5 Strategies to Reduce Test-Anxiety for Students

Written By Annie Belott, M.Ed
 
 

Familiar with this scenario?

You have been studying really hard for the past several days for an upcoming test, but when you walk into the classroom to take your exam, your mind goes blank, your palms begin to sweat and/or you have a pit in your stomach. And you begin to think, “what is happening to me and how am I going to take this exam now!?” 

This scenario is chalk full of symptoms and signs of test anxiety. Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety, and your body’s physical and mental response to the anticipation of a stressful event. But you aren’t alone in feeling this way!

Let’s look at some helpful strategies to implement the days leading up to and during your test.

  1. Preparation

    Cramming is a no-go! Adequate preparation for an exam including the use of active study strategies, will put you in a better position to retain more information. Ideally, you should begin reviewing information once the material is presented in class. Follow-up each class with a review of the readings and homework, rewrite your notes, utilize test-prep strategies to assess your understanding of the material (i.e. practice quizzes, flashcards) & visit your teacher for any and all questions.

    2. Sleep

    Say goodbye to all nighters! Staying up all night cramming for a test can exacerbate your nervousness for the exam and make exam day even more stressful. Adequate sleep enables your brain to organize and encode information into memory for better recall during the exam. 

    3. Fuel Up

    Plan to eat a nutritious meal before the exam and avoid high-sugar foods. The goal is to have sustained energy through the exam and eliminate the possibility of a crash before or during the exam.

    4. Strategy

    Positive attitude, calm breathing, read the exam directions carefully and just begin. Slowing down can help you stay focused and navigate the different types of questions that you need to answer. If you come across a question that makes you panic or does not make sense, make a note to return to that question later and move on to the next problem. Allow yourself the time to think through your answers and jot notes down, instead of just hurriedly answering the exam questions. 

    5. Remain Positive!

    If any negative thoughts begin intruding your mind during the exam, actively replace them with positive self-talk. Embrace an upbeat and confident mindset, and just do the best you can!



Annie Belott, M.Ed

With over nine years of experience working in academia, including university settings, Annie has worked with various student populations including individuals with disabilities, first-generation students, and student-athletes. She focuses on strategies to improve upon time management, procrastination, test anxiety, self-testing, learning styles, etc.

From 2016 to 2020, Annie worked as a Learning Skills Specialist at Georgetown University. Here she oversaw the implementation of academic support services to all students on campus, specifically individual consultations with students seeking assistance with their study habits, tutoring for foreign languages, and study skills workshops/webinars.

Annie has worked for Life Solved since the Fall of 2017 and recently transitioned to a full-time position with the company. She continues to work with students from middle school through the collegiate level to improve upon their organizational systems, test-taking and self-testing strategies, and help students create effective study schedules to make workloads manageable.

Annie has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University and a Master’s degree in Multicultural Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin.

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