[Christina86]

(Not mine, but I found it and thought it might be useful for others... if you've got other tips to deal with exam anxiety, please post!!)

Exam Anxiety

Strategies for Reducing Exam Anxiety
Stress is universal. Everyone experiences it, to some degree. Although you can't always avoid stressful situations, you can take steps to control your stress and anxiety in such situations. Here are some strategies to help reduce exam anxiety.


BEFORE THE EXAM: Prepare

• Learn and review as you go. Don't leave all your studying til the last minute.
• Know when you know. Test yourself often on course material. Don't just read and recognize!
• Find out how you will be tested and prepare by answering that kind of question: solve problems, explain/compare theories, apply theories to situations, etc. Practise without notes or your textbook and with a time limit, just like on the exam
• Set realistic and achievable goals. don't be a perfectionist who tries to learn everything. and don't tell yourself that you have to "ace" every exam.
• Eat and sleep well before an exam.
  

DURING THE EXAM: Be positive and strategic

• Think positive thoughts at the beginning and throughout the exam. Tell yourself that you are prepared, you can do it, you deserve to succeed, you'll get at least part marks on hard-to-do questions, etc.
• Remember that your future does not depend on the specific outcome of a specific exam.
• View exams as an opportunity to show what you know.
• Use effective test-taking strategies
  

LEARN AND USE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES

• Learn to relax your body by using deep breathing and muscle relaxation.
• Prior to an exam, visualize yourself relaxing and coping successfully during the exam.
• Visualize stress-provoking situations and rehearse mentally how you will handle them and control stress.

[Christina86]

Step1
Plan well in advance for exam week. Don't leave all your studying to the last moment and make sure you arrange enough time to fully prepare for each test.

Step2
Schedule your study time, blocking out hours specifically for each course. Also add blocks of time for eating, sleeping and relaxing. Focus on yourself as much as your classes.

Step3
Relax a little every now and then. Take regular breaks, so you don't burn out. If anxiety starts building, take a few deep breaths and try to calm yourself.

Step4
Change your attitude and approach each exam with confidence. If you are scared of taking tests, try to use relaxation or visualization techniques to keep you focused.

Step5
Sleep well the night before your exams. You want to be well rested, so you can concentrate on each question. You should also eat a well-balanced meal before the test.

Step6
Arrive early for the actual test, so you have time to deal with any unexpected problems, like location changes and long hikes to the bathroom. You'll also have time to relax before the exam starts.

Step7
Skip questions during the test that are causing you undue stress. Move to the next question and try to come back to the ones you skipped after you've finished the test. You don't want to get stuck on one answer. Calm yourself and focus on the material you know.

Step8
Indulge yourself a little between tests. Have a snack, take a nap or simply relax a little. Do not focus on problems with the exams you've already taken. However, you should review how you tried to deal with your anxiety and improve your methods in the future.

[Christina86]

How *I* deal with exam anxiety!

(Man, am I always anxious into an exam... I think sometimes my body thrives on it. Or else it's the result of being a chronic procrastinator when it comes to studying and schoolwork...)

Anyways.

- Go into exam. Breathe.
- Read over the entire exam before beginning. Breathe.
- Answer the questions you know the best FIRST. Cover the other ones if you can so you don't freak out. If you're like me, you'll also do poorly on multiple choice exams ... what I was told to do is to cover the options for the questions with a paper (or your ID card) and think about the possible answer BEFORE looking at the possible choices!!
- Breathe. Take a washroom break if you need it, a stretch of the legs is good for you... keeps your mind from freaking out.
- Come back, do some of the harder questions. Do not spend all your time agonizing over one question. Move onto another one. Rate the hardest questions in order of "point value". How much they're worth overall on the exam/test. If they're worth more, try to at least attempt the question. You can get part marks for jot notes for an essay question!
- Stay as long as you need to. If you're freaking out badly, and you don't think you'll get any more questions and you're the first person to leave - don't sweat it.

After all:

A test (or exam) is JUST a tiny measure of the material you've retained. It doesn't measure how smart you are, or how well you do academically in other courses or at other times. Take it from me, as a person who HAS failed university courses - yes, it sucks having the money go down the drain. But at the end of the day, most people do poorly in at least a couple of classes - some people barely squeak by. Just try your best, and that's sometimes all we can do. Your self worth is NOT determined by a test grade. At all, even if other people say/think otherwise.