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PAC Tip: Test-Taking and Exam Anxiety

Our Peer Academic Consultants can help with a variety of skills, including test-taking and exam anxiety. Here are some useful tips on how to approach test-taking and minimize anxiety along the way.

What makes someone a “good test-taker”?

A “good test taker” is someone who does well on tests despite being as or less prepared than other people who may not do as well on the test.

What are some ways you can become a better test-taker?

  • Like most things, test-taking is something that you can become better at with practice
  • There’s a reason that there are practice tests for most standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, and MCAT
  • If your professor provides practice exams, take them!
  • If your professor does not provide practice exams, consider asking them if they have any old exams you can use for practice

If you don’t consider yourself a good test taker, what strategies can you employ to help?

  • Prepare for your test
  • Make a study guide for yourself and study a little bit every day rather than all at once
  • Make a timeline for your studying and stick to it
  • Focus on yourself! Don’t compare yourself to others

What are some ways to deal with exam anxiety?

  • Sometimes no matter how much you study, you may still feel unprepared. Here are some ways to help with that:
  • Rationalize that given the amount of time you studied, you should do well on the exam
  • Try meditation or even just taking deep breaths to regulate your nervous system
  • If you know you are eligible for accommodations, make sure that your professor knows about them and gives them to you

What are some other factors that affect how well you do on tests?

  • Sleep
  • Nutrition and diet
  • Exercise
  • Mental wellbeing

Need more help?

Check out the Peer Academic Consultants website for more information on test-taking and other academic skills. Our Peer Academic Consultants (PAC) are also available for individual consultations during which we can discuss your academic skills and personalize these strategies to be most effective for you! If you would like to sign up for a one-on-one consultation with a PAC, we invite you to do so online by logging into WCOnline.

References

“10 Ways to Manage and Overcome Test Anxiety.” Health & Wellness Services, University of Colorado Boulder, 26 Apr. 2024. 

“10 Ways to Overcome Test Anxiety.” The Princeton Review. 

Meagher, Philip. “Strategies for Dealing with Exam Anxiety: From Panic to Power.” Learnsignal, 16 July 2024. 

“Overcoming Test Anxiety.” Overcoming Test Anxiety | Office of Academic Support & Counseling | Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Montefiore Einstein. 

“Test Anxiety.” Academic Resource Center, Harvard University.