Managing Test Anxiety Copyright Houghton Mifflin Company All

Managing Test Anxiety Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

The solution to test anxiety is simple: Preparation • Academic preparation • Mental preparation Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 2

How to prepare academically • Start early • Stay on top of your coursework • Get organized • If you have to cram, cram systematically Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 3

Ways to start early • Pick up your textbooks as early as you can • Read your syllabus • Find help if you think you’re going to need it Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 4

How to stay on top of your coursework • Take notes • Master your material Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 5

How to get organized • Organize your time with time schedules • Organize your notes with summary sheets Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 6

Time schedules for exam preparation • The “homestretch” schedule: Ties off any end-of-semester loose ends so you can focus on your exams. • The exam week schedule: Gives you a big picture view of exam week and encourages you to schedule enough time for sleep, meals, recreation, and study. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7

Summary sheets make your notes more manageable • Regular summary sheets can be created from the Silver Dollar ideas in your notes. • Advanced summary sheets promote reflection by rearranging and recategorizing your notes. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 8

If you have to cram • Limit what you try to learn. It’s too late to try to learn everything • Recite instead of re-read: The only reliable way to embed important ideas in your mind Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9

How to prepare mentally • Find out what you can about the exams • Get acquainted with the test site • Maintain a positive attitude Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 10

Ways to learn about an upcoming exam • Check with the instructor. They won’t tell you everything, but instructors will often answer many of your questions about an upcoming exam. • Use past exams: Instructors frequently take the same approach to their exams from one semester to the next. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 11

Ways to get acquainted with the test site • Spend some time studying at the actual test site • Study in quiet • Practice at a chairdesk • Impose a time limit Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 12

How to maintain a positive attitude • Learn to relax: Do breathing exercises • Use self-talk: Change any negative internal conversations to positive ones • Visualize success: Envision yourself doing well on your exam. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 13