Ready to Take That Test

1
Ready to Take That Test???

• Test Taking Strategies/
• Test Anxiety

2
What is Test Anxiety?

• -Being so afraid or worried
• about a test that performance
• suffers.

3
What Causes Anxiety

• Often Test Anxiety is a result of a lack
  preparation as indicated by the following
• Cramming the night before the exam
• Poor time management
• Failure to organize text information
• Poor study habits
• Another reason for Test Anxiety is worrying about
  the following
• Past performance on previous exams
• How friends and other students are doing
• The negative consequences of failure

4
Physical Symptoms Of Anxiety

• Increased Body Temperature
• Heart Palpitations
• Rapid, Pounding Heartbeat
• Tightness of Chest
• Butterflies in Stomach
• Hyperventilation
• Weakness All Over

• Tremors
• Dizziness
• Dry Mouth
• Excessive Sweating
• Confusion
• Muscle Tension / Aches
• Fatigue

5
Cognitive Responses to Anxiety

• I Can't Do It
• Im Going to Make a Fool of Myself
• People Are Staring at Me
• I Could Faint
• Get Me out of Here

• No One Will Help
• I Can't Breathe
• I'm Going to Die
• I'm Going Crazy
• I'm Trapped

6
Emotional Responses to Anxiety

• Fear
• On Edge
• Panic
• Excessive Worrying
• Uneasiness
• Feelings of Doom Gloom

• Loss of Control
• Embarrassment
• Anger
• Depression
• Rejection
• Isolation

7
Other Symptoms

• Having difficulty reading and understanding the
  questions on the exam
• Having difficulty organizing your thoughts
• Doing poorly on an exam even though you know the
  material
• Going blank on questions
• Remembering the correct answers when the test is
  over
• Negative thinking such as "I am going to fail",
  "I am dumb" or "I should not even bother to take
  the exam because I will not pass it."  

8
General Test-Prep Tips

• Participate in every class
• Keep up with reading
• Ask your instructor questions when confused about
  certain material
• Avoid Cramming
• Consider forming a study group

9
Test -Taking SkillsAlways Read Directions
Carefully

• For essay exams
• 1. Look for key words such as compare,
  prove, and summarize, and form your answer
  accordingly.
• 2. Plan your time If you are given multiple
  essay questions divide your max time by the of
  questions
• 3. Pre-write to outline your answers
• 4. Proofread at the end

10
Test-Taking Skills 2

• For Multiple Choice Tests
• 1. Budget your time
• 2. Answer questions you know first
• 3. Skip questions you are unsure of and
  return later
• 4. Eliminate choices you know are wrong to
  increase probability of a right answer.
• 5. Finish the test-dont leave items blank

11
More Test-Taking Strategies

• Standardized Tests
• Purchase a guide/take a prep course
• Read each question carefully
• Eliminate choices you know are wrong on multiple
  choice portions
• Always make an educated guess (not random)

• Problem-Solving Tests
• -These include using formulas and making
  calculations
• Do several practice problems before the test
• Memorize Formulas
• Write down the formulas on your test as soon as
  you start

12
Relax, Dont Give Up

• Managing Your Stress
• Focus on your strengths and think positively
• Eat healthy, get 8 hours of sleep, and exercise
  regularly
• Practice relaxation techniques-use deep breathing
  before and during tests if tension starts to
  build
• Study to learn, not just to memorize-this way you
  can adapt to situations and will be less likely
  to freak out

13
Where to Find Help

• Center for Health and Counseling (Counseling
  Services) x6191
  Dearmont B1 Wing By
  appointment only
• Learning Enrichment Center x2273 or
  lecenter_at_semo.edu

14

• Any Questions?????