Tips on beating Test Anxiety

Shalimar Steinberg for TRIO

1. Review in “bite sized” sections. Better to review comfortably over several days than cram in a few stressed hours before the exam. (Rule of thumb: For every ½ hour you study, get up and move around for 5-10 minutes)
2. If there are going to be specific formulas or terms that you will need, try to focus on those in your final review. When you get the test, before you even start write them at the top. Now you know they are there if you need them.
3. Plan to get a good nights’ sleep before; this may require exercise to tire you out, or changing your habit a few days before to get to bed a bit earlier. If you can’t fall asleep within about 30 minutes because you are focused on the test, get up and do something soothing for a few minutes. Then try again.
4. Try the three pass method for taking the test.
   1. First time through, do all problems that you know the answer to and can finish quickly.
   2. Second time through, do all problems that you know you can solve, but might take a while.
   3. Finally time through, work on the hard or have to guess problems.
   1. 1. With this method, if you get stuck on something, you at least know that you managed to get every point you were capable of.
5. Finally, trust yourself! You have worked hard and studied, remember that you are as well prepared as possible and that you will do your absolute best.