How can I get over test anxiety?

Question

I have the SATs in a week and I take practice tests and I do fairly well (yesterday I got a 2190), but i know under pressure I will get nervous and perform poorly. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Anxiety is good. I'd be more concerned if you were not anxious. How you deal with nervous energy is what is truly important. Some people perform at a higher level when they are nervous. Try to get into that category of people by harnessing the energy and using it as a force in your favor.

Go into the exam aware that you are anxious and embrace it, knowing that the nervous energy will fuel your concentration and help you to choose the correct answers.

Once you start with the questions, you will forget about how you feel.

Most importantly, do whatever is necessary to get a full night of sleep before the exam. Don't let anxiety prevent you from resting well before the exam, which you will conquer with ease.
Good luck.

Answer 2

Hey there, I have actually met kids that get to the point of throwing up when they have to take tests. You know, its been proven in research that some people just dont "test" well. That is why you hear so much that "That kid is so smart they just don't apply themselves" When I went to first grade (many years ago) I was very sick. I had been sick for about 5 days and had missed all the testing days. The final day, the counselor told my mom that I really needed to take this test that they would take into account how ill I felt. Apparently I bombed the test. There is no real standard deviation for this. So they put me in the slowest class possible. Then we moved. It took me about 5 grades to get to the right "group" but by then it was already kinda too late for me. Gosh, what I mean was that they put me in the "smart" class but I had to advance 4 reading and math groups. I never really got math. So, when I dropped out in the 11th grade I was not surprised but others around me were. I kept hearing how smart I was supposed to be, that I had finally tested well but I was't applying myself. (Sound familiar anyone?) Well, I got my GED, two associate degrees, my bachelors, Masters, and am working post masters. It seems that when the system decided to start "applying" themselves to me, I had already checked out, so to speak. But, that math thing still gets me. I made A's and B's in college but I thought I was going to darn near have an anxiety attack every test. I even had a tutor and I worked very, very hard. Statistics anyone? So as you can tell, I believe that testing can be skewed and may not be valid or reliable depending on the setting. Testing can really harm a person, so you have to make sure the test is all the above and also ethical.

Answer 3

You don't get over it, you go through it.

Suggestions? I'd say maybe if you have the opportunity to try "the work" which is a method of questioning the things that apparently bother you. It usually sheds some light on the situation and clears it up at least a little.

Just search "Byron Katie" on youtube and try to find one of her videos where she's sitting with someone and doing "the work". You can also try: www.thework.com

You can find a couple of worksheets there to download.

You basically start with a statement that gives you anxiety/suffering/pain/hate/something negative, such as, "I can't get over test anxiety." or "When I'm nervous, I perform poorly." Then you question that thought from various points of view, as per the worksheet.

When I was a kid I was relatively shy, yet I've gone on to be able to talk infront of crowds like it's no problem at all. One idea to keep in mind is that others often don't even know if you're stressed or not. Your mind keeps telling you bad stuff, but the reality is nobody really cares. You just have to question your mind.

Answer 4

I have the same problem. i am very smart and get all a's.........untill test time. iget so tense and my brain blocks everything. ther isn't really anything that can help for good. the best thing you can do is just keep pushing yourself. pretending you're taking a real testis the best thing for practice. keep practicing, and when the real on comes you won't notice adifference. i know right now you're probally thinking "but they're in a week!" it doesn't matter. you don't have to go to a classroom with other people to practice tests. do it on your own. sit down at a table, not in a comfy seat or it won't seem real. then compile some problems to do online and time yourself. if you don't time yourself you will feel very rushed on test day.

Here is a great site for practice questions...
https://satonlinecourse.collegeboard.com/SR/loginAction.do

Answer 5

Know that you've prepared as much as you can.

Get lots of sleep the night before and eat a good healthy breakfast.

Visualize yourself taking the test and being confident and optimistic. Imagine yourself doing well on the test.

Answer 6

Just try and relax. . .do not over study that is worst cause then you will blank out. Take some time for yourself for awhile to relax and breathe. You will be fine :) It is normal to feel anxiety, but anxiety will be of no benefit to you. . .so relax :)
Best of luck ♥

Answer 7

hii there !! well well there's no need to fear at all ...:):)

keep smiling and always remember that there r a million other options for u and many many chances to give the exam ..
so just keep cool...think that u r d best ! stop taking tests atleast 2 weks before the exam ...u could hang out wth ur frnds...or even do some window shopping to ease ur tension ...

Answer 8

Stop taking tests

Answer 9

Todo estara bien no te preocupes. study hard! =0)

Answer 10

...........Concentrate on this...............
Doing well on SATs will bebefit















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