“There will be an exam on Tuesday.”
The fear waves over. Each test is worth 10 percent of your final grade. Failing this is not an option. Study guides, notes and flashcards are used in your regular study sessions. The night before the exam arises the fear comes back, what if I didn’t study enough? What if I didn’t study the right material?
Tuesday arrives and class starts; the testing materials come out and the room becomes mute. The first question appears. You know this and you studied it, but all the other answers seem right, too. Option B looks right, but option C is familiar. Doubt and lack of self-confidence gets the best of you. It could be either answer but you’re not sure which one is right anymore. This happens repeatedly, question after question as the pressure rises. People have finished their tests and have started to shuffle around. Meanwhile, you’re only halfway done. How did they finish so early? You feel like you’ve fallen behind and those questions are still staring at you. The pressure is relentless and the 10 percent of your grade reappears in your mind.
Later on you receive the score of your test, it’s below an 80. Again. This cycle continues over and over, test after test, and you can’t find a way to stop it.
This is hard for me to write because I’ve suffered through test anxiety for a long time without realizing it. I thought that’s how everyone felt about tests but were just smarter than me and, therefore, earned better grades. The story above happened to me two weeks ago; after the test results came back I decided I was done. I was tired of struggling through each test week after week and I needed a change. I changed my study habits, stayed focused and worked hard for my next test. When I received my score it had improved but not enough; however, I am still working on what study habits work for me and what doesn’t.
If this story seemed a little too familiar, here is my advice. First, figure out what type of learning best suits you. I am a visual learner so I learn better by looking at illustrations, charts, or physically seeing the words on paper. A quick Google search can help you figure out what type of learning method best suits you. Second, try different study methods. From flashcards, writing it down or teaching someone else the material are some of the many ways to study. Third, stay focused while taking the test. When I am taking a test every small detail distracts me, focus on the question and take the test one step at a time. Finally, be positive and confident while taking your test. Stressing out only makes things worse–I know from experience.
I’m still working on overcoming my obstacles but I would suggest finding your positive change as well. Especially with the semester drawing to a close and finals coming up. Taking those four steps will improve your test scores and put your mind at ease. Trust me, it is better to conquer your challenges now than to push them off to the side.
Photos courtesy of collegenetwork.com and studentrights.eku.edu.