Imagine this: It is exam day in one of your classes. You studied for weeks in advance and are feeling very comfortable with the information and think that this might be the test where you finally get that A. You sit down in your seat, pick up your pencil, look down at your test, and at that moment you forget EVERYTHING. Your heart starts to race and your palms begin to sweat. You start to question if you even studied because you can’t seem to remember the slightest bit of information.
This is what it is like for someone who lives with test anxiety. That process is what occurs every single time you sit down to take any type of assessment. All throughout their life, someone with test anxiety will feel as if they are “stupid” because they can never get themselves to do well on anything.
Tests were made to test a student’s knowledge and to determine how well they are able to retain information taught to them. So, what happens when you can’t seem to pass any test that you take? I can tell you… your precious GPA begins to plummet and people begin to view you in a different light.
I can relate to all of this first hand because I suffer from severe test anxiety. It is one of the scariest feelings in the world when you can’t remember anything that you learned in class and that you studied for weeks. When you constantly see those below average grades you start to believe that you are unintelligent and inadequate. Let me explain something; you are anything but those things. You are someone who has an extra obstacle to conquer and that will only make you stronger in the end.
To help you out a little bit, I am going to share some pointers that I have learned throughout the years. I feel as if these will help calm your nerves before you put the pencil to the paper.
First, get a good night’s rest and have a hearty meal before you go. My parents have always told me these are some of the keys to success. If you are tired or hungry before you take the test, you will not be able to concentrate on what is REALLY important: the test!
Second, find a motivational phrase that makes you feel as if you are invincible. This will help all of those negative thoughts stay out of your mind. When you are think you are going to fail, you will. Stay optimistic and find your motivation.
Third, once you get your test write down everything you can remember. Don’t use full sentences because this takes up too much time and then leaves you less time to work on your test. Short, sweet reminders and you are golden.
Next time you go and take a test, keep in mind that you and your test anxiety are not alone. Remember that you are intelligent and are capable of anything you put your mind to. Tests do not determine what you will accomplish in life. Tests are a determination of how well a person can retain information for a short amount of time. Don’t stress yourself out too much because everyone has their aptitude in life and taking assessments may not be ours… oh well!
