Nervousness and anxiety when it comes to standardized testing is pretty common - so, you're not alone. The anxiety or fear is actually a sign that your body is ready to focus on the task ahead, all that remains is how your harness that energy. Here are some tactics to keep cool and calm so that you perform your best on test day.
Months/weeks leading to the test:
Day of:
Months/weeks leading to the test:
- Be prepared - get the support that you need to master the materials as best as you can before the test date; this includes starting preparation with ample time, possible classes, tutoring, study materials, taking many practice tests, and getting to the test location early
- Be confident - visualized success, see yourself sitting down, starting, working on the problems with fluidity; focus on what you'll be working on and not so much what others are doing, you'll have your own system and that's the process and success you should hone in on in your mind; keep a positive outlook as you approach test date
- Practice relaxation techniques - one that works really well for our students is controlled breathing; try inhaling deeply (where the stomach expands, not chest) for a slow count of 5 and then exhaling for a count of 5, repeat for about a minute (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/well/mind/breathe-exhale-repeat-the-benefits-of-controlled-breathing.html)
Day of:
- Get a great night's sleep
- Get to the test location early
- Don't go in on an empty stomach (or bring a small snack with you)
- Continue to visualize a great start to the test
- Continue to visualize a flow and good pace throughout the test; keep your thoughts moving, use scratch paper to get yourself going (especially for essay questions!)
- Practice controlled breathing before/during if needed; try a quick stretch if you feel like you are tensing up
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