Reduce Anxiety

Don't "cram" - The best way to reduce anxiety is to prepare for an exam well in advance.  Keep up with reading assignments and homework throughout the course.  Cramming is probably better than not studying at all, but advance preparation is best.

Be Punctual - Don't show up for an exam early or late.  If you go early, you 'catch' other peoples anxiety.  If you arrive late, you start out under pressure.

Be Prepared - Bring the materials you will need such as pencils, pens, calculator, etc.

Don't Review - Do not go over your test material immediately before an exam.  You can always find something you don't know no matter how well you prepare, and it creates too much anxiety.

Eat - Skipping meals before an exam makes one more anxious.  Exam time is not time for a starvation diet.

During an Exam

Read the Instructions - Read the instructions (at least twice) carefully.  Sometimes you think you know exactly what is wanted, but make sure it is what is wanted.

Read each question carefully - Look for absolute words like "always" and "never." 

Be careful about changing your first answer - Your first choices are most likely correct.

Build your self confidence - Scan the whole exam and pick out the questions you know.  Answer these first even if they are only worth a couple of points.  Then answer those with the highest point value. 

Review your test  - Resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the items.  Make sure you have answered all the questions.  Proofread for spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Check math answers for careless mistakes (misplaced decimals, etc.). 

DON'T JUDGE HOW YOU ARE DOING BY WHEN OTHERS FINISH! - Some people are fast test takers and others are not.  How quick you finish has nothing to do with how well you know the material. 

After the Exam

Identify your strengths and weaknesses - Figure out what you did well and what you did not do well during the exam.  Look for strengths and weaknesses that you can use to prepare for the next exam.

Analyze - Try to identify reasons why you preformed as you did on the exam.  Be careful not to draw false conclusions.  Remember we all have the potential to do just about anything we want.  We succeed or fail on the basis of whether we worked with ourselves or against ourselves.