Test-taking Strategies to Reduce Test Anxiety

Do you become anxious before an important test? Symptoms of test anxiety include sweating, shallow breathing, upset stomach, feeling jittery, insomnia, and inability to concentrate. While studying ahead of time is a great way to feel more in control of the test material, there are also certain tricks to help you with anxiety during the test itself:

For multiple-choice questions, eliminate and decide. Most multiple-choice questions have four possible answers. You can often eliminate two answers immediately. That leaves two possible answers. Can you decide between the two? If so, then mark the correct answer and move on. If not, make an educated guess - you have a 50% chance of getting it right.

For essay questions, brainstorm and outline before writing. Don't let yourself freeze up while staring at that blank essay form. Use your scratch paper to get those ideas moving by brainstorming whatever comes to mind related to the essay question. Then quickly organize those thoughts into a brief outline, and you're ready to start writing your essay.

Keep it moving. Because most tests are timed, it's important to pace yourself during a test and not spend too long on any one item. For example, if you have a multiple-choice section followed by an essay question, you should leave enough time for the essay. To avoid getting stuck on a multiple-choice question, use the "eliminate-and-decide" strategy discussed above. If your test allows you to skip questions, you may need to do so if you get stuck on a particular question.

Breathe and stretch. Test anxiety results from a heightened "fight or flight" biological response to a threatening event. The good news is that this response can help you to think fast. The bad news is that the jittery feelings and other symptoms can interfere with your concentration. There are two good ways to counteract test anxiety during a test: 1) breathe deeply, causing your stomach - not your chest - to rise as you inhale, and 2) relieve muscle tension by periodically stretching, or by making a fist and releasing it.

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