Test Anxiety - Dealing With Test Anxiety

Although it is quite normal for most of the students to feel some level of stress and anxiety during examination days, yet in some cases where anxiety begins to hamper exam performance, it becomes a major hindrance. Test anxiety is nowadays caused due to many reasons, such as lack of preparation due to inappropriate time management, poor study habits, and inability to organize information. Along with these reasons, constant peer and parental pressure to perform well and the dread of failure can wreck havoc in the lives of students. A fall out of this type of mental stress is Test Anxiety Disorder.

Test anxiety disorder may even infuse certain bodily changes in the students like stomach upset, fast heartbeat, perspiration, tension in the muscles, headache or sweaty palms. Test anxiety commonly leads to mounting nervousness which distorts the reading; organizing; understanding; retrieving and answering as well as performance skills of the people. The only way to cope with this type of anxiety disorder or combat it is by studying hard, learning and practicing on a regular basis and avoiding laziness, procrastination and day dreaming.

One must try to solely focus and concentrate on the material that is being read and should never forget to relax that is, take long deep breaths along with proper sleep or rest, so as to stay rejuvenated. There are certain means of the disorder through which the power of concentration can be increased. The most effective ones are to choose the right kind of environment where noise, interruption and distraction are at a minimum. Temperature, comfort, Lighting, e and neatness must be properly maintained.

Whenever confronted with the condition of test anxiety, people must try not to think about fear and be focused about what one is supposed to do. One should try remaining completely relevant, relaxed, calm and composed. Imbibing a positive confident attitude can really work wonders and hasten the healing process of an individual. Some test anxiety disorder is normal and inevitable. People must learn to cope with it steadily and keep themselves distracted and busy. Now if the condition remains for a longer period of time, then seeking psychological help wouldn't be a bad decision.

On the eve of any examination people should anticipate the test and be well prepared. Before retiring to bed, people should organize everything needed for the examination like pens, pencils, rulers, erasers calculators etc. They need to double check the examination venues and the scheduled time; should set the alarm and have a good nights' sleep which will contribute positively to the reduction of test anxiety. People can calm them selves for a few minutes by stretching the arms and legs and relaxing them if they feel excessive test anxiety. Also people can take a few deep breaths and do some positive internal self talking. If unexpectedly the examinations are more difficult people should focus on it and do their best. After the examination is over people should relax and ease themselves from test anxiety. A little bit of anxiety and nervousness is really helpful before the examination. But if the stress or nervousness and tension goes beyond a limit and is uncontrollable, it is called test anxiety.

• Cassandra Bagley
• 23/03/2009, 6:59 AM
• 0 Comments