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Managing Medical School Test Anxiety Amanda R. Lorenz, PhD Office of Applied Psychological Services University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Presentation on theme: "Managing Medical School Test Anxiety Amanda R. Lorenz, PhD Office of Applied Psychological Services University of Illinois at Chicago."— Presentation transcript:

1 Managing Medical School Test Anxiety Amanda R. Lorenz, PhD Office of Applied Psychological Services University of Illinois at Chicago

2 Goals  Identify the signs and symptoms of anxiety  Learn tips and techniques to minimize test anxiety  Develop a plan that maximizes test performance and success in medical school (and beyond…)

3 Congratulations on getting into medical school!

4 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Aaron Beck, MD)

5

6 Be nice to yourself

7 Challenge Your Cognitive Distortions  Recognize the distortions  Challenge them  Consider the alternatives  Examine the evidence  Is this thought helping me  Reference group (what would others think or do? What would I tell a friend?)  Replace distortions with positive self-talk  I have accomplished a lot already  I am smart and I can do this  I belong here  I am prepared for this test  It is only one test

8 The Power of Writing  Ramirez & Beilock (2014) & Nelson & Knight (2010)  Writing for a few minutes prior tests increased self-efficacy and test performance!

9 Be a Role Model for your Patients

10 Increase Positive Experiences Pleasant Activities InsideOutside Alone With Others

11 Successful Study Skills  Spaced (not massed) Learning  Elaboration and variation and elaboration(!)  Organize the Material  Ask Questions  Use Mnemonics  Sleep!

12 Tips for the Day of the Test  Sleep & Eat well  Use Coping Skills  Don't worry about other students finishing the test before you do  Concentrate on your own test  Stay focused on the questions

13 Tips for Multiple Choice Questions  Read the question and circle or underline any key words  Try to answer a question before looking at the choices  If your answer is there, that’s a good sign!  Eliminate wrong answers  Mark questions that you can’t answer & continue working. Then, return to skipped questions, even if it is simply to mark a guess.  Pace Yourself  Do not change your answers

14 WARNING! Depression and Burn-out!  Helplessness and Hopelessness  Sadness and Irritability  Anhedonia  Changes in Sleep  Changes in Appetite

15 Resources  Faculty Advisors  Office of Student Affairs Advisor  (312) 996-2450  UIC Counseling Center  (312) 996-3490  Office of Applied Psychological Services at UIC  (312) 996-2540  Amanda Lorenz, PhD, at 312-413-2636 or arlorenz@uic.edu  Personal Physician


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