What is Exam Anxiety?
Exam anxiety is the feelings of anxiety, stress and excitement experienced by students before or during the exam. Exam anxiety can negatively affect students' performance, and of course, this can be reflected in exam results. Therefore, coping with test anxiety is very important for students.
What Causes Exam Anxiety Causes?
Exam anxiety is caused by the emotional and physiological symptoms that students experience before, during, or after the exam. These symptoms include rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea, headache, chest pain, tremors, and sleep disturbances. In addition, students' feeling inadequate in the pre-exam period, their thoughts that they will fail as a result of the exam, and their worries that they will make mistakes or forget in the exam are among the symptoms of exam anxiety.
Is Exam Anxiety Common?
Yes, test anxiety is quite common. Exam anxiety is a common problem, especially among students. Many students may experience anxiety, stress, and anxiety before or during an exam. Exam anxiety can affect students' academic success and increase their anxiety that they will fail the exam, causing them to make mistakes in exams.
Why is Exam Anxiety Important?
Exam anxiety can negatively affect students' academic success. As students' anxiety level increases, their learning and remembering abilities decrease. In addition, students may be distracted by test anxiety and they may be more likely to make mistakes in the exam. Therefore, ways to cope with test anxiety are very important for students.
What Should Be Done to Reduce Exam Anxiety?
There are several things students can do to reduce test anxiety.
- * First, students need to prepare themselves before the exam. Precautions can be taken such as repeating the exam topics, reviewing the questions and answers, going to the exam venue, and getting enough sleep before the exam. In this way, students will feel more comfortable and prepared for the exam.
- * Second, students can try a few relaxation techniques to deal with test anxiety. These techniques include deep breathing, muscle relaxation exercises, meditation and yoga. These techniques can help students relax before and during the exam.
- * Third, another method that will help students reduce their test anxiety is to develop positive thoughts. Focusing positive thoughts instead of negative ones can help students reduce their test anxiety. Instead of thinking that they will fail or make mistakes in the exam, students can reinforce the thoughts that they will pass the exam and answer the questions correctly.
- * Finally, it is also important for students to receive support to cope with test anxiety. Talking to their parents, teachers, or counselors can offer students strategies for dealing with test anxiety. They may also receive therapy and counseling services to deal with students' test anxiety.
Exam anxiety is a situation that every student can experience. However, test anxiety can affect students' academic success. For this reason, students need to prepare themselves before the exam, use relaxation techniques, strengthen positive thoughts and get support so that they can cope with exam anxiety.
How Does the Process of Reducing Exam Anxiety Work?
The process of dealing with students' test anxiety may be different for each student. While deep breathing exercises are sufficient for some students, therapy and counseling services may be required for some students. However, each student can find the best method for themselves by trying different strategies to deal with test anxiety.
As a result, test anxiety is a common condition that students may encounter. However, test anxiety can affect students' academic success. Therefore, various strategies and supports are available for students to cope with test anxiety. It is very important for students to be able to cope with test anxiety, both in terms of their academic and personal development.
Cons. Psy. Emine Elif Çelik
Counseling and Guidance
