Health and Psychology

I'm giving an exam tomorrow in one of my classes and a major assignment in another, so I thought it might help to write an article on dealing with test anxiety.

I had horrible test anxiety throughout school.  Over the years I developed strategies to deal with it.  So here are some things I learned.

1.  Get enough rest.

2.  Don't drink alcohol the night before the exam, you'll just wake in the middle of the night.

3.  Do eat healthy a few days before the test.

4.  It helps to figure out how you remember information.  I remember things I hear as well as things I see so making flash cards and an audiotape helped me remember information.

For the test itself remember to do the following:

1.  Read the directions.

2.  Read all the test over first

3.  Do the easy questions first and build confidence

4.  Tell yourself you are going to do just fine

5.  Consciously try to relax.  If you feel yourself getting stressed, take a second or two and get calm.

6.  Take a couple of deep breaths and clear your thoughts.

Good luck.