Test Anxiety Symptoms and How to Beat Them

Your PTE Academic exam date is fast approaching and you notice that you are starting to feel anxious. Your lesson retention is fluctuating, your decision-making skills are worn-out, and you have a hard time focusing on your PTE review. If you are experiencing these symptoms and more, there is a chance that you are suffering from exam anxiety.

Test anxiety refers to the feeling of intense distress or agitation that is associated with an examination. It has three main causes: lack of preparation, fear of failure, and poor test history. PTE Academic examinees are susceptible to test anxiety because of their fear of failing the high-stakes exam.

Stave of exam anxiety during your PTE review. Here are symptoms of this overwhelming condition and the best ways to combat them.

PHYSIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS  

• shortness of breath
• rapid heartbeat
• dry mouth
• headache
• light-headedness
• stomach knots or butterflies
• excessive sweating
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• nausea
• passing out
• panic attacks
 

How to fight them: If you are experiencing these symptoms, take a break from your PTE training. Go out of your study space and take deep breaths to restore your body’s equilibrium. 

How to prevent them: Punctuate your PTE review with strategic breaks to prevent mental and physical exhaustion. Engage in relaxing exercises like yoga during your free time. Fuel your study-binges with healthy meals and sufficient rest. 

BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS 

• indecisiveness
• mental block
• disorganized thoughts
• lack of concentration
• substance abuse due to misuse of uppers and other drugs

How to fight them: Do not force yourself to finish your PTE activities if you feel you are succumbing to these symptoms. Taking a much-needed break and a change of scenery would be best. However, if you really want to complete your training exercise, accomplish them one question at a time. 

How to prevent them: Establish excellent study habits to stave off these symptoms. Schedule your training sessions and slowly build up your exam pressure stamina. Do not forget to relax and distress after each study-binge.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

• anger
• nervousness
• restlessness
• incessant doubt
• low self-esteem

How to fight them: Take a moment to compose yourself. Distance yourself from your study space and immerse yourself in a different environment. Talk to someone about your problems or about something entirely different. Most importantly, stop berating yourself over your errors or feeling of inadequacy. 

How to prevent them: Be a positive person. Disconnect your self-worth from your test results. Reassure yourself by preparing vigorously for the high-stakes exam. 

 Do not let your test anxiety compromise your exam performance or PTE Academic review. Consider these symptoms and how to overcome them during your preparations and increase your chances of getting your desired PTE results. 




REFERENCES: 

• Cherry, Kendra. "How to Know if You Have Test Anxiety & 7 Ways to Beat It." Verywell. Accessed July 03, 2017. https://www.verywell.com/the-symptoms-of-test-anxiety-2795367.
• Gotter, Ana. "What Is Test Anxiety?" Healthline. April 14, 2017. Accessed July 03, 2017. http://www.healthline.com/health/test-anxiety#symptoms2.
• "Test Anxiety." Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Accessed July 03, 2017. https://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children/test-anxiety.
• "Test Anxiety." Test Anxiety | Academic Skills Center: Study Skills Library | Cal Poly. Accessed July 03, 2017. http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/testanxiety.html.