LIFE

There's no argument here—test anxiety is absolutely the worst. It's a little different for everyone who encounters it, as it's caused by three things: fear of failure, lack of preparation and poor test history. The intensity and symptoms can vary, too. But, there are several things you can do to combat your anxiety. Keep these in mind the next time you take a test. 

Acknowledge the fact that you have test anxiety. The first step in fixing this issue is confirming its existence. Once you realize you have test anxiety, you can do something about it.

Talk to your teacher. Trust: you are *not* the first student to have test anxiety. Your teacher has likely taught kids with it in the past, and maybe has a few tricks up his or her sleeve that have helped other students. Even if they come up short on advice, it's good for them to know what's going on! Plus, they can direct you to the school counselor who can provide more help.

Distract yourself right before the test. If the nerves kick in right before you sit down to take an exam, try distracting yourself. Play with a fidget spinner, get your bestie to talk about the latest episode of The Fosters or look for patterns in the ceiling tiles. Get your mind off of it for a few minutes, because there's no sense in stressing yourself out now!

Write down some notes. Once you get the test, write down any key facts, formulas or vocab words that you're worried you might forget later on. That way, whether you actually forget them or not, they're right there!

Remind yourself that you did your best, and it's only a test. You're smart, and one test does *not* define how successful you are or say anything who you are as a person. As long as you did your best, that's all that matters.

How do you overcome test anxiety? Share with us in the comments.

by Aly Prouty | 10/4/2017