Managing Anxiety
What is test anxiety?
A type of performance anxiety where the pressure of a test or assessment leads to intense discomfort or anxiety
What should you do when you first receive your test?
Read all the instructions carefully
True or false: Sometimes having some anxiety is healthy
True
What should you bring with you on test day?
Pencils, erasers, scratch paper, your chromebook, etc.
Name a positive affirmation you can use to reduce test anxiety
Example: "I am prepared and I can do this!"
What should you do if you encounter a question you don’t understand?
Skip it and come back later if you have time.
In order to not feel stressed the morning before the test you should make sure that you __________ so that you do not feel rushed. You do not want to be late.
get to school on time
How much sleep should you be getting every night?
8-12 hours each night
What can you do if you start to feel anxious during a test?
Ask for a break, take a moment to breathe deeply and refocus on the questions.
What should you do if you have extra time on a test? And why?
Look back and review your answers. You might find mistakes or remember details you initially forgot.
What is the worst study method for preparing for a test?
Trying to cram all the information in the night before
Research says that you should study for _(amount of time)__ every night
30 mins
What is one calming strategy you can use to calm down before a test? Demonstrate the strategy
Belly breathing (Inhale for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4), Muscle relaxation, Counting to Ten, Listening to Music, Positive Self-Talk, Visualization Exercise etc.
What is one strategy for answering multiple-choice questions?
Eliminate the answers you know are wrong to improve your chances.
What are some key words that you should look when answering questions? These words might change a questions meaning.
Words like always, never, not, best, and except
What is one way to prepare the night/morning before a test?
Get a good night's sleep to ensure you're well-rested. Eat a healthy breakfast.
Demonstrate a visualization exercise you can do to manage anxiety
Example: Imagine you are at the beach...
What do you hear? Waves crashing on the shore
What do you see? The sun shining, sand, the ocean.
What do you feel? The sun on my skin. Sand in my toes.
What do you smell? Salt in the air.
How can you manage your time effectively during a test?
Keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself by dividing the time by the number of questions.
What should you do to help with your writing response on the ELA Test?
Plan out your response using a graphic organizer on your scratch paper
Name one effective method for studying for the test
Making flash cards and quizzing yourself, doing practice math problems, practice writing to different prompts, etc.