Test Anxiety Tips

Walk through any college campus around midterms, and you can feel it - stress is in the air! For some of us, it isn’t the papers or studying that worries us the most. Instead, it is taking the test itself that causes us the most anxiety.
If you are reading this and nodding, be assured that you are not alone. Test anxiety is common, and affects approximately 20% of students. Research on this topic has helped psychologists better understand the relationship between stress and test performance and develop specific strategies to help students manage this stress.
What is an anxious student to do?
Here are some tips for keeping test anxiety under control:
  1. Learn to study efficiently for each class. Utilize all study sessions or other academic supports offered by your school. Studying the material in an organized and proactive way will make you feel more prepared and relaxed in advance of the test. Use all academic supports to help you do this!
  2. Establish a consistent pre-test routine. Having a pre-test routine sends your body and brain the message that you are in control, and helps minimize anxiety.
  3. Learn relaxation techniques. Deep breathing and muscle relaxation are just a couple of examples of techniques that calm your brain and help you feel more in control.
  4. Take care of yourself! Eating, drinking, and getting enough sleep are key to getting you ready to perform your best.
If all these tips aren’t enough, it may be a good idea to seek the help of trained clinician. Sometimes, test anxiety is accompanied by attentional or learning disabilities which are holding you back from performing your best. In other cases, you may simply benefit from greater support at managing anxiety symptoms. Either way, don’t be afraid to ask for help! The counseling center is here for you!
Debra Alper, PhD
Psychologist
Yeshiva University Counseling Center
The counseling center can be reached at counseling@yu.edu

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