Performance (Test) Anxiety During College Finals

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
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<p>For some reason I perform extremely poorly during final exams and completely fail the exams (ex: 30%). Typically I perform decent on exams with 75-85% average. Typically I do well in my math and statistics classes, but because of my finals I epically fail and get a 2.5. Overall before finals (or the last three weeks of class) I have a borderline 3.0-3.5 course average in each class but since I fail my exam my final grade fails to 2.0-2.5.</p>

<p>I know the material, I keep up with the material and the final exam material is no more difficult than any other midterm. It's not that things get more busy, because I'm always busy. But for some reason I get more stressed and wake up with racing heart from sleeping during last three weeks of school. I have chest and heart pains and tend to sleep 10-12 hours during finals because of extreme stress. I go on walks, sometimes run, socialize and eat healthy during finals. I've been to therapy and it didn't help.</p>

<p>One example I took a computer test and knew how to do everything but got overlooked one question on excel by using the count function instead of sum and therefore failing my exam because of one thing. My final grade fell from a 3.5 to a 3.0 because of this.</p>

<p>Because of this I always end of the borderline of getting a 3.0 with a 79.999999% and for my other classes a 84.99999%. Therefore my overall GPA is a 3.0. </p>

<p>How can I overcome my finals test anxiety so I can bring up my overall GPA?</p>

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<p>Meditation practice and mindfulness exercises can help a lot with anxiety. There are all kinds of therapists (some competent and some who are not) and many different types of therapy.
Therapy can be very helpful for anxiety so perhaps there is someone else you could see-- possibly at the college?</p>

<p>During the exam, the key is to concentrate on what you are doing and not on worries about the outcome. Here are some tips re: test anxiety [Counseling</a> Center Test Anxiety](<a href=“University of Illinois Counseling Center”>University of Illinois Counseling Center)</p>

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<p>That level of anxiety with a racing heart is borderline panic attacks. You’re actually probably a good candiate for benzodiazepine (like Xanax) treatment. The meds are very effective and fast acting, and you need only take them when you’re about to be in the situation that freaks you out. It’s not a long term fix, but it might help you get through your finals. Beyond that, you should re-investigate therapy with someone who specializes in anxiety disorders. Going to a session or two isn’t going to help.</p>