13 Strategies for Overcoming Test Anxiety

While the best way of overcoming test anxiety is to be fully prepared, knowing some    specific test taking strategies, puts you in an even better position. Learn and use these 13 strategies and don't experience an anxiety disorder. 

1. Reduce or prevent excess anxiety. Consider What If, So What, and Well Then.

2. Study and know the content. Make up your own flashcards and read up on areas that need more of your attention.

3. Find a study partner. It keeps you focused and holds you accountable, if nothing else.

4. Register and schedule your exam. You need a deadline to keep you on track.

5. Consider what helps you with recall, e.g. writing things down, continuous repetition.

6. Know the Code of Ethics pertaining to your chosen profession.

7. Use the supplemental material, e.g. free internet practice tests, handouts on useful websites 

8. Think positively. Use visualization techniques.

9. Trust your intuition. Your first hunch is often right.

10. Read the answers first. Often two are irrelevant or just don’t pertain to the question and can be effectively eliminated.

11. If one of the choices is overly technical, that item is probably not the correct one.

12. When opposites appear among the answers, one of them is usually correct.

13. With two of the choices are almost identical in their wording, one of these choices is often the correct one. 

These are the strategies that I have used to acquire 6 professional licenses. They worked for me and will work for you.


Let me know what you think of these strategies. Leave your comments below.