by Kris Kennedy

Created on: July 22, 2010   Last Updated: July 29, 2010

Test Anxiety

Test results can fail to illustrate truthful mastery of knowledge because of anxiety. An optimum performance level develops from a process to reproduce solid knowledge through good health on the day of the test and a relaxed attitude. With these steps, a person can minimize test anxiety.

Prevent Cramming

Cramming may make up for lost time, but increases anxiety on the day of the test. If as the instructor introduces, presents and teaches the material for the test, you master the material it minimizes future test anxiety. Thereafter, only a review for forgotten items needs to occur at the last minute. The review encompasses a review rather than attempting to relearn something that maybe you did not fully understand with the first exposure.

In addition, a current review of curriculum will enable you to question items that you do not understand fully and gain assistance from instructor or other students.The student writes outlines of the information in which you need to learn. The writing of the outline provides for practice made permanent and a study guide for the review. This provides for a study session within a normal life style.

Healthy Lifestyle

One of the causes of anxiety is that you go to take the test without adequate sleep or a healthy diet. If you are able to retire at a normal time after the review session, you will wake  on the day of the test with the ability to make the final preparations. If during the cramming session you drink too much caffeine and eat many high fat foods, the chance of anxiety multiplies. While preparing for the test, meals that are adequate, but not overly filling will give the body the nutrition necessary to fuel brain activity. Preparing for a test requires healthy habits

A Visualization Review

On the day of the test, you will want to review again, but this review occurs slightly differently. You want to visualize doing well on the test. You visualize the test that you would write from the materials. Some instructors provide a study sheet that will help. This is the final but not only review. If you leave reviewing to the last minute, anxiety will occur..

Step Away

Do not review right up to the last minute. This adds to the stress. A view minutes away for light refreshment or exercise provides physical preparation for the test. When you arrive at the site of the test, relax and release all negative thoughts. Negative thoughts need replacement with affirmations such as I know and state something specific from the review that you are confident that you know.

 Anxiety comes from fear. If we can prevent fear from setting in, anxiety does not surface

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