Reducing Test Taking Anxiety

I experience the physical manifestations of test anxiety as well...even though I prepare thorough study guides, read the books, tape the lectures, and study hours upon hours - and I actually teach the material to my classmates on many occasions as a review for myself - and STILL bomb tests because of this. It is so hard because you really don't have any control over the reaction your body endures...

I've tried the "stress-reduction" and test-taking strategy courses and workshops. They just don't work for me. I ended up talking to my GP, and we discovered that I have a slight problem with focusing - although I master material, I still get so nervous at test time that everything goes out the window. She gave me a very small prescription for a med that helps me to stay focused on a test. I also wear ear plugs - the rustling around from other students can break focus. Also, get a good night sleep before the test. DON'T CRAM!! You won't remember the material in the long-run if you cram it all into one night.

You have probably heard these interventions before, but I hope this helps a bit. Your friend should know she is not alone - and that she CAN do well on tests. It just takes experimenting to find what works best for her - she made it through nursing school, right? SHE CAN DO IT!! :)

Oh...and another problem she may have that I struggle with...is she overthinking the multiple choice questions? I do this ALL the time and get seemingly easy questions wrong because I am thinking about it on a different level (they cram so much into our heads during school - I feel like more knowledge is almost detrimental on some tests!). Go with your gut on those questions...its hard to do that sometimes! Good luck to both of you - I know you'll do well.

I have test anxiety as well! I wear ear plugs and it also helps me to have someone quiz me. studying from a good Nclex book on the test topic helps :)

The only thing that really helped me beat test anxiety was hypnosis. Try it!

1) Quit studying at least 4 hrs before the test.

2) Do something fun that requires physical activity and mental focus- but not related to the subject being tested. ( I used to play an hr of video games at the student commons). I know people than jog, shoot baskets, bowl... you pick. It has to burn off energy without putting th e brain to sleep.

3) If it continues to be an issue- Talk to a doctor. Test anxiety that disrupts your ablility to achieve success can be treated with some medications( just like stage fright) but anything further on option this is against the rules of AN.

I think all of the above techniques are helpful. My husband has test anxiety so I know how frustrating it is. Good luck to your friend. Hopefully she will find something that works for her and it's good for her to know that she has a friend that cares so much.

I suffer from test anxiety as well...loving the ear plug idea, will incorporate that myself....you may have heard these techniques before...but for myself if I start taking a test and I come across a question I don't automatically know, my mind goes completely blank the rest of the test...One of my professors has great success that they implented at my school to deal with test anxiety...she holds one hour sessions and in these sessions we focus on sample test questions, knowing Maslow's, and Nursing Diagnosis and that the answer to the question should most of the time be patient centered....A couple of tips that have worked for me are circle the key words in the question itself to help slim down the answer possiblities, also she says that most of the time if the answer's says things like Never, always, all etc, it is generally wrong and if you come across a question that you really don't have any clue on, COME BACK TO IT after you answer the ones you do know...before i always felt pressured to answer the question even if I didn't know in exact order....Using this technique I generally get the ones I have no idea on correct because I have more time to think about it and I'm not freaking out because I have 40 more questions to answer...hope that helps some

-take study breaks

-study the material little by little over a few days rather than all at once in one day

-get your stuff packed for the next day the night before

-have a good breakfast

-study the material in different ways; read it, write it out, quiz your friends, watch youtube videos etc

-don't be afraid to ask questions during the test

-after the test, our class can normally find at least 1 question that was wrong when taking it up which the teacher will reward a mark for

-close your eyes, try to relax, and take a deep breath

I also have test anxiety. I used to just faint when I started the test. This was not good during nursing school. My MD gave me 1/2 a pill of Xanax the night before the test. This would make me have a good night sleep the night before without the groginess of many medications. I also did practice questions and studied 3 times through each chapter. The first time through I would highlight key items. The second time through would define key items. The third time through I would take notes on any information that I was unfamiliar with.

A few of my classmates have found that propanolol is the answer.

I'm not being flippant. Test anxiety in nursing school can ruin students. We have a couple on benzos and several on propanolol for tests.

The day before a test, if at all possible, I get in an extremely hard workout and try to go to bed early. That helps.