Once you recognize that you struggle with test anxiety, you can begin to develop skills to combat this problem so it stops affecting your test scores.
Make sure you have fully prepared for the test itself. Have you done all of your homework and reading and attended all your classes? Have you gotten help from you teacher or professor if you did not understand something? Have you taken good notes and studied them beforehand? These are important ways to prepare for a test.
Take good care of your body. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep. This will be help with your general physical and mental well-being. The night before an exam, go to bed early; have a good breakfast when you wake up. Avoid caffeine if it tends to make you feel nervous or jittery. If your test is in the afternoon, be sure to eat lunch and bring a snack to make sure you are not hungry for the test.
Make sure nothing else will make you nervous that day, such as tardiness or other distractions. Know how to get to your exam, and leave your house with enough time to get there. Rather than doing any last-minute cramming, try to find something relaxing to do or distract yourself with an activity that you enjoy.
When you begin taking your test, be sure to read all the directions carefully so you understand the format of the test and what is expected of you. Look over the entire test; consider completing the easiest sections first. If they help you, make outlines before starting an essay question. Use the process of elimination for multiple choice questions. Take your time and focus on one problem or question at a time.
Take your time, and remember to breathe. Remind yourself that you are not perfect and that it is OK to make mistakes. If you feel yourself getting anxious, get up and sharpen your pencil, change the position of your body, get a drink of water or ask your instructor a question. If you draw a blank, do not be afraid to skip a question; try a different one instead. Stay positive and remind yourself that you have the skills necessary to succeed.
When you have finished taking your test, reward yourself for the things that went well and try to remember which strategies helped to ease your anxiety; this will help you the next time you take a test.