Test Anxiety: Making the Grade Count

Students spend a semester learning and completing homework assignments all to prepare for “final’s week”, the dreaded time of testing in school where educators collect a measurement or grade of the student’s knowledge gained in the class. Finals week usually follows days of cramming information learned in several weeks during study sessions to be able to perform well on test. Most students feel pressure and anxiety while preparing and testing, however for students that have text anxiety this creates a barrier that affects performance. 

According to verywellmind.com, “Test Anxiety” is a: “psychological condition in which people experience extreme distress and anxiety in testing situations. While many people experience some degree of stress and anxiety before and after exams, test anxiety can actually impair learning and hurt test performance. ” Test Anxiety” creates a performance problem. The pressure of the performance of taking the test causes a reaction that results in the student performing below their best. This means that the grade or measurement is not an accurate representation of the knowledge of the student, but instead a reaction to the pressure felt to perform. 

“Test Anxiety” symptoms include nervous stomach sensations, sweating, shaking, rapid heartbeat, fainting, diarrhea, vomiting, panic attacks, avoidant techniques such as skipping class, dropping out of school, or turning to drugs and alcohol, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, negative self-talk, depression, low self-esteem, anger, and/or a feeling of helplessness. How can students with text anxietymake the grade count by learning tools to reduce the pressure to perform? 

Some helpful tools to reduce anxiety over test taking are to get proper nutrition, adequate sleep, study prior to test, arrive early, read directions carefully, breathing exercises, relaxation using visualization or affirmations, think positive thoughts, and don’t think in perfection. If anxiety continues to levels that are not being helped by tools listed above, then there are services such as seeing a psychiatrist to be assessed for medication that can assist with anxiety. Therapy can help students address the underlying issue that is causing the test anxiety. 

Hypnotherapy has also been a proven effective treatment for “Test Anxiety”. Hypnosis can help the student deal with negative thought patterns and low self-esteem that can hinder the student’s performance on tests. It can also  help the student reduce fear and allow  the body to relax which can ultimately lead to more success and less anxiety while taking tests.  

Make the grade count with less negative results! Let us help! 

Northwest Behavioral Health Services 

2392 N. Edgewood Avenue 

Jacksonville, Florida 32254 

904-781-7797