For instance, banish thoughts like “There are so many questions on this test. I’m so unprepared and there’s no way I’ll make it through all of them. ” When you feel a thought like that coming on, replace it with a positive one like “I know there are a lot of questions here, but if I take them one-by-one, I know I can make it through. ” Even a simple “I can do it!” can make a big difference.
If you feel the need to take your eyes off the test for a moment, just close them and breathe deeply a few times.
Poking a little fun at yourself may help you get the nervousness out of the way so you can concentrate on the test.
Some people also find it helpful to visualize test-taking itself. For instance if you feel overwhelmed by the amount of questions you have, imagine that the test is a thick jungle, and you are cutting your way through it, question by question.
Keep your feet grounded on the floor. Relax your arms and hands. Sit a bit back in your chair rather than hunching over the desk or table.
Close your eyes. Take a slow, deep breath, inhaling through your nose. Exhale slowly through your mouth, and repeat. Open your eyes and get back to the test, recharged!
Notice the way your pencil or pen feels in your hand. Is it smooth? Rough? How does it balance in your hand? Think about your posture. How does the chair feel against your back? What are your legs doing? Your arms? Consider the sounds around you. What do you hear in the room? Outside of it?
It’s also worth taking a moment to examine the test sections, if there are multiple parts.
