1. Calming Exam Anxiety
August 2019
Pete Farlam, BSU

4. “The Zone”
The best place to be on this chart for optimal performance is in the middle. Athletes call this “the zone”.
 

6. What happens when your mind goes blank in a test or exam?

8. 10 tips to calm exam anxiety
Engage in deep breathing for 2 to 5 minutes
Tense and relax different muscle groups
Acknowledge what you are anxious about
Aerobic exercise helps to release anxiety
Engage in positive self-talk (e.g. “I’ll be OK, I can do this.”)

9. Do a “memory dump” (key names, facts, formulas)
Talking too much with friends and family about the exam can make you more anxious.
Self-care (sleep, eating well, social support)
Reward yourself after the exam
Don’t cram right before the exam. Relax in the last hour before the exam (get there early etc.)

10. Work with it, not against it
Work with it, not against it. Acknowledging anxiety frees up your mind to focus on what you can do.