Test Anxiety
What is test anxiety?
Extreme worry about exam performance.
Name three ways you physically and mentally prepare for an exam.
Exercise, healthy eating, sleeping, taking study breaks, etc.
Give three positive affirmations you can say to yourself during the exam.
"I can do this" "I'm proud of myself no matter what" "I am prepared for this"
What should you do when you begin the test?
Carefully read all the questions and answers.
Myth or Fact: Test anxiety can get better over time.
Fact! Just because you feel anxious about testing now doesn't mean that you always will. With practice and effort, you can help your brain form new connections that will decrease the feelings of anxiety.
Name three ways you can study for an exam.
Re-writing notes, practice problems, study guides, flash cards, listening to a recording of your notes, etc.
Turn this negative thought into a positive thought: I'm cooked. I'm going to fail this test and my family will be so mad at me."
"I've studied and prepared. I can be proud of myself since I've tried my best."
What should you do when you blank on a question?
Circle it and come back later.
Myth or Fact: People feel anxious about testing because they are dumb.
Myth! Even if we know all the answers to the test, the situation can still make us feel nervous. Preparing for the test can be helpful, but test anxiety can stem from a lot of things, not just how well we know the material.
Name three ways you can prepare the day/night before an exam.
Review notes, don't cram, get a good night sleep, etc.
Name two coping strategies you can use during the exam if you start to feel anxious.
Hand squeezes, deep breathing, seat pushes, tense and relax, leg stretches, etc.
True or False: You should leave a question blank if you don't know the answer.
False! Do not leave any question unanswered.
What three things people worry about when it comes to tests?
Getting a bad grade, running out of time, not having what I need, not knowing what to do, my family getting mad at me, my friends thinking I'm stupid, etc.
Eat breakfast, arrive early, use the restroom, drink water, organize your materials, etc.
Demonstrate a deep breathing exercise you can use during the test.
Box breathing, Hand breathing, etc.
What is one tip for answering multiple choice questions?
Process of elimination, look for context clues, read the answers before the question, etc.
What does worry feel like in your brain and body?
Sweating, stomach ache, fast heart-rate, dizziness, inability to concentrate, difficulty breathing, tense body, thinking about the worse case scenario, etc.
Visual (re-writing notes), Auditory (reading notes out loud), Kinesthetic (walking while studying).
Demonstrate any coping skill that you can use during an exam.
Answers will vary!
What is the RELAX method?
Read: Carefully read the question
Examine: Examine every choice before choosing your answer.
Look: Look for evidence in the test, pictures, graphs, etc.
Always: Always check your work.
X-Out: Eliminate answers you know cannot be correct.