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You are an active listener in the class. You are always regular with your homework. You are thoroughly prepared for the tests ahead. But then, just one night before the exam there is a black out, you feel very nervous. You cannot answer the questions you were able to last night. This is test anxiety. Test anxiety is actually a type of performance anxiety - a feeling someone might have in a situation where performance really count. Test anxiety is an uneasiness or apprehension experienced before, during, or after an examination because of concern, worry, or fear. Almost everyone experiences some anxiety. But some students find that anxiety interferes with their learning and test taking to such an extent that their grades are affected.
What does test anxiety feel like?
Test anxiety is not the same as doing poorly on a certain test because your mind is on something else. Most people know that having other things on their minds - such as a breakup or the death of someone close - can also interfere with their concentration and prevent them from doing their best on a test.
One students experience mainly physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, faintness, feeling too hot or too cold, etc.
Others experience more emotional symptoms, such as crying easily, feeling irritable, or getting frustrated quickly.
The major problem of test anxiety is usually its effect on thinking ability; it can cause you to blank out or have racing thoughts that are difficult to control.
Although many students feel some level of anxiety when writing exams, most can cope with that anxiety and bring it down to a manageable level.
What Causes It?
All anxiety is a reaction to anticipating something stressful. Like other anxiety reactions, test anxiety affects the body and the mind. When you're under stress, your body releases the hormone adrenaline, which prepares it for danger (you may hear this referred to as the "fight or flight" reaction). That's what causes the physical symptoms, such as sweating, a pounding heart, and rapid breathing. These sensations might be mild or intense.
Who's Likely to Have Test Anxiety?
People who worry a lot or who are perfectionists are more likely to have trouble with test anxiety. People with these traits sometimes find it hard to accept mistakes they might make or to get anything less than a perfect score. In this way, even without meaning to, they might really pressure themselves. Test anxiety is bound to thrive in a situation like this.
What can be done?
Fortunately, there is a great deal that you can do to keep the anxiety from interfering with your performance. First, it's important to know that you don't have to eliminate it entirely. It helps to be "up" for exams. You just want to reduce the anxiety to a manageable level.