Learn what test anxiety is. Be able to identify if you have test anxiety and learn how to overcome it. Be able to find ways to deal with test anxiety Be able to avoid test anxiety while taking tests Strategies you can learn to help overcome test anxiety Describe a plan of action that you can take in order to avoid test anxiety.

Test anxiety can be defined as a performance anxiety this anxiety can be a feeling that someone might have in a situation when performance really counts or when the person has pressure to perform well. Test anxiety can cause things such as making a persons’ mind go blank or making a person have racing thoughts. Determine what type of test anxiety you have. Do you have anxiety while preparing for the test, or do you prepare and have anxiety while taking the test.

You probably have test anxiety if you answer YES to four or more of the following: 1.I have a hard time getting started studying for a test. 2. When studying for a test, I find many things that distract me. 3. I expect to do poorly on a test no matter how much or how hard I study. 4. When taking a test, I experience physical discomfort such as sweaty palms, an upset stomach, a headache, difficulty breathing, and tension in my muscles 5. When taking a test, I find it difficult to understand the directions and questions. 6. When taking a test, I have difficulty organizing my thoughts. 7. When taking a test, I often “draw a blank.” 8. When taking a test, I find my mind wandering to other things. 9. I usually score lower on a test than I do on assignments and papers. 10. After a test, I remember information I couldn’t recall during the test. Compliments of

Ask for help Have a positive attitude Visualize success Ask yourself questions while studying to determine what you need to study Vocabulary Strategies Grammar rules Rhetoric Question stems (What is this question asking me?)

Evaluate study habitats (mental) Organize yourself (physical) Self Care (emotional

o Study strategy that can help control test anxiety o Study Techniques o Positive attitude o Have a plan

Evaluate study habits (Mental) Organize yourself Review tests and quizzes Use resources Take a break

Organize yourself Set a schedule for your preparation What are your goals and targets that you want to accomplish before the test itself? Get to work. Practice with an abundance of strategies and pick strategies that work for you.

Review tests and quizzes Practice makes perfect. Each time you take a practice test, you have the opportunity to practice another strategy, review question stems and become familiar with the breakdown of the test. Analyze how you did in previous/similar tests and quizzes in the past and review them. Why did you get answers wrong? Why did you get answers correct?

Use online resources and aids. There are many online resources that can assist you with SAT prep. However, the one that is most helpful is Khan Academy. Take practice quizzes and follow the program that Khan Academy creates for you based of your PSAT score. You must link your Collegeboard account to your Khan Academy account.

Organize Yourself (Physical) Comfortable… but alert Just breathe Be mindful of the clock Be healthy

Be comfortable… but alert It is important to sit comfortably in the chair you are in during the test, but make sure you are not hunched over, slouching or have your head in your hands or on the desk. Your body position reflects your mood and attitude. If you are confident, sit up right and be in charge of the test. You will do better this way. If you are sitting with your head on the desk or in your hands, you are likely to fall asleep, or have trouble concentrating.

JUST BREATHE Have you ever stopped out of a test and you feel yourself take a big breath in or out? It is because you haven’t been breathing correctly during the test. Sometimes during tests, people tense up to the point they forget to breathe correctly. This is unnecessary. Self monitor yourself, take a deep breath and breathe!!

Watch the clock We know to mind the clock during the test, but this test taking anxiety buster is addressing the clock before the test. Wake up in time to eat a healthy breakfast. Arrive early to the test so you have time to find your room and your seat in plenty of time. That way, you can be sure to not be in a rush and be in the room well before the test starts. There is nothing worse than rushing before an important event.

Be healthy Eat food with lots of protein (in general) but the night before and the day of the test. Get the amount of sleep that your body requires. (8 hours may be unrealistic for some people, but sleep what makes your body feel rested.) It is tempting to drink caffeine drinks like energy drinks in the morning, but those drinks often just make you crash later. Remember, the test is long with no real significant break. Do not eat a breakfast heavy in empty carbs, as you will just crash later.

Self-care (Emotional) PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE Control negative thoughts Watch your attitude

PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE All you can do to battle anxiety is to prepare for the test as best as you can. The knowledge you have and your preparation you have done should comfort you in that you have done all you have done. Be confident in that knowledge and preparation.

Control Negative Thoughts There are lots of things happening on that test day that you cannot control, but you can control your thoughts. Negative thinking and self-defeating states can become self-defeating prophecies. Develop positive self statements to battle negative thoughts. You can do well on this test. You are smart. One test does not define you. Also, remember this test is not the end all be all to your future. There are lots of different ways to success.

Watch your attitude Negative attitude is contagious so stay away from people who have or developing negative attitudes, or self-defeating statements. Don’t talk to others about the test. What is done is done. Anxiety is also contagious. On your breaks, enjoy them and talk about other things.

So test anxiety can be an issue for many students. When dealing with test anxiety find a way to overcome and help yourself with test anxiety. When feeling like you have test anxiety coming on find a strategy to help yourself overcome this. Prepare yourself while to help lessen your anxiety. If you do these things to first off try and avoid test anxiety and then do some of these things while having test anxiety, you should be successful in overcoming your anxiety. Remember always stay positive and try your hardest and you will be successful.