RESTRICTED ITEMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
CELL PHONES
MECHANICAL PENCILS
COATS, JACKETS and HOODIES
MEDIA PLAYERS and OTHER ELECTRONICS
WATCHES and FITBITS
HATS and HEAD COVERINGS
BAGS and BACKPACKS
YOU CAN DO IT! Preparation is KEY.
Here at Ivy Tech, we are committed to helping you have the very best testing experience possible. Have your ID, be prepared and have a great test!
What is Test Anxiety?
While it’s completely normal to feel a bit nervous before a test, some students find test anxiety debilitating. Racing thoughts, inability to concentrate, or feelings of dread can combine with physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat, headache, or nausea. Whether it’s a proctored test for an online course, a job-related certification, or any other test, test anxiety has the power to derail weeks and months of hard work.
Test Anxiety Tips
According to the ADAA , causes of test anxiety may include a fear of failure, lack of adequate prep time, or bad experiences taking tests in the past. You're not alone! Here's what you can do to stay calm in the days leading up to and during your test.
1. Be prepared.
Yes, this seems obvious, but it bears repeating. If you feel confident that you’ve prepped thoroughly, you’ll feel more confident walking into the test.
2. Get a good night’s sleep.
Cramming is never the answer and pulling an all-night study session can exacerbate your nerves. Having adequate rest (9–10 hours per night) is likely to be more beneficial than rereading a text until dawn.
3. Fuel up.
Eat a nutritious breakfast before the test and pack smart snacks for ongoing energy. Look for foods that offer a steady stream of nutrients, rather than a sugar high followed by a crash.
4. Log on early.
Feeling rushed will only amp up the anxiety. Have your computer up and running early enough to give you time to make sure everything is working correctly before launching your test.
5. Have a positive mental attitude.
Have a picture of your happy place nearby or come up with a morale-boosting mantra like “I can do this” or “I worked hard and deserve this.” Peek at your picture or recite your mantra, right before the test begins.
6. Read carefully.
Read the directions thoroughly and read all answers before making a choice or starting the essay. There is nothing worse than putting time into a question and realizing you are not solving for x, or the essay is off target. Slowing down can help you stay focused.
7. Just start.
The blank page can maximize your anxiety. After you’ve read the directions, dive right in by making an outline for an essay answer. Or, find some questions you can ace to build up your confidence and momentum. You can always go back and change things later if needed, but a few quick answers can get the ball rolling.
8. Watch the clock .
Realizing that time is almost up and there are lots of test questions left can make it hard to do anything useful in those final minutes. Stay paced by scoping out the whole test before getting started. Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each section. If there’s time to recheck, even better.
9. Focus on calm breathing and positive thoughts .
Deep breathing can slow down a beating heart or a racing mind, so practice these techniques regularly. The very act of concentrating on breathing and thinking can biometrically alter those anxious feelings.
Sometimes just remembering that some test-taking anxiety is a normal part of school can help make it easier to handle.
Note: these steps have been adapted from The Princeton Review’s “10 Ways to Overcome Test Anxiety”: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/test-anxiety
VISIT THIS LINK FOR MORE TIPS!
https://success.oregonstate.edu/learning/improve-performance