How To Overcome Anxiety And "bombing" On Tests

By Van L. Shipman


What Is Test Anxiety?Test anxiety is the experience of feeling anxious, distracted, upset and overwhelmed in anticipation of an exam and the results that might occur. Just like most other types of anxiety, test anxiety stems from a panic type feeling that usually centers on the future and results from how you've chosen to think and focus over time.

Have you been in the same situation before or just recently? If you have, you might possess this common condition called test anxiety. With this state, you will feel a great deal of nervousness before taking a test. Getting a bit nervous prior to taking the test is normal. Feeling this way can help in boosting your performance for the test. But this normal feeling of nervousness becomes intense for those people who have test anxiety. They become extremely anxious preventing them from concentrating on their test thus lowering the standard of their performance.

Bad Habit #1 indulging in what if thinking.what if thinking consists of thoughts like "What if I don't pass the exam?.. What if I can't study well today?..What if I get a lot of questions wrong etc." Sometimes these thoughts are mostly subconscious.To cure this problem and avoid "negative what if thinking," begin to talk to yourself inside your head and coach yourself using "positive what if thinking". Ask yourself, "What if I was able to study well today? What if I found a way to work hard? What if I got my act together despite my stress?."Then speak to yourself and say "I can do this!.. I will do this!.. I am doing this!" This starts the "turn around!" The power of this talk cannot be underestimated!

Bad Habit #2 Mind Bouncing.This means you're focusing on multiple things instead of staying focused on one thing for a single period of time. Bouncing around to different subject matter happens when you are panicking. It's like an increase of ADHD juice overwhelms you.To cure this tendency, you have to stop looking at the outcome as a whole. Section off your test in portions. Realize success comes from laying one brick at a time, even in tight scenarios. If you have a lot of study material, commit 20 minutes to one single section. After that session is over, reward yourself for not focusing elsewhere. Breaking material down is the key to cure mind bouncing!

By the way, you can watch free 60 second ACT Test Tip Videos without having to give your name or email address by going here: ACT Test Tips.Studying for the ACT anywhere, online with short video clips makes the ACT a breeze.Perhaps you are approaching your senior year in high school, narrowing down your choice of schools, filling out applications and signing up for the SAT test. Most likely you are planning to take it more than once. Did your stomach just do a flip-flop thinking about the test? Are you worried about it because so much rides on how well you do?

What if you could turn anxiety on its ear, pass your driving test and come out smiling on the other side? Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants? It's actually easier than you think.Here's the top 10 ways to jettison your driving test anxiety and ace the test like an old pro,Acknowledge your anxiety: First up, it's OK if you're anxious about the driving test. Lots of people feel this way. Stop trying to not be anxious and just admit to yourself that you ARE. You need to remove your denial before you can find any solutions.

Study, study, study: It's not like the driving test is a pop quiz. You KNOW it's coming, so prepare for it. Your school, local DMV or Driver's Ed has lots of preparation materials. Use them! You should study for at least 3 weeks before your exam. Don't wait until the last minute and cram. It's better to study a little (15 minutes) every day, 5 days a week. You'll retain the information better and go in feeling better prepared.

If the usual suggestions for dealing with anxiety aren't relieving it know that you are not alone. Often these suggestions cannot overcome the source of the problem because the source lies within the subconscious mind.If you have had any previous negative experiences in your past with respect to "performing", perhaps during a recital, sports event, or public speaking, it is probably affecting you today. Your subconscious mind "remembers" events that caused you concern. From that moment forward it has been constantly scanning the environment looking for the same "clues" in order to protect you from experiencing this pain again. When it finds one you know it because you experience it as "worry".

These experiences also cause us to have limiting beliefs such as: "I'm not a good test taker" or "I just know I'm not going to do well". Chances are theses beliefs are residing in your subconscious mind and no amount of positive affirmations or talking yourself out of them is going to help. Unlike our conscious mind, the subconscious mind cannot be talked "to".

Give yourself plenty of time: Get there early on test day. Don't rush around. Stay calm, focused, and go at a reasonable pace.Loosen up your body: Stretch or exercise before the test if at all possible. Keep your body loose and easy.Reward yourself beforehand: Reward yourself for passing the test - BEFORE you take it! Give yourself a little treat like your favourite food, a movie, new earrings, etc. Don't worry... you can reward yourself again after the test too!

Love Yourself.You have to value what's in you by taking care of yourself. Take proper care of yourself by getting sufficient sleep, regular exercise as well as maintaining a healthy diet. This will greatly help in keeping your mind active and working as best as possible. All the tests you will take are easier if you are in good condition physically, mentally and emotionally. Love yourself by saying goodbye to test anxiety.Time is needed to effectively and successfully overcome test anxiety. Winning over it doesn't happen overnight. You must be patient and focused on your goal as you take this long yet encouraging journey of conquering test anxiety.




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