There are two categories of students facing the GRE or SAT: those who don’t sweat it and those who get nervous out of their wits. Some get teeny-tiny butterflies in their stomach; others feel giant pterodactyls inside. If you belong to the latter category of students, you better learn how to beat the test anxiety. Left unchecked, the worry will lower your ability to focus and recall everything you’ve learned. You don’t want to leave that embarrassing blank space under the simplest question, do you? Here’s what you can do about test anxiety:
- Study early
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This truism should be remembered by students entering a high stakes situation such as an exam. If you attempt to pass a test without proper preparation, your body exhibit some queer symptoms: palms will sweat, the face will flush, and mouth will dry. This is a standard fight-or-flight response. To prevent undue nervousness, start studying early. By planning ahead and avoiding hectic cramming the evening before the test, you will remain calm and collected. Why? Because the more you know, the more confident you will be when passing the test. See? Knowledge is power.
- Take practice tests
Practice testing is an effective studying strategy that will help you keep worries at bay. Granted, you’ll have to do some extra work while preparing for the test, but the investment will result in higher grades and confidence. The preparation will adjust your mind to the specific test format, which is why you will have an easier time recalling crucial information later. For standardized tests like ACT or GED, there are many practice questions and writing services out there on the Web. Students can use as much online help as they need.
You can also create your custom tests by extracting questions from class notes and textbooks. You can also use paperwriting coupon codes and see what an exemplary answer should look like. When you are ready, do the test rehearsal in the comfort of your home. Make sure to limit the time your allow yourself to complete an assignment. This way, you will make the practice as useful and real as possible.
- Exercise before the exam
Morning exercise will help you mitigate the undue levels of stress. The mental health benefits of aerobic exercise have long been known to psychologists. They regularly advise patients struggling with anxiety and depression to engage in endorphin-producing physical activities. The thing is that exhaustive workouts are followed by bursts of endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood boosters. Therefore, if you want to ease the stress during an exam, hit a gym prior to it.
An additional benefit of exercises is the improvement of cognitive functions. Some go as far as to suggest that intentional physical activity is a meditation in motion. By running, swimming or lifting weights before an exam, you will relax your brain and prepare it for the upcoming intellectual endeavors.
- Get enough sleep
While some students can live and study on just a few hours of sleep, most of us need eight to ten to feel refreshed. Determine your optimal amount of sleep and make sure to get enough rest the night before the exam.
Sleep deprivation is a common state of many students during the finals week. Only few know that it should be avoided at all cost. The pernicious effects of prolonged wakefulness have been thoroughly studied by cognitive scientists. The lack of sleep has been found to impair attention, long-term memory, and decision making. Thus, by disrupting your normal sleep pattern with cramming sessions, you risk harming your cognitive ability, undermining the very reason why you deny yourself much-need sleep!
- Arrive early, relax and trust yourself
Arrive early at the place of examination and collect yourself. You’ve followed closely all stages of your prep plan. Now, it’s time to relax and show off your brilliant knowledge.
Happy testing!