Test-taking anxiety is a common issue that can affect anyone, from students to professionals. It can cause a variety of physical and emotional symptoms, such as nervousness, sweating, difficulty concentrating, and even panic attacks. I provide test-taking anxiety treatment both virtually and in person for people of all ages. This post provides an overview of anxiety and test-taking and then gives some test-taking anxiety strategies you can try. If you would like more intensive and extensive help, please do not hesitate to contact me or schedule a consultation anytime.
Test-Taking Anxiety Treatment 
Here are some effective treatments and strategies to manage and reduce test-taking anxiety:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Description: CBT is a therapy that helps you identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs and replace them with more positive, realistic ones. It is the cornerstone clinical approach I use for this challenge in my practice.
- Benefits: This test-taking anxiety treatment can help reduce stress by changing your thoughts about the exam situation.
Mindfulness for Test-Taking Anxiety
- Mindfulness: Focus on the present moment without judgment using mindfulness techniques. This can help you avoid worrying about the future or ruminating on past test experiences.
- Meditation: Regular meditation can help improve focus and reduce worry over time, and I can show you how to do meditation that is quick, easy and focused.
- Deep Breathing: We will work on practicing deep, slow breathing exercises to calm your mind and body.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation: On the day of the test, tensing and slowly relaxing each muscle group will release physical tension.
- Visualization: Picture a calm and relaxing scene, which can help reduce stress levels before and during the exam.
Group Treatment for Test-Taking Anxiety
- Support Groups: I can help you find a clinical group therapy program to connect you with peers who also experience these symptoms. These shared experiences can be comforting; you can learn from what worked for others.
- Informal Groups: Getting help in your peer group can also help you feel less alone and more supported.
Test-Taking Anxiety Treatment with Medication
- Short-Term Use: In some cases, a healthcare provider may prescribe medication for short-term test-taking anxiety treatment, mainly if it is severe and you need improvement fast.
Test-Taking Anxiety Strategies
The following are some strategies to use on your own, whether in conjunction with individual therapy with me or someone else or alone.
Anxiety and Test-Taking Preparation and Study Habits
- Structured Study Schedule: Instead of cramming, break down your study material into manageable chunks over a period of time.
- Practice Tests: Taking practice exams under similar conditions can reduce fear of the unknown and improve confidence.
- Time Management: Develop good time management skills to ensure you have enough time to study without feeling rushed. If your exam is in school, some teachers and professors will help you by advising you how long to spend on each part.
Healthy Lifestyle for Test-Taking Anxiety
- Exercise: Regular physical activity can reduce overall stress and improve mood.
- Sleep: Ensuring you get adequate sleep is important for cognitive function. However, as long as you get reasonably good sleep in the days leading up to the exam, don’t worry if that last night does not have high-quality sleep due to worries.
- Diet: Eat balanced meals and avoid excessive caffeine, which can have a negative effect concerning anxiety and test-taking.
Positive Self-Talk for Test-Taking Anxiety
- Replace negative thoughts like “I’m going to fail” with positive affirmations such as “I am prepared” or “I can do this.”
- Remind yourself of past successes and your effort to prepare for the exam.
Anxiety and Test-Taking that Day
- Arrive Early: Give yourself ample time to settle and avoid last-minute rushing.
- Bring Everything You Need: Double-check that you have all the necessary materials, such as pencils, calculators, and ID.
- Read Instructions Carefully: Take a moment to read the instructions and understand the format before starting.
Anxiety and Test-Taking Afterward
- Reflect, Don’t Dwell: Once the test is over, avoid replaying it excessively. Instead, reflect on what went well and areas for improvement, then move on.
- Learn: No matter how the exam goes, learn from the experience to improve the next. Which techniques worked and which didn’t? Do you need to increase the degree to which you address this by coming in for therapy, for example?
Managing test-taking anxiety involves both mental and physical preparation. Consistent practice of these strategies can decrease stress levels, leading to better performance and a more positive experience.
Anxiety and Test-Taking Treatment Example
The following is a fictitious example of how I might treat test-taking anxiety in my practice. It is fairly straightforward and designed to give you an idea of the test-taking anxiety strategies I might give.
Client: A college student named Sarah experiences intense fear before and during exams, leading to difficulty concentrating, physical symptoms like sweating and nausea, and a fear of failing. She hopes test-taking anxiety treatment will bring her back to the way she was in high school when these symptoms did not occur.
Session 1: Understanding Test-Taking Anxiety
Therapist: “Sarah, let’s start by talking about your experience with anxiety and exams. Can you describe what happens when you think about an upcoming exam?”
Sarah: “As soon as I know there’s one coming up, I start to feel really nervous. I can’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong, like forgetting everything I’ve studied or completely blanking out.”
Me: “It sounds like your anxiety starts even before the test itself. What kinds of thoughts are going through your mind when this happens?”
Sarah: “I keep thinking I’m not prepared enough, even if I’ve studied. I worry that I’ll fail the test, and then fail the class, which will ruin my chances of getting into a good graduate program.”
Me: “These thoughts are quite distressing, and they seem to trigger your anxiety. In CBT, we call these ‘catastrophic thoughts,’ where you’re imagining the worst possible outcomes. Our goal in therapy will be to identify these thoughts and learn how to challenge and change them.”
