LET’S GET RID OF THE TEST ANXIETY!

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

You are preparing yourself for a test that will kick start your career in the Health Care Field. You have attended class and completed all your required clinical rotations. Now, it’s time to prepare for the NR test. We want to help you any way we can to bring down your anxiety and help you pass the NR test. Below are some helpful tips to help you remember and train yourself to get rid of the anxiety. One of the first steps is to acknowledge you have test anxiety. Now, it’s time to practice how to overcome the anxiety and take total control of test taking. We all experience some level of anxiety during stressful situations. It’s up to you on how to control the anxiety.

How to reduce anxiety before your major test:

Give yourself enough time to go over all the material that you have learned. It’s better to over prepare, than not to be prepared at all!

1. Mark your calendar, smart phone calendar, whatever it takes to remind yourself to study each section of the material daily. Don’t cram the material days before the test it will only ignite the anxiety.

2. Try your best to reframe from asking other students about the test and how they did on their test. Everyone takes tests differently and you do not want to hear any negative or stressful keywords to bring your anxiety level to a max. Stay calm and believe in yourself, you can do it!

3. This is very important. Get a sleep pattern down weeks before the test. Go to bed early at the same time every night leading up to the test. This pattern creates consistency. Stay away from the social activities for a while. You will have plenty of time to celebrate after you have passed your test. Work Strong!

4. Before your test get something in your stomach. We would recommend on eating a healthy meal (protein, fruits, vegetables) stay away from sugar. This will help keep you calm and concentrated on the test instead of your stomach.

5. It is up to you how you want to study. You have to recognize your best strategy of studying and this needs to be figured out weeks before the NR test. If you study best with a group then form a study group. If you do better studying by yourself then get in your zone. Find the best strategies for the best outcome.

Test Time

1. It is ok to be nervous,we are all human. Feeling nervous is a good thing it will keep you alert, just control it and do not let it overcome you.

2. As they are preparing your test station, this is a great opportunity to speak to yourself. Positive and encouraging words will help boost your confidence just before taking the exam.

3. Get yourself comfortable. Adjust you chair, mouse, computer screen, and what ever else you need to do to make yourself comfortable. This is your test and your time!

4. Read all the instructions on the test. Don’t skim by, you just might miss something simple that could be detrimental to the test.

5. Be careful with your time on each question. Answer the question to the best of your knowledge and move on. Wasting too much time on one question can spark anxiety. You do not want one question to effect you on your up coming questions. Believe in yourself, choose the best answer!

6. Don’t look at this test as a competition while taking the test, this will disrupt your test flow. Stay confident, stay clear, and don’t worry about how others have or will do on the test. Passing is passing… period!

Aftermath

1. You finished your test and now you can take a deep breath and relax!

2. Be proud of all the work you have accomplished up to this point.

3. Now, it’s time to wait for the test results. It is out of your hands at this point. Don’t jump to conclusions about passing or failing this will only create anxiety and negative talk. Wait for the results!

4. Take notes about the test and the questions immediately after the test. This is a great way to use for future guidance. Go back to your references to answer any questions you feel that you might of had issues with during the test.

Have you done any other helpful practices to bring down your test anxiety? We would love to hear from you! Contact us and help us share your creative practices to help other students.