Test Anxiety
04-15-2004, 10:22 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Fayetteville, Georgia
Posts: 2,483
I really don't know what to do, and it's killing me.
I hope that some of you students or former students have some sort of idea what's going on, because I need a solution.
Last night I helped people prepare for a Calc II test. This morning when I got the test, it's like I was so nervous my mind went blank. I KNEW the answer to all but one part of a question, but I know I didn't perform near that.
This is not some excuse for my laziness or lack of ability. I truly believe I could have gotten an A on that exam if I wasn't so damn nervous/anxious/I don't know...I don't know how to fix this at all. I know some people say "get tough" for the test or something, but my confidence level seems to have no effect on my performance.
I was 100% confident going in to the class room.
Someone please tell me what the **** is wrong with me.
I hope that some of you students or former students have some sort of idea what's going on, because I need a solution.
Last night I helped people prepare for a Calc II test. This morning when I got the test, it's like I was so nervous my mind went blank. I KNEW the answer to all but one part of a question, but I know I didn't perform near that.
This is not some excuse for my laziness or lack of ability. I truly believe I could have gotten an A on that exam if I wasn't so damn nervous/anxious/I don't know...I don't know how to fix this at all. I know some people say "get tough" for the test or something, but my confidence level seems to have no effect on my performance.
I was 100% confident going in to the class room.
Someone please tell me what the **** is wrong with me.
04-15-2004, 11:37 AM
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ames, IA
Posts: 4,773
Most times I blank out on a test it's because I crammed, because something is really bothering me (personal life), because I didn't get enough sleep, or due to outside distractions like noise or a really hot classroom. If it happens all of the time, then you should look into alternate testing options, if your professors offer that.
04-15-2004, 11:59 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Fayetteville, Georgia
Posts: 2,483
Originally Posted by UniqueTII' date='Apr 15 2004, 12:37 PM
Most times I blank out on a test it's because I crammed, because something is really bothering me (personal life), because I didn't get enough sleep, or due to outside distractions like noise or a really hot classroom. If it happens all of the time, then you should look into alternate testing options, if your professors offer that.
04-15-2004, 12:07 PM
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: calgary
Posts: 28
man, this happens to me all the time. Last semester, on tests I should have done good on, I did quite bad on. I think for me it's the pressure. Under pressure I seem to do worse. Climbing competitions always seemed to bring out the worst in my climbing.
Then again, it may be sleep and anxiety. I didn't sleep much last night and I have an exam in 3 hours.
Then again, it may be sleep and anxiety. I didn't sleep much last night and I have an exam in 3 hours.
04-15-2004, 03:20 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,547
I never had any problems with any of that stuff. My math test taking formula:
Study 2 hours every day for 7 days prior to the test, review formulas and write them out on paper on last day.
Shot of Vodka or Cognac before a good 8 hours of sleep prior to getting into class.
Listen to really fast rap (Twista) to get me pumped, I lip sing along too to a powerfull song like Twista's, Kill Us All all the way to school.
That's it, no anxiety, no nervousness, nothing.
When I get into class, I'm as cold as ice, I don't talk or conversate, I nod if people ask me questions.
LOL, this **** works so well for me that bombs could be going off around and I'd still be calm and collected. Just relax dude, you can make it.
Study 2 hours every day for 7 days prior to the test, review formulas and write them out on paper on last day.
Shot of Vodka or Cognac before a good 8 hours of sleep prior to getting into class.
Listen to really fast rap (Twista) to get me pumped, I lip sing along too to a powerfull song like Twista's, Kill Us All all the way to school.
That's it, no anxiety, no nervousness, nothing.
When I get into class, I'm as cold as ice, I don't talk or conversate, I nod if people ask me questions.
LOL, this **** works so well for me that bombs could be going off around and I'd still be calm and collected. Just relax dude, you can make it.
04-15-2004, 03:27 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 3,346
Did you pass? Then don't sweat it.
A stressfull test is like I had Tuesday. Had a flight stage check with some ******* who was drilling me with questions while I was trying to fly a plane in varoius manuevers, talk to ATC at the 39th bussiest airport in the US, and make other calculations while flying to check points and off the wall diversions he threw at me. Felt like I lost 10lbs after 1.4 hours of that ****.
A stressfull test is like I had Tuesday. Had a flight stage check with some ******* who was drilling me with questions while I was trying to fly a plane in varoius manuevers, talk to ATC at the 39th bussiest airport in the US, and make other calculations while flying to check points and off the wall diversions he threw at me. Felt like I lost 10lbs after 1.4 hours of that ****.
04-15-2004, 03:37 PM
#10
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Close enough to annoy you.
Posts: 1,381
Check with the school, most of them have programs for people that suffer from honest to god test anxeity.
Otherwise with math I'm likely to blank out if I push to hard. Scan the test, hit the problems you KNOW the answers to then hit everything else.
Fortunately my trig teacher allows notes on his tests so they're fairly easy all said if you have any math skill at all. There are those in the class who should give up and take up interpretive dance....no wait that's a scary thought.
Otherwise work problems until you can do them without thought. Seriously, it may take doing a full worksheet of problems 2x per day but just do it. After awhile it's not so much a chore.
Otherwise with math I'm likely to blank out if I push to hard. Scan the test, hit the problems you KNOW the answers to then hit everything else.
Fortunately my trig teacher allows notes on his tests so they're fairly easy all said if you have any math skill at all. There are those in the class who should give up and take up interpretive dance....no wait that's a scary thought.
Otherwise work problems until you can do them without thought. Seriously, it may take doing a full worksheet of problems 2x per day but just do it. After awhile it's not so much a chore.