Stay Calm During a Test

You walk into the room and the scary examiner places that white sheet of paper in front of you and tells you that you've only got an hour and a half to do it... That can freak anyone out, but this is the guide to stay calm!

Steps

Preparation beforehand

  1. Make sure you're really prepared. Sometimes you'll feel ready for a test but realize, too late, that you're not as prepared as you thought. If this happens frequently, you may not be studying correctly or studying enough. Revise thoroughly, but make sure you do other things too. If you revise for too long you will become unfocused, so make sure you take regular breaks! Check out the related wikiHows for help.
  2. Get a good night's sleep the night before the test, and eat a healthy breakfast when you get up. Avoid cramming the night of the exam; if you're too tired come test time you won't remember what you "learned" the night before.
  3. Remember all your equipment such as an extra pencil, ruler, calculator, etc. unless they are provided.

Prior to the test

  1. Walk to class. A little brisk exercise will help you remain calm during any stressful situation. If your teacher will allow you to leave the room during the test, run up and down the hall or do some jumping jacks if you start feeling overwhelmed.
  2. Get to Class Early. If you get there early, you'll make sure to get your favorite seat. You'll also feel more relaxed if you don't get there just in time or, worse yet, late.

During the test

  1. Breathe. Before the test, inhale through your nose deeply and slowly. Then, hold the breath for 3-4 seconds and exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat this several times. If you experience a sudden panic during the test, perform this exercise again.
  2. Tell yourself it's just a test. Really, it is. No matter what happens, everything will be OK.  
  3. Handle your nerves. Make sure you are not too nervous during your exams - you might forget what you have revised and just panic. You have to stay positive. If you are thinking.."Oh, I am never going to succeed in my exams," you never will! However, if you believe that you can do it, you will find you can!
    • Find a way to occupy your feet. Gently tapping on the floor while taking the test can relax yourself because you're moving, and soon your feet will tire from that and you'll be relaxed.
    • Tighten then relax. Tighten your fists as hard as you can, then slowly release, letting the wave of relief flow over you. This relief is encouraging and it's resting.
  4. Read the questions carefully. Take in each word as slowly as you can, making sure your brain understands the meaning of it and what you're expected to do. Take deep breaths and play a soft song in your head, or words of encouragement. Start thinking very carefully about what's right and what's not. Then, as slowly as you can, decide on the answer or write out the answer once you're sure. Doing things slowly and carefully will be a better chance of getting the answer right, which relaxes you because you know that you have a higher chance.
  5. Skip questions if necessary. Don't spend too much time on any one question. If you get stuck, skip the question and move on. Don't get too stressed if you can't answer a question. Remember that your grade for the whole test doesn't rely on just one little question. Just skip it and come back to it later; you might find that you can answer it easily after all.
  6. Act as if you're the only person in the room. Don't panic if you notice other students writing very quickly or handing in their tests early. Mind the time, and try to work at a steady rate, but otherwise don't worry about speed. It is not a race.
  7. Take short breaks. Your teachers usually say, "Take Your time!" So why not? Answer about five questions, then take about a 5 minute breather. Don't count your time, just estimate it. Make sure you don't rest for too long. Lay down, rub your shoulders, or anything else that's appropriate.



Tips

  • Remember to do the best you can. If you studied hard and did everything you possibly could before the test, then you've done the best you can do.
  • Always think positive and before the test whisper to yourself "I can do it!"
  • Don't think about that the past and what you could've done. Rather, think about what you are doing during the test; focus.
  • When struggling to answer a specific question underline the key words or numbers to make it easier to understand.
  • It's natural to feel stressed out during a test; you're not alone!
  • Remember that tests are held to see what you know and not what you don't know. So study what you can and don't stress yourself.
  • If there is a question you don't know the answer to, guess. It is better to have a chance of being right than knowing you will get it wrong if you leave it blank.
  • Breathe, and remember... You are not alone... Just make sure you revise a few nights before the exam, because if you try to revise it all the night before, you won't remember anything.
  • Don't be afraid to make notes to help you. Jot down any sums or calculations that will help you. On some questions you get some points just for showing your work.
  • Don't panic, it won't help at all. Stay calm and have a few breaks every now and then. Then start again and succeed on.
  • Think good and positive and the same will happen. If your test goes bad. Let it go and remember that you have scope of doing better next time. Don't regret.
  • Just act according to your natural way of thinking, and studying. Don't be overcautious.
  • Just Breathe. This is the most important stress-buster. Take long deep breaths. Count to 4 while breathing in, and count to 4 while breathing out. Do this several times until you completely calm down.
  • Go with your gut instinct.
  • When you feel really pressured, think of something to make you smile or laugh. Don't think too much or you'll lose focus.
  • Don't study for very long periods of time without taking breaks in between. You need to take some breaks so that your brain can process the information.
  • Be sure to feel confident inside and just think that no matter what happens, for you at least, it's just a test.
  • Complete the test and try your hardest for your own benefit, not for anyone else's.
  • Always think positive. When you get the test, read the questions carefully and do whatever you remember. When you finish, check over your answers until the time is over. Don't hand the test in before you check it!
  • Consider skipping the morning coffee. Caffeine can help you become more alert, which can be a good thing when you're taking a test. It can also make you more agitated and nervous, though.
  • Always know that there will be another chance to do better. Concentrate and lay out your work so it shows you know what to do. That way you will get most of the marks even if the answer is wrong.
  • If the questions are worth varying amounts concentrate on high-value questions first. Of course, if you can't answer them, just remember that a bunch of easier, lower-value questions will add up.
  • Listen to your favorite song to get you into a frame of mind of which you feel like you will succeed! Ask the teacher permission before you use your listening device.
  • Ask a teacher if you can look at a past paper. If you read the instructions, you can usually find out the amount of time allowed, roughly the amount of questions and how hard the questions will be, and the rules of the exam. This will prepare you for when you do the actual exam. Sometimes they will not let you do this.
  • If you tell yourself you can do it, it is more likely to come true than if you tell yourself you can't do it. So don't be stressed during a test and take your time.
  • Stay positive. Tell yourself, "I can do this!"
  • Exams are not created for each pupil to achieve the highest grade possible.

Warnings

  • Struggling with an exam while others breeze through it may result in a desire to cheat. Cheating, particularly on state or college board tests, may result in a score of 0 and disciplinary actions including expulsion.
  • Severe anxiety is a medical condition and should be discussed with a doctor.

Things You'll Need

  • Healthy Breakfast
  • Sleep the evening before
  • Eraser
  • Calculator (If necessary)
  • Several Pencils
  • Ruler
  • Revision
  • Protractor (If needed)
  • Pencil Sharpener

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