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To the test
It's almost the end of the school term. Which means finals are coming up. Students, after being duly warned by their teachers, are scrambling to find notes and homework assignments they were told to stash away for finals.
Finals.
A lot of studying and stress goes into doing well on them. And attitude can be everything. If you're stressed about a test, your anxiety level increases.
"Stress is the anticipation of harm," according to late psychologist Richard Lazarus, a University of California at Berkeley professor who focused on emotions and how people cope with stress.
One key to coping with tests is to lower your belief that you will be seriously harmed, according to an article on test anxiety from Sam Houston State University.
The article offers these tips:
• Find a safe place: This is one method you can use on command to reduce anxiety. Think of a red house with a green roof. Now think of three parts of the house not previously mentioned. Count from 1 to 10 slowly and return your thoughts to the house and its parts. This helps refocus your thoughts.
• Think ahead: What is the worst thing that can happen on the test? Then think to the days and weeks ahead after the test, and then on how you can improve on the worst possible outcome.
• Think realistically: Know that you can handle the outcome of the test.
And of course you need to crack the books and be prepared. Here are some study tips from kidshealth.org:
• Decide how much time you're going to devote to studying for a topic. Break it down into a manageable amount of work.
• Pay attention to tips from your teacher. Will a particular topic be emphasized during the test?
• Prioritize your activities and studies.
• Don't procrastinate.
• Find a quiet place to study.
• Study with a buddy
• And don't forget. Get a good night's sleep.
Do you have any test stories and tips to share?
Finals.
A lot of studying and stress goes into doing well on them. And attitude can be everything. If you're stressed about a test, your anxiety level increases.
"Stress is the anticipation of harm," according to late psychologist Richard Lazarus, a University of California at Berkeley professor who focused on emotions and how people cope with stress.
One key to coping with tests is to lower your belief that you will be seriously harmed, according to an article on test anxiety from Sam Houston State University.
The article offers these tips:
• Find a safe place: This is one method you can use on command to reduce anxiety. Think of a red house with a green roof. Now think of three parts of the house not previously mentioned. Count from 1 to 10 slowly and return your thoughts to the house and its parts. This helps refocus your thoughts.
• Think ahead: What is the worst thing that can happen on the test? Then think to the days and weeks ahead after the test, and then on how you can improve on the worst possible outcome.
• Think realistically: Know that you can handle the outcome of the test.
And of course you need to crack the books and be prepared. Here are some study tips from kidshealth.org:
• Decide how much time you're going to devote to studying for a topic. Break it down into a manageable amount of work.
• Pay attention to tips from your teacher. Will a particular topic be emphasized during the test?
• Prioritize your activities and studies.
• Don't procrastinate.
• Find a quiet place to study.
• Study with a buddy
• And don't forget. Get a good night's sleep.
Do you have any test stories and tips to share?
— Holly Owens, H&N copy editor
Sources:
Sam Houston State University
www.shsu.edu/~tst_www/tips/testanxietypt1.html
kidshealth.org
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| Anticipation | Rainy day fun |
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