We’ve all been there- that moment before a test when we claw our heads and desperately search our minds for any trace of the knowledge we so efficiently crammed in the night before. Of course, at the same time we also wonder why, oh why, did our brains have to betray us at the moment of truth?
Test anxiety can really effect how well we perform. No matter how much you study, sometimes anxiety wins over and you end up in a dreaded mess. Luckily, there are many ways to help calm down before taking a test:
1. Get lots of sleep: I know this is pretty cliche and sometimes highly impossible, but I find that making sure I rest properly provides great benefits on test day- especially if a test is last period and I have already struggled through a long day. Obviously, keeping the brain alert and awake is very important when taking a test (or so I’ve heard).
2. Eat Breakfast: Again, another pretty cliche rule to follow. However, it really makes a difference when you have breakfast before taking a test. Your brain needs fuel to function, and skipping breakfast won’t help. If you’re looking for something to calm your nerves, go for a banana.
3. Know What to Expect: Talk to your teacher, your friends, your classmates. Make sure you know what will be on the test. Talking to the teacher helps me a ton- many teachers will actually give you information untold to the class. Personally, for some odd reason, simply asking teachers about tests helps me feel better prepared and more reassured.
4. Cram- With Technique: Sounds a bit odd, I know. But cramming the right way (not sure what this really means) can help. For example, in subjects where memorization is all there is to it, cramming the night before can help all the information stay in. However, for subjects where you actually have to understand the material (math), try not to cram- this just causes more stress and frustration, especially when you just aren’t capable of understanding the work in such a short span of time (again, math). A little disclaimer: this works great for me, but probably isn’t for everyone.
5. Have Confidence: This is hands down the most important thing to have when taking a test. If you’ve studied and know the material, but still have doubts about the test, understand that it’s all in your head. It’s surprising how effective a simple confident reassurance can boost your mark- contrary, it’s also surprising how self doubt can substantially lower your performance. Everything we do can either fail or succeed based not on the influence of others, but on the way we think and treat ourselves. Athletes have sport psychologists to help them train themselves to have confidence. It’s not that they aren’t capable or that they aren’t qualified enough to compete- it’s that their way of thinking can either make or break their performance. The same thing goes when taking a test-if you know the course and the material, then you know the test. Have confidence- tell yourself you can do it; tell yourself you will. Change the way you view a test; they aren’t all that different from the homework and assignments you do. It’s all in your head.