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Symptoms of test anxiety

Are you feeling a little anxious or stressed right about now?

RELAX…It is common to experience some nervousness or apprehension during an exam.  A little nervousness can be motivating for you, but too much can become a problem when it starts to interfere with your ability to prepare for and perform on tests.  If you feel that your anxiety level is higher than usual you might be experiencing test anxiety.  Complete this self-assessment and you decide. 

                                                                                      Never        Sometimes          Usually

1. Have trouble sleeping the night before a test.                             ___                       ___                            ___                

2. Before a test, I get a headache.                                                       ___                       ___                            ___  

3. I lose my appetite before a test.                                                     ___                         ___                          ___ 

4. Because of panic, I have cut class on a test day.                        ___                        ___                          ___  

5. My heart pounds just before or during a test.                            ___                         ___                          ___  

6. During a test, my palms sweat.                                                      ___                         ___                          ___  

7. During a test, I have become nauseated and had to                  leave.                                                                                                      ___                        ___                           ___                                                                  

8. I have had pains in my neck, back, or legs during a test.          ___                         ___                          ___  

9. I feel nervous and jittery when I am taking a test.                      ___                         ___                          ___  

10. I make careless errors on tests.                                                    ___                         ___                          ___  

11. My mind goes blank during tests.                                              ___                         ___                          ___  

12. I worry when other students are finished before I am.            ___                         ___                          ___   

13. I feel pushed for time when I am taking a test.                          ___                         ___                          ___   

14. I worry that I am doing poorly on a test and that
everyone else is doing well.                                                              ___                          ___                         ___

15. When I am taking a test, I think about my past failures.         ___                         ___                          ___  

16. During a test, I feel as if I studied all the wrong things.          ___                         ___                          ___ 

17. I can‘t think clearly during tests.                                                 ___                         ___                          ___  

18. I have a hard time understanding and remembering                 ___                         ___                          ___    
    
directions when I am taking a test. 

19. After a test, I remember answers to questions I either             ___                         ___                          ___  
       left blank or answered incorrectly. 

If you checked “sometimes“ or “usually“ ten or more times, you may have test anxiety.  Contact the Personal Counseling Center at x7119 and we can help you learn strategies for coping with anxiety and stress. 

 

Last Reviewed: December 12, 2007