Stress Management on Test Day
There are several ways you can bring down your level of test anxiety on test day. They’ll work best if you practice them in the weeks before the test, so you know which ones work best for you.
Deep breathing. Take a deep breath while you count to five. Hold it for a count of one, then let it out on a count of five. Repeat several times.
Move your body. Try rolling your head in a circle. Rotate your shoulders. Shake your hands from the wrist. Many people find these movements very relaxing.
Visualize again. Think of the place where you are most relaxed: such as lying on the beach in the sun or, walking through the park. Now close your eyes and imagine you’re actually there. If you practice in advance, you’ll find that you only need a few seconds of this exercise to experience a significant increase in your sense of well-being.
When anxiety threatens to overwhelm you right there during the exam, there are still things you can do to manage the stress level:
Repeat your self-confidence messages. You should have them memorized by now. Say them quietly to yourself, and believe them!
Visualize one more time. This time, visualize yourself moving smoothly and quickly through the test answering every question right and finishing just before time is up. Like most visualization techniques, this one works best if you’ve practiced it ahead of time.