You’re prepared and ready to take the GED. Maybe that’s why you’re surprised to experience anxiety. You’ve studied and you’re ready for this! Why so nervous? The good news is that you can learn how to overcome test anxiety. It won’t take nearly as long as it took to prepare for the GED test, and you did that. So let’s get started.
What Is Test Anxiety?
Many students feel a little nervous before taking tests. According to KidsHealth.org, that nervousness is your body’s way of telling you something important is coming up. It helps you to better prepare.
Anxiety is different. It takes nervousness to a new level and involves intense fright or worry. That pressure can make test-taking extremely difficult.
Symptoms
Emotional, mental, and physical symptoms of test anxiety can include:
- Faster heartbeat than normal
- Profuse sweating
- Rage
- Feeling unable to help yourself
- Negativity
- Insecurity
- Embarrassment
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Not staying focused
- Disappointment in yourself
- Constant thirst
- Nervousness
- Clenching muscles
What Causes Test Anxiety?
Staying calm during exams is easier if we understand the causes of anxiety. When you feel enormous pressure to perform or an extremely important event is coming up, that accumulation of stress combines to form anxiety. Here are some circumstances that might further explain the causes.
You’re Afraid You Won’t Do Well
This feeling can motivate you to study well and prepare ahead of time. It can also make you feel insecure.
You Don’t Feel Ready
This can be especially hard if you’ve procrastinated and put off studying. Other times students exhaust themselves by over-preparing and still feel like it’s not enough.
There Is a Lot Riding on the Test
If you need a certain score for employment or to get into a particular school, you’ll feel an overwhelming sense of pressure that could lead to test anxiety.
5 Tips to Overcome Test Anxiety
Now that you understand why you may be feeling anxious, use these tips for what to do when you’re nervous for a test.
1. Put in the time
Start studying early and take advantage of GED practice tests. This is vital if you want to learn how to calm down during an exam. Study essential test-taking strategies that will help you with the GED and any challenges down the road. Taking the time to do this will help you feel less anxious on test day.
2. Sleep well
Leading up to, and including, the night before the exam, get between 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep. You might feel nervous when trying to sleep the night before. That’s why you want to build up good sleep in the week prior.
3. Arrive early
Feeling rushed, fighting traffic, and arriving late just add to anxiety. Get up earlier than normal and make arrangements so you can easily arrive at least a half-hour before the exam begins.
4. Avoid distractions
Leave your phone in the car and find a seat in the front of the classroom or testing center. This will help you focus and concentrate on one thing, passing the test.
5. Start with what you know
One of the best test-taking strategies is to quickly skim the test when you begin. Start answering questions you know, rather than from the beginning. Skip over hard questions as you go. Then, when you’re done, go back and tackle anything that stumped you.
Help Reduce Test Anxiety with Proper Preparation
You can learn how to overcome test anxiety and get your GED. Stay positive and remind yourself you can do this. Remember that proper preparation will do wonders toward helping you feel better about the experience. Get your study materials and get started today.
