Reduce Test Anxiety with a Study Plan

Lack of organization often leads to test anxiety. As an example, let's say that in two months you will take an important entrance exam that covers course material from the past four years. At first, you would barely know where to begin - it can be overwhelming to think about so much material. And without an organized study plan, this overwhelmed feeling will probably intensify as the test date grows closer.

The good news is that you can sit down right now and map out a study plan that will dramatically reduce your test anxiety. Here's how to get started:

Find or download a study guide. You can purchase or borrow study guides for many common tests, from college entrance exams to professional certification exams. An exam study guide often provides a detailed exam outline, sample questions, and a practice exam - all designed to help you study more efficiently for what will be on the exam.

Pinpoint your weak areas. Once you find a study guide, take some time to review the test outline, and highlight anything that might not be familiar to you. You should also work through at least one practice exam to get an idea of your weak areas. Then, when you sit down to study, focus most of your time on the things that you don't understand as well.

Use a calendar and/or a timer. One of the best ways to reduce anxiety is to control what you can about the test, and one of the biggest areas you can control is how much time you spend studying. Use your calendar to decide when and for how long you will study each day until the exam. If getting started is a problem for you, set a timer for 15 minutes and make yourself study until the timer goes off.

Avoid distractions. Once you've decided what you need to study and how to do it, you are ready to decide where to study. Try to avoid situations where you will be easily distracted - such as around your children or in front of the TV when your favorite show is on. Create a quiet, calm environment where you can study for the allotted time without interruptions. If you need to leave the house or wake up earlier than your children and/or spouse, then plan to do so. These changes can help you feel more relaxed and in control of your testing experience.

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