Session 2: Identifying Negative Thought Patterns
Me: “Last session, we discussed the thoughts contributing to your fears. Let’s explore some of these thoughts about anxiety and test-taking a bit more. When you think, ‘I’m not prepared enough,’ what evidence do you have that supports this belief?”
Sarah: “Well, I guess I do study a lot, but I always feel like it’s never enough.”
Me: “It’s common to feel like there’s always more to learn. But let’s also look at the evidence against this thought. How do you usually perform on exams?”
Sarah: “I usually do okay, actually. I’ve never failed, but it still feels like I could.”
Me: “So even though you’ve never failed, the fear of failure still looms large. This is an example of how anxiety and test-taking can work, distorting our perception. Next time you have this thought, try reminding yourself of your past successes and the effort you’ve put into preparing.”
Session 3: Challenging and Reframing Negative Thoughts
Me: “Now that we’ve identified some of the thoughts that trigger you, let’s work on challenging and reframing them. When you think, ‘I’m going to fail,’ what could you say to yourself instead?”
Sarah: “Maybe I could tell myself that I’ve prepared well and that even if I don’t get a perfect score, it’s not the end of the world.”
Me: “Exactly. This is called cognitive restructuring, replacing negative thoughts with more balanced, realistic ones. Over time, this can help reduce the intensity of your fear.”
Session 4: Developing Test-Taking Anxiety Strategies
Me: “Let’s also focus on some practical test-taking anxiety strategies you can use on the exam day. Have you tried any relaxation techniques before?”
Sarah: “I’ve tried deep breathing, but I’m unsure if I’m doing it right.”
Me: “Let’s practice it together now. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, and then slowly exhale through your mouth. Focus on the feeling of your breath. You can use this technique before and during the exam to help calm your nerves. I’ll also show you how to use progressive relaxation strategies”
Session 5: Gradual Test-Taking Anxiety Exposure
Me: “Another strategy we can use is gradual exposure. This means gradually exposing yourself to exam-like conditions to reduce fear. For example, you could start by practicing in a quiet environment, then gradually add time limits or other stressors.”
Sarah: “That sounds helpful. I think practicing in a way that mimics the real test environment could make the actual exam feel less intimidating.”
Me: “Exactly. The more you practice your test-taking anxiety strategies under realistic conditions, the more your fear will decrease because you’ll feel more prepared and in control.”
Session 6: Reflecting on Progress and Planning for the Future
Me: “You’ve been working hard on these test-taking anxiety treatment strategies, Sarah. How do you feel about your upcoming exams?”
Sarah: “I still feel a little nervous, but it’s not as overwhelming as before. I’ve been using the deep breathing exercises and noticed that my mind doesn’t spiral into worst-case scenarios as much.”
Me: “That’s great progress. Remember, it’s normal to feel some worry, but now you have the tools to manage it effectively. Keep practicing these test-taking anxiety strategies, and over time, they’ll become second nature.”
Outcome: Through this test-taking anxiety treatment, Sarah learns to identify and challenge her negative thoughts, develop effective coping strategies, and gradually reduce her fears. She approaches her exams with more confidence and less fear, leading to better performance and a more positive experience overall. She developed a toolkit of test-taking anxiety strategies.
This example shows how therapy can help someone with test-taking anxiety by addressing the thoughts and behaviors that contribute and teaching practical skills to manage it.
Test-Taking Anxiety Accommodations
Test-taking anxiety is common and can impact performance, but accommodations can help create a supportive environment. Often, people who see me for test-taking anxiety treatment need exam accommodations to ensure that they have equal footing with their peers when it comes to taking standardized exams such as the SATs, ACT, GRE, LSAT, and more. In these cases, I work closely with colleagues who provide psychological testing to provide the evidence that the sponsor of each test needs. I can also help those in test-taking anxiety treatment with me get accommodations at school.
Here are some effective accommodations for managing test-taking anxiety:
- Extended Time: Providing extra time on exams like the SAT can reduce pressure and allow students to focus more on accuracy than speed. For many, this reduces the anxiety and test-taking connection and helps them produce the work they are capable of.
- Alternative Environment: A quieter, private room can help reduce distractions and triggers that connect anxiety and test-taking.
- Breaks: Short breaks are an accommodation and one of the test-taking anxiety strategies that can help students recharge and manage stress during longer exams.
- Use of Fidget Tools or Stress Balls: Allowing discreet stress-relief items can help calm nerves without disturbing others.
- Pre-Exam Preparation Sessions: Schools may offer sessions to review test-taking anxiety strategies, breathing techniques, or relaxation exercises.
- Separate Schedule: Taking exams at a different time may help students who feel less pressured when not surrounded by others. Another option is taking the exam at the same time but in a different location.
- Access to Notes or Formula Sheets: This can help students focus on applying knowledge rather than memorizing under pressure.
- Encouragement of Familiarity with Format: Practice exams or sample questions can help reduce the unknown, which often fuels anxiety.
These accommodations can typically be arranged through a school’s counseling or disability services office and tailored to meet individual needs. I can help make these accommodations formal and required.
Summary and My Work
I provide test-taking anxiety treatment for adolescents and adults, both virtually and in person. I provide test-taking anxiety strategies that become a toolkit you can use each time the fear arises. This therapeutic approach can be used as a stand-alone or as a more comprehensive therapy for other challenges.
If you have questions about anxiety and test-taking, or want to inquire about my services, please do not hesitate to contact me or schedule a consultation.
