Test Anxiety

Titan Thursday: Test Anxiety and Stress Management

Unpreparedness anxiety is best addressed by better preparation, e.g., improved study habits and time management, tutoring, appropriate course selection, etc. Bona fide test anxiety, on the other hand, can be lessened by behavioral relaxation techniques and cognitive strategies (i.e., changing self-defeating thought patterns), as well as by improved study, time management, and test-taking skills.

Supplemental:

BayCare Student Assistance Counseling Program

Additional Resources

A number of resources are available to help you cope with test anxiety. Some examples include the following:

Websites

• Is it possible to overcome test anxiety? Mayo Clinic
  A little nervousness before a test is normal and can help sharpen your mind and focus your attention. But with test anxiety, feelings of worry and self-doubt can interfere with your test-taking performance and make you miserable. Test anxiety can affect anyone, whether you're a primary or secondary school student, a college student, or an employee who has to take tests for career advancement or certification.
  
  

• Test Anxiety, Academic Skills Center, Study Skills Library, What is test anxiety,
  how does it affect you, and what can you do about it?
  
  

• Dealing with Test Anxiety, Center for Academic Success, The University of Alabama
  A collection of psychologists' recommended techniques that have proven to be extremely successful if practiced and used correctly.
  
  

• How Can You Reduce Test Anxiety?, Counseling Services, Kansas State University
  Tips to reduce anxiety both prior to and during tests.

Videos

• Test Anxiety: How to Take On Your Exams Without Stress, College Info Geek
  Exams can cause a lot of unnecessary stress, but you can reduce that stress in several ways. This video looks at several common worries you'll face as a student that causes test anxiety, and cover ways to deal with them.
  
  
• Test Anxiety, Penn State World Campus
  Test-taking can be a nerve-wracking and overwhelming experience. Feeling anxious while preparing for an exam is a normal experience for many students. Dr. Ben Locke, associate director of Clinical Services, discusses test anxiety and factors involved with the condition. Find out how World Campus students Ivy Moon-Rumsey and Jack Hall tackle the issue of test anxiety in their lives.