1. Less Stressin’ from Physics Testin’
Presented by Chareane Wimbley-Gouveia
Learning Center Coordinator

2. Welcome & Overview
What are important ideas that you’d like to explore during our time together?

3. Seminar Goals
At the end of the seminar, you should be able to answer these questions:
What is Test Anxiety?
What Causes Test Anxiety?
How Can Students Overcome it?
Where can I find help to relax?
(How do I prepare for my tests?)

4. Test anxiety is a learned response to stress that involves…
Physical responses
Tension, Headache
Upset stomach, nausea
Perspiration,
Rapid heartbeat
Emotional responses
Nervousness
Mental blocking
Worry
Overwhelm, Paralysis

5. High levels of test anxiety interfere with your ability to
Prepare for,
Think about or
Take an exam.
Van Blerkom, D. L. & Mulcahy-Ernt, P. I. (2005)
College Reading and Study Strategies, p.257

6. Common Test Anxiety Triggers
Insufficient preparation
Poor test-taking skills
Past Experiences
Fear of Failure

7. Stop “pulling the trigger”
Take control on three levels:
Cognitive control
Prepare strategically with active study techniques
Emotional Control
Systematic Desensitization
Physical Control
Get exercise to release fight/flight hormones
Practice self-relaxation
Massage

8. 1. Cognitive Control Prepare Well: Overlearn the Material
Practice good time management
Space out your studying
Avoid procrastination
Eliminate cramming
Use active study techniques
Review regularly, test yourself
Replace negative self-talk with positive

9. Cognitive Control, continued
When you get your test, do a “mind dump” of material you think
Answer the questions you know first
Test anxiety symptoms usually subside after 10 – 15 minutes
Confront irrational beliefs and self-talk

10. 2. Emotional Control: The Power of Positive Self-Talk
Preparation plus
the power of positive self-talk positions us to achieve our goals in the face of all sorts of obstacles,
… including the ones we create ourselves!
What’s this a picture of?

11. 3. Physical Control Get exercise everyday
Clear out the stress hormones!
Do something you enjoy everyday
Practice relaxation techniques regularly
Avoid cramming the night before tests
Get enough rest and proper nutrition
Set up a calm study environment

12. Prepare strategically
Use active study techniques before and during your test
Know what will be on the test
Overlearn the material- study smarter, not harder
Active study techniques help you embed and retrieve knowledge in your long term memory

13. Learn and Master the Material

14. Now, what are you trying to learn?
“A feel for the physical reality behind the equations will help you remember them better than just trying to memorize a list.”

15. “You must study regularly
“You must study regularly. In a physics course, many topics are based on preceding ones.  Students who study regularly have the added advantage of being able to reinforce and enlarge on what they already know while tackling something new.”

16. Become Test Savvy Predict test questions
Predict the thinking level required by the problems you must solve
Analyze past errors you’ve made
Deal with any math weaknesses that slow you down.
Rehearse
Study with partners

17. Levels of questions Knowledge (Remembering)
Comprehension (Understanding)
Application (Using information)
Analysis (Seeing relationships)
Synthesis (Putting concepts together)
Evaluating (Judging, comparing)
Creating

18. Application Level Questions
Requires you to apply the information learned to a new situation
Examples: math word problems, further analysis questions in McWhorter

19. Analysis Level Questions
Require you see relationships to break down a complex concept into its component parts
Ex: Describe how each step of the SQ4R reading-study system helps you learn and remember.

20. Synthesis Level Questions
Require you to bring separate or related ideas together to form a larger concept, pattern or idea.
Describe several study skill strategies that students with your learning style can use to prepare for a major exam

21. Strategies to stop making careless mistakes
Slow down your reading and answering process
Activate your auditory channel by whispering the directions and questions to yourself
Underline or circle key words in the directions
Ask yourself, did this question make sense?

22. Strategies to increase concentration
Interact with the test: circle direction words, underline key words in directions
Use self-talk and force yourself to keep your eyes on the test.
Affirm:
“I can do this. My eyes and my mind stay focused. I can figure this out.”

23. Strategies to Use if Your Eyes Jump or You Can’t Focus
Use a blank piece of paper or fold the test up so you block off what you can see
Use your pencil to point to each word

24. Advantages of the Five Day Study Plan
Organizes your materials for test preparation in manageable chunks
Promotes distributed practice, active learning and elaborative rehearsal
Provides self-testing to monitor your learning
Reduces procrastination, cramming and test anxiety

25. Step one: Be specific and realistic
Ask: what do I need to review?
Make a list of all the topics you need to review
List the chapters, class lecture notes, homework assignments, lab reports, group projects, quizzes, and other materials covered in class

26. Step one, continued: Set up a Final Exam Calendar
Create a reminder sheet listing all your exams on one sheet – note room, time changes
My final schedule:
Math Mon. Dec :00-11:50
CG 111 Tues. Dec. 9th :30 -4:20
Biology Wed. Dec. 10th :00-11:50

27. Step Two: Set target dates and times
Set specific times for organized review sessions.
Ask: what days and times can I study?
Mark these times on your weekly calendar
Mon
Wed
Fri
Sat
Sun
8 – 9 am
3 – 4 pm
1 – 2 pm pm
1 – 3 pm
6 – 8 pm

28. Ideas to consider Relate your review to past performance
How well did you do on quizzes on the old material?
High grades – focus on new material more
Lower grades – focus on old material more to allow more repetition

29. Step 2: Use the Five Day Study Plan
Space out your study to aid recall and retention
Take a 10 minute break after each hour
Break the material into themes or chunks
ex: 16 chapters, review 1 – 3 chapters each study session; or
Key theories, complex events (p. 377)

30. Step Three: Set up a process
Group the items on your study list into four logical categories or themes
You will review one category on each of the first four days
Create a plan for reviewing the material
For each day, identify the times you’ll study and the specific tasks you plan to do during that time.
Ex: First review chapter summary, then concept cards & then class notes

31. Step four: Plan your reward
Choose to do an activity you enjoy, and then do it!

32. Practice Relaxing!
Find a copyright free relaxation recording at

33. Helpful Websites…vetted by Greg!
Free relaxation site/ 8 minutes

34. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. During tests S - Stay focused on the test
U – Use breathing exercises to self-calm
C – Come to the test on time
C – Create a plan for answering questions
E - Execute your plan
S- Stay Active—if you go blank, move on!
S-- Stop negative self-talk with positive affirmations!
Adapted from: University of Texas Learning Center, University of Texas, Austin, 2005