So I have test anxiety, like many out there, and like many, I can get good scores when taking relaxed practice tests (not timed) but do with a mediocre flare when under time pressure.
In addition to the anxiety I have a tachycardia problem (fast heart rate) unrelated to the anxiety. So taking tests is a nightmare.
Does anyone have any skills or tips to manage anxiety when taking tests?
Since you have a medical condition, why don’t you apply for a testing special accommodation?
When practicing for the SATs (or whatever test you are preparing for) practice under time pressure and set the conditions as close to the actual test as possible. Thus, when it comes to testing, you’ll already have practice under high stress situations and be more familiar with it when the actual test comes. Other than that, just remember that you can retake any standardized test.
I was going to get accommodations but it took seven weeks and there is not too much they can do.
@richiet28 thank you so much for the kind advice!
Then apply EARLIER next time. It’s not like there aren’t PLENTY more test dates.
Wow thanks for your kind words you are such a nice human being. You don’t know my circumstances so be nice.
There are many young fragile kids on this forum that need good advice, stop being so rude, you could really hurt someone’s feelings.
I’ve found that doing a lot of practice tests which are timed make you really familiar with the type of questions that are being asked of you. Anxiety is caused by the unfamiliar so when you do a lot of these tests, the questions become second nature to you. When you go into test day, you will be nervous (normal) but when you see the questions are similar to the ones you have been practicing, your anxiety will go down. Good Luck!
@owlsaremybuddies I used to have test-taking anxiety when I was younger, but I was able to overcome it. People haven’t realized is that THEY are in control of their anxiety/stress. Therefore, they and specifically YOU can truly dictate whether you’re going to be stressed or not. In the future, you’re going to be attending college where you’ll be facing many stressful situations. No one is going to accommodate you and no one is going to pity you. Now is the time to conquer your anxiety and smash the SAT.
Again, what is it with the judgmental posts? I just wanted some advice and yet people have to criticize. Do you not realize how immature it is?
I actually don’t really have ‘anxiety’ I have a tachycardia condition which mimics anxiety. I have NO CONTROL of it AT ALL, it just happens. Since it mimics anxiety I thought tips treating anxiety, would help my tachy.
My D suffers with test anxiety as well. Have you discussed this with your doctor? She/he might be able to prescribe something to help you, especially if the anxiety is impacting other areas of your life.
Other things to try:
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Take your practice tests in a crowded coffee shop. The noise and other distractions with help create a more realistic testing situation for you. Then on test days the ticking clock, tapping pencils, and scraping chair noises won’t be so bothersome.
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If this post is in relation to the ACT or the SAT, try both. One might be easier for you than the other.
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Find a way to dump all of the adrenaline in your system before a test. Running works well. When my D is desperate she’ll do squat jumps in the bathroom.
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My D recommends finding something physical to do to refocus yourself during tests. She snaps a rubber band on her wrist, or pinches her arm to bring her focus back from the hyper aware anxious state.
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Figure out what your test issues are specifically. She rushes through questions too fast and often misses small critical words. Underlining key words helps if this is part of your issue.
Good luck
How are you going to survive on your own if you can’t even take some random persons advice online?
I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play one on TV. However, I just found this article that says beta blockers help people with test anxiety get higher SAT scores.
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-06-07/local/me-920_1_test-anxiety
I suspect you already know about beta blockers, but just thought I’d throw it out there just in case. Another thing you probably already know is that, for some people, a couple of small coughs can sometimes help “reset” the heart rhythm.
I guess another thing to try is hypnosis. You could find someone who uses hypnosis to help people stop smoking and that sort of thing, and have them give you the suggestion that you won’t be troubled with anxiety during the test, and some way you could cue yourself during the test to bring on a feeling of calm.
I like the suggestion above to do some brisk exercise beforehand. Probably uses up some of the adrenaline.
I hope that you can get accommodations to allow you extra time on future tests. Your diagnosis code and evidence that you have been treated for the condition plus a statement from a psychologist would help you in applying for this. Another thing is that the testing people like to see that you have been accommodated in your school for the condition, so maybe you could ask for an IEP to get test accommodations for some of your classes. Even if you don’t have time to get this done for SATs etc., it could still be worthwhile to go through with this because colleges do give accommodations for some psychological conditions. They sometimes give students time-and-a-half for tests and have tests administered in a separate quiet room.
If it’s not actually anxiety you should probably be asking your doctor, not strangers on the internet.
Thank you so much @BunnyBlue. Your response was very kind and detailed; I appreciate it immensely.
I never said I couldn’t handle ‘random persons online advice’ I said that I know of many children/ young adults who would not take the critical answers as well.
My doc actually said to look online for tips because she had none, so doctors orders, here I am, asking for advice.
Thanks again for all those who have have offered real answers and tips.
Then why title your thread: “Test anxiety.” and open the initial post with: “So I have test anxiety, like many out there…”
You’ve actually received a lot of constructive advice in this thread.
I think it’s justifiable to call people on their rudeness. It’s far too prevalent on CC, and the very rudest are mostly adults with advanced degrees–ain’t that interesting? Having said that, I didn’t read @Pawrrrrrr’s post as being especially rude–I read it more as a “rah, rah, you can beat this,” but both anxiety and your issue with tachycardia are complex issues and not everyone can easily learn “dictate” how they are going to respond under stress.
@BunnyBlue is correct. The trick for a lot of people with anxiety is blunting the physiological effects of the adrenaline that is released when you are anxious.
A short-term beta blocker will block the heart rate response and turn down the tachycardia.
It is a non-addicting, low side effect drug that is very easy to request at a Dr’s appointment.
Here’s your advice:
Don’t start threads claiming to have test anxiety, then get upset whrn people give you advice about it and then claim you don’t have test anxiety.
TC, while occasionally obnoxiously mimicing the autonomic responses of an anxiety attack, actually has completely different (and varied) causes. The treatments for their symptoms will not help you.
TC has no effect on test-taking ability.
When your doctor tells you to “look online for tips because she had none” about sn actual medical condition, such as tc, you need to find a new doctor.