The Anxiety Antidote: Tips for High Schoolers Facing Test Anxiety
Finals are coming up, and you may have noticed a fog of tension fall over your local high school. As time marches onward (and events grow increasingly more “unprecedented”) there has been a marked uptick in test anxiety and general anxiety among high school students. For many, test anxiety can be a significant hurdle to overcome. However, with the right strategies, students can learn to manage their anxiety and perform at their best. Here are some tips to help high school students manage test anxiety and breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the year.
1. Use Positive Visualization
Visualize yourself succeeding on the test. Imagine yourself feeling calm, confident, and focused as you answer each question with ease. This can help boost your confidence and reduce anxiety.
2. Take Diagnostics and Pump Up Your Skills
Taking practice tests can help turn anxiety into action. Use diagnostic tests to identify areas where you need improvement, and then focus your studying on those areas. This can help you feel more confident and prepared on test day.
Resources We Love:
Sometimes it isn’t a matter of not knowing the information on the test; it’s developing skills for studying and test taking. If you need extra help here, we’ve got you covered.
3. Practice Breathing Techniques
Deep breathing can help calm your mind and reduce anxiety. Before the test, take a few minutes to practice deep breathing exercises. Inhale slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat this several times to help relax your body and mind.
4. Be Prepared
One of the most effective ways to combat test anxiety is to be well-prepared. This means studying regularly throughout the semester, rather than cramming at the last minute. We know that it’s tempting to sort of let it all go during the last months of school, but paradoxically, structure does far more to help with anxiety than laxity does. Create a study schedule and stick to it, focusing on one subject at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Resources We Love:
Varsity Tutors has a wide array of test prep options available to help give extra support. Check out our test prep classes and find what works best for your student.
5. Get Plenty of Rest and Eat Well
Yes, the last couple of months of school are the days of caffeine, pizza parties and staying up late, but fighting anxiety (the test variety or otherwise) is most effective with good rest and nutrition. Make sure to get a good night's sleep before the test and eat a healthy breakfast. A well-rested body and mind can help you think more clearly and perform better on the test.
6. Stay Positive
It’s easy to catastrophize, but instead of focusing on the possibility of failure, focus on your strengths and the progress you've made in your studies. Remind yourself that you are prepared and capable of doing well. Also, remind yourself that though it may seem like a bad grade will ruin your life, it won’t. You are strong, smart and creative, and even if the worst happens, you’ve got this!
7. Seek Support
If you're feeling overwhelmed by test anxiety, don't hesitate to seek support from a teacher, counselor, or parent. They can provide guidance and support to help you manage your anxiety and perform at your best. You may even be able to get resources to help you manage your test anxiety, like taking your test in a quiet room by yourself, having sensory devices like noise canceling headphones, or even testing in a room where you’re not bathed in cold fluorescent light. You’d be surprised what options are available to you if you simply ask for them.
Test anxiety may hang like a cloud over the hallways now, but with these tips, you can feel more prepared to tackle it when it comes time for final exams.
