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There is a myriad of thoughts that can trigger anxiety during tests. The fear of drawing blanks and the anxiety of not pleasing parents, or the thought that the other students in the class know more than you. Anxiety can strike without warning and may cause stomach pains, or chills that can shut down the mind. In college-going students, it can increase when they are studying.
Students who are anxious can get the same outcomes as students who are not anxious. However, their work is much higher and takes longer. The research, conducted using 1,021 students with 33 degrees, shows that the fields that have more anxiety-related students are those in the Social and Legal Sciences, Health Sciences, and technical degrees. Students aged between 23-26 years old are the most affected. As they age the feeling of social responsibility and pressure on the social sphere increases.
Anxiety refers to a state of mind where feelings of fear tension, uncertainty, and fear arise because of the anticipation of an actual as well as a fictitious threat. Continued anxiety can hinder students from reaching their objectives. Learning, taking the test, and passing are all hurdles.
The issue is that we stay clear of situations that can make us feel anxious. For instance, if we avoid taking an exam because we’re too anxious to be successful or we skip studying because we’re stressed and would rather put off studying until we feel comfortable.
- What are the signs to look for? There are indicators that can be easily observed such as intense nervousness from a physiological perspective (palpitations muscles tension or an increase in sweating) and accelerated thinking; anticipating the possibility of failures in the future; blockage (which could make the student not want to attend the classroom) or difficulty falling asleep stomach issues or an increase in anger.
- Anxiety can make it difficult to manage and store information.
- While there is no research that has shown a direct link between anxiety and less academic performance, what is obvious is that it hampers the organization and storage of information, as well as the ability to retrieve that information. Every university must have a room that can provide assistance to students suffering from anxiety in the course of their examinations. Engaging with a professional for 30 minutes prior to the exam will help students gain confidence and calm before going into the classroom.
- Anxiety doesn’t just impact academic performance, but can also lead to health issues. In the year 1986 Ohio State University researcher Janice Kiecolt Glasser reported on the activity of the so-called Natural Killers cells during exam periods for medical students. According to her research, it is believed that the weakening that affects the immune system, or the vulnerability of the organism to illness are just a few of the consequences.
- To prevent and manage this ailment There are a variety of strategies that could prove helpful, however, experts recommend seeking out a doctor to get an assessment and strategy of course of action.
- Don’t alter the pattern of sleep. Sleeping infrequently and in poor quality can affect your mental and physical health. It is important not to alter the timings of bedtime and waking up. Follow the normal sleeping schedule which is between 7 and 8 hours each day. Also, do not sleep for more than 30 minutes. In the evening, trying to process everything that has been sat in limbo is not an alternative. Fatigue can increase the likelihood of being afflicted by mental and anxiety.
- Schedule time for leisure: long hours of studying do not guarantee higher grades. If we don’t know how to relax and rest it is easy to fall victim to stress. To be relaxed and perform at the highest level it is essential to mix in time-outs which allow us to unwind and ease tensions. Being mindful of our requirements and balance is crucial and planning out our leisure time will allow us to maximize the value of our studying hours, knowing ahead that we can reap a reward.
- Control thoughts. It’s not the actual events that cause anxiety and fear, but the interpretation given to them. Negative thoughts, such as “I will never pass this subject”, “this career is too difficult for me”, “I am not good for engineering” or “I am a disaster” as well as others, are the ones that create false perceptions of reality which can worsen physical symptoms and can cause the person to be paralyzed. “It is very important to learn to identify these thoughts (which we all have to a greater or lesser extent) and to dismantle them with a positive response,” experts say. The student needs to tell him, “I’ve had similar experiences before and have emerged triumphant. I’ve prepared myself well and I will succeed.
- Relaxation exercises that address anxiety through relaxation techniques are recommended both during the study period and prior to the test. The student must be aware of the things that are happening to them. Paying attention to breathing, and gradually making it more pronounced and slow helps relax, unwind and begin studying under the best conditions. When taking a test anxiousness may make the student feel like he’s gone completely blank and ideas don’t come to him, however, it’s only a brief feeling. While you study for the exam you’ll be organizing your information and organizing the questions. In order to do this, it is important to sit down and take a long breath. The process of creating an outline of what content will be created can also help.
About the Author: Daniel Howard
Daniel gives life to writing through the power of words. He is a blogger who spends most of his time writing articles for StudyCrumb’s blog. As an actual journalist, he writes essays that resonate with readers.