. Were you successful? Of course there is always some obstacle that you were able to overcome. Test taking is just like that obstacle. If you believe, you will succeed. Believing in yourself is an important part of success.

These are a few of the hints that have worked for me. Find the strategies that work best for you. With practice, you will continue to reduce your test anxiety and notice improvements in your test performance.