SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Office of Retention and Student Success

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Testing Tip

• Reducing Test Anxiety

Test Center Rules

A little anxiety about a test is a good thing.  It's energizing and makes us focus.  But having a lot of anxiety can be paralyzing.  The graph below indicates the very predictable relationship between level of anxiety and recall of information on a test. 

The graph illustrates that having very little or no anxiety usually results in very poor test performance, probably because we are indifferent and careless.  As nervousness about the test increases, performance also improves--up to a point.  But having more anxiety than a moderate amount negatively affects test performance.  That is, as anxiety continues to go up, performance declines.  

How can we keep enough anxiety to give us energy, but not so much that we can't focus?

PLAN

• Plan what you will need to study.
• Plan when you will study.
• Plan to study the material over several days.

STUDY

• Study in a well lit area at the same time each day.
• Study in an area free from distraction.
• Study extra sources if possible to enhance your understanding

DON'T

• Don't over- study. Take a break from studying, watch a movie, take a walk, etc.
• Don't study up to the last minute. You will stress yourself and confuse yourself if you try to cram a lot of information into a small amount of time.
• Don't wait until the day before the test to ask for help from your instructor or tutor. If you are confused about a concept, ask for help right away.
• Don't rush through the test. You may skip a step or skip a question.

DO

• Do get enough sleep.
• Eat a starch, a fruit, and not too much sugar before an exam, according to nutritionists.
• Do get to the test site early.
• Do bring extra pencils or pens.

Do have a backup calculator or backup batteries.