Recognizing Test Anxiety: The First Step to Beating It
Before you can fix a problem, you need to recognize it. Test anxiety isn’t just about nerves. It’s a form of performance anxiety that can show up in a few different ways:
- Physical symptoms: Sweating, a racing heart, maybe even nausea.
- Mental symptoms: Feeling panicked, overwhelmed, or having a complete mental block when looking at the questions.
- Behavioral symptoms: Procrastination, avoidance, or being overly fixated on the outcome.
If you’re a tutor, start by talking with your students about how they feel leading up to a test. Are they struggling to sleep the night before? Do they avoid studying altogether? Spotting these signs early can be a game-changer.
Tip: When you notice a student struggling with procrastination or avoidance, guide them to our Online Tutoring for Students page for personalized strategies to stay on track.