A friend of yours is experiencing test anxiety, and she thinks that she just needs to "calm down.". Explain why "just calming down" will not solve her problem, and then give her some helpful suggestions for coping with test anxiety
What will be an ideal response?
Answer will include that just "calming down" will not completely alleviate test anxiety, since it is a combination of heightened physiological arousal and excessive worry. Studies show that students are typically most anxious when they do not know the material. Calming down simply means you will remain calm while failing. Some suggestions for coping with test anxiety include the following: (1) Preparation. Hard work is the most direct antidote for test anxiety. Many test-anxious students simply study too little, too late. That's why improving your study skills is a good way to reduce test anxiety. The best solution is to overprepare by studying long before the "big day.". Well-prepared students score higher, worry less, and are less likely to panic. (2) Relaxation and emotional support. Learning to relax can lower test anxiety to a degree. Emotional support also helps. If you are test anxious, discuss the problem with your professors or study for tests with a supportive classmate. (3) Rehearsal. To reduce nervousness, rehearse how you will cope with upsetting events. Before taking a test, imagine yourself going blank, running out of time, or feeling panicked. Then calmly plan how you will handle each situation, such as by keeping your attention on the task, by focusing on one question at a time, and so forth. (4) Restructuring thoughts. another helpful strategy involves listing the upsetting thoughts you have during exams; then you can learn to combat these worries with calming, rational replies. These are called coping statements. Students who cope well with exams usually try to do the best they can, even under trying circumstances. Becoming a more confident test taker can actually increase your scores, because it helps you remain calm.
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