Your Student Life: Managing Test Anxiety (Grad/Prof)

April 16, 2024

Most undergraduates experience at least a little bit of pre-finals nerves, and that feeling doesn’t necessarily go away now that you are in a graduate or professional program. A mild amount of anxiety can be adaptive by motivating us to prepare and stay focused. However, some experience so much anxiety before an exam or any other kind of test that it can impair performance and cause a lot of distress.

How do you know if you experience test anxiety? Some often report physical signs including fast heart rate, changes in breathing, feeling restless or jittery, sweatiness and upset stomach. They may have trouble sleeping the night before or eating breakfast that morning.

Some may also notice signs of anxiety in the way they’re thinking; they may have catastrophic and often unrealistic thoughts like “There’s no way I can pass this,” “I’m not cut out for this major” or “If I don’t do well, it’ll ruin my whole future.” Those same feelings of anxiety can persist long after graduation and be applicable to “life tests” as well.

If this sounds relatable, it may be time to work on reducing your test anxiety.

To learn about skills for managing test anxiety, schedule a Let’s Talk to chat with a counselor or attend the ACT for Anxiety Drop-In Workshop. For study strategies, the Dennis Learning Center offers an extensive resource page as well as individual coaching sessions.

 

Counseling and Consultation Service
Office of Student Life