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Test Anxiety

General information about Test anxiety and tips for dealing with it.

Tips for During the Test

During the test make sure you make use of any rituals you may have done while studying and continue with the positive self talk you have been practicing! Some examples of positive self talk for during the test are:

  • I studied hard.
  • I am smart.
  • My best is enough.

Take A Deep Breath

We've all been breathing our whole lives, but most of us don't learn to take advantage of using our breath to help us. We've all been told to breathe deeply to help calm down, but for truly effective relaxation there are specific techniques that can help. Any breathing pattern where you exhale for longer than you inhale helps the body relax, but one of the best techniques is called 4-7-8 breathing. Here's how to do it: Breathe in through your nose to the count of 4. Try to breathe into your belly and imagine it filling up like a balloon. Hold your breath to the count of 7. Exhale slowly through your mouth to the count of 8. Your breath should feel cool on your hand and your lips should barely be open to keep the exhale controlled and slow enough to make the full count. Repeat several times as needed. This style of breathing helps to activate the calming systems in our body which makes it perfect to use before and during the test!

We've all been breathing our whole lives, but most of us don't learn to take advantage of using our breath to help us. We've all been told to breathe deeply to help calm down, but for truly effective relaxation there are specific techniques that can help. Any breathing pattern where you exhale for longer than you inhale helps the body relax, but one of the best techniques is called 4-7-8 breathing. Here's how to do it