Dealing with Test Anxiety: Strategies for Staying Calm & Confident
Feeling nervous before a big test like the SAT, ACT, CPS HSAT, HSPT, or ISEE? You're not alone; many students deal with test anxiety at some point. Anxiety isn't something you just feel; it also influences what you think and how you behave. When a stressful thought pops up, it can trigger physical tension, mental fog, or even panic. That feeling can lead to procrastination, rushing, blanking, or zoning out.
Therefore, finding ways to minimize anxiety and negative thinking can help improve your performance on tests of all kinds. Luckily, there are many simple, practical ways to ease anxiety and help you walk into your exam feeling confident!
1. Be Prepared
One of the most effective ways to calm your nerves is to make sure you're truly prepared. This means:
Taking full-length practice tests to get familiar with timing and structure
Reviewing what you got wrong and figuring out why
Creating a realistic study schedule and sticking to it
When you know what to expect, the test feels less like a mystery, and more like something you can handle!
2. Make Studying Less Stressful
Mix in some low-stress activities before and after your study sessions. Take a short walk, listen to music, draw, or even watch a short episode of your favorite show. Enjoying the time before and after your study sessions can help prevent burnout, and makes your study time more productive.
On that note, be sure not to cram the night before you take the exam. Instead, do a quick review, and then focus on relaxing. Make sure you get a good night's sleep, drink lots of water, and have a meal you enjoy the night before, so you can wake up bright and early to be ready for your test the next day!
3. Take Advantage of Breaks
Studying for long hours without a break can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Working in focused blocks of time (50-60 minutes) and taking a 5 minute break between each block, can help you maintain stamina and retain the information you're learning. Get up, stretch, and reset!
During the actual test, make the most of your scheduled breaks. Move around, hydrate, and reset. Even short mental breaks can help you refocus and avoid mid-exam burnout.
4. Talk Back to Anxiety
Anxious thoughts often show up before and during a test. Challenge them with facts. For example:
Anxious Thought: "I'm going to fail."
Your Response: "I've studied, taken practice tests, and I know the material. I'm ready for this."
Positive self-talk can help improve focus and performance. It's not about pretending everything is perfect, but instead reminding yourself of the truth.
5. Breathe
When stress spikes, take a moment to take a few deep breaths. Try this pattern:
Inhale for 4 seconds
Hold for 4 seconds
Exhale for 4 seconds
Repeat!
This helps calm your body and clear your mind, whether you're studying or sitting in the testing room.
6. Celebrate Your Effort
After you study or finish your test, reward yourself. Whether it's a favorite snack, movie night, or quality time with friends and family, celebrating your effort (not just the outcome) builds positive associations with the process and helps reduce future anxiety.
At Test Prep Chicago, we specialize in helping students feel confident and ready for important exams like the CPS HSAT, ISEE, HSPT, ACT, and SAT. Whether your child is looking for a structured group course (click here), a focused, one-day workshop (click here), or individual tutoring sessions (click here), our programs are designed to build skills, reduce anxiety, and boost performance.
We offer:
Full length practice tests to build familiarity, confidence, and stamina
Targeted lessons and homework to strengthen key areas
Tutoring that teaches effective test-taking strategies, important material, and time management
Ongoing updates to our materials based on student feedback from recent exams
If you are looking for a supportive path to test success, Test Prep Chicago is the way to go!