It’s normal for students to get nervous before big exams. Unfortunately, some students experience something worse than nervousness: test anxiety.
While this type of anxiety can stem from numerous reasons, Dr. Ran Anbar shares that students may experience anxious feelings during exams because they failed to prepare well for their tests.
As a result, they may struggle to recall what they have learned, provide erroneous exam responses, and encounter various difficulties with test taking due to their anxiety.
The good news is that students can use various strategies to reduce anxiety and pass their exams. Our article entitled ‘Simple Tips and Tricks for Passing Most Any Written Test’ points out that students can use specific methods and strategies to increase their chances of getting the best results on tests. Having a proper strategy can boost your confidence and help you ace the exams that matter to you.
So if you want to reduce your test anxiety, try doing these studying strategies:
1 – Watch online courses on topics you struggle with
Do you have an upcoming test on a topic you don’t understand?
You can review for your test by watching online courses about the topics that you struggle with. Plenty of students watch online video lectures on YouTube to get a fresh perspective and discover new insights from different instructors worldwide.
You can also sign up for websites like Alison and Coursera to learn about in-depth topics from university professors in just a few hours. Watching online videos from these platforms will help you comprehend tough topics and confidently answer in your exam.
2 – Use digital flashcards for hard subjects
You can ace your midterm and final exams by utilizing digital flashcards for complex terminologies and hard topics. There are over 450 million study sets on Quizlet, which can be helpful when you want to boost your recall of information in subjects like languages, science, history, and arts.
You can even integrate Quizlet flashcards with short-form videos on TikTok to make your review more fun and engaging. If you don’t find any content about the topic you’re studying, you can also use Quizlet to create digital flashcards for your review. This digital tool will make it easier for you to memorize crucial terms for your test.
3 – Use apps that are made for SAT preparation
Your SAT results can determine which university you’ll be attending, making it crucial to study thoroughly using dedicated apps.
One of the best apps for SAT prep is SAT Exam Prep and Practice by Magoosh, which has a built-in study schedule that can keep you on track. This feature will prevent you from cramming for the SATs and reduce your likelihood of getting test anxiety.
Likewise, Accellab’s PerfectPrep for ACT and SAT test takers allows you to personalize your study schedule based on your test date. The app divides the study materials into daily practice sections to ensure you’ve covered everything before the exam.
4 – Answer free practice exams before doing the ACT or SAT
You can also avoid experiencing test anxiety during the ACT or SAT by answering mock tests in advance. One of the best websites for ACT and SAT review is Khan Academy, which offers free and full-length practice tests that you can accomplish online. The website also offers videos to help you refresh your memory about certain topics.
The College Board and the ACT also release practice tests so students can gauge their performance before the exam. You can assess which topics or subjects you’ll need to study by accomplishing these practice tests.
These educational technologies can boost your academic performance and increase your chances of getting into a prestigious university. Using these digital tools can lessen your test anxiety because you’re more prepared to answer your exam.