Text Anxiety

[vitanuova]

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I am looking for advice on getting over test anxiety that is harming my performance on exams. I am a non-trad student with a strong liberal arts background (a MA and a BA with high grades from top 20 schools), but it has been over 6 years since I have taken science/math exams. I'm currently taking Bio 1 and Chem 1. I feel like a have a good understanding of the material but on tests I get very anxious and and freeze up.
For example, on a recent chem test I took 4 practice exams and scored from an 89% to a 96% on all of them but when I took the actual exam I lost my cool, couldn't perform and I got a C+. I have never had this problem before but I need to get over it quickly before it hurts my GPA.
Any advice?

 

[kyttykat]

This will seem simplistic and silly, but it works well for my crippling test anxiety. Peppermint hard candy. Sugar helps you focus, peppermint is relaxing. I suck on them during the exam. I got the tip from my psychology professor.

 

[dmf2682]

You tube the opening speech from the movie Patton.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

vitanuova, do you exercise? try a good long run the night before (or the morning of) the exam

 

[GenusTide]

Chug a cold one

 

[LifeTake2]

Clonazepam??
diazepam??
lorazepam??

Oh, wait you don't have prescriptive powers yet....guess you will have to settle for practicing relaxation techniques.

 

[ejw5075]

I used to pretend all my exams were just practice exams. Eventually you'll get over the nerves and then something bigger will come around to give you anxiety 😉

In the subjects I was terrible at or knew the exam was going to be rough, I would wait a full minute before starting once the test was passed out. This might not work for you but Ive found it helped me relax and not make stupid mistakes.

 

[sindadel]

Something the ExamKrackers guys suggest which I found helpful on the MCAT is to close your eyes and do some mindful breathing for about 30 seconds between verbal passages to clear your mind and refocus. I have used a similar technique between test questions when I am anxious, obviously not for 30 seconds, but even three slow breaths in and out makes a big difference. Another strategy I have used is to do a quick search for a question you are confident about and answer it. After a few of those, you will probably be feeling better about turning to the beginning of the exam and proceeding.

 

[dmf2682]

Something the ExamKrackers guys suggest which I found helpful on the MCAT is to close your eyes and do some mindful breathing for about 30 seconds between verbal passages to clear your mind and refocus. I have used a similar technique between test questions when I am anxious, obviously not for 30 seconds, but even three slow breaths in and out makes a big difference. Another strategy I have used is to do a quick search for a question you are confident about and answer it. After a few of those, you will probably be feeling better about turning to the beginning of the exam and proceeding.

Think they suggested five seconds, but I've tried the idea and it works pretty well. I don't get flustered too much before exams, just some adrenaline. Taking a few seconds gets me focused. Worth a shot.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Something the ExamKrackers guys suggest which I found helpful on the MCAT is to close your eyes and do some mindful breathing for about 30 seconds between verbal passages to clear your mind and refocus. I have used a similar technique between test questions when I am anxious, obviously not for 30 seconds, but even three slow breaths in and out makes a big difference. Another strategy I have used is to do a quick search for a question you are confident about and answer it. After a few of those, you will probably be feeling better about turning to the beginning of the exam and proceeding.

I've done something similar to this too. I also know of another premed, a trad, who goes on a 30 min walk the half hour before the test starts.

 

[sindadel]

Oooh, good point NuttyEngDude about clearing your mind before the exam. I never ever ever participate in those groups of people standing around right before the exam one-upping each other in esoteric bits of information, and I also never play the game of "What did you get for Question N?" Those games just make you feel like crap and theyre not an accurate reflection of the material which will be tested or how you performed on the test since your classmates don't create the exams. I actually don't believe in any serious day-of-exam review. Maybe a little light reading in the morning for an afternoon exam, but that's it.