Most of us feel a certain amount of
anxiety when we're about to take a certification exam. After all, if you blow a
few answers while you're sitting in your living room watching Jeopardy, it's no
big deal. But, if you blow enough answers when you're sitting in the exam room
of your local test center, it can mean time and money lost, not to mention a
major blow to your self-confidence. It's no wonder that most of us are a little
sweaty in the palms when we're taking a certification exam. However, certain
levels of stress can actually help you to raise your level of performance when
taking an exam. The anxiety of a "clutch situation" usually serves to help you
focus your concentration and think clearly through a problem.
But, for some individuals, exam anxiety is more than just a nuisance. For these
people, exam anxiety is a debilitating condition that affects their
performance, and thus their results, when taking certification exams. The high
levels of stress experienced by people who suffer from exam anxiety can be
overwhelming, having a negative impact on concentration and problem-solving
skills.
Exam anxiety usually exhibits itself in the following symptoms:
difficulty recalling simple concepts; also known as "blanking out"
extreme emotional states such as fear, anger, or panic
uncontrollable racing thoughts or mental chatter
uncomfortable internal temperature, either too hot or too cold
blurred vision; trouble focusing on written materials
Fortunately, there are several measures that those prone to exam anxiety can
take to help alleviate some of their stress both before, and during, an
examination.
Exam anxiety reduction begins with the preparation process. It goes without
saying that the better prepared you are for an exam, the less stress you will
experience when taking it. Always give yourself plenty of time to prepare for
an exam; don't place yourself under unreasonable deadlines. There is a big
difference between procrastination, and taking the time necessary to adequately
prepare yourself.
There is no hard and fast rule for how long it takes to prepare for an exam.
The time required will vary from student to student, and is dependent on a
number of different factors, including reading speed, access to study
materials, personal commitments, and so on. It's not always positive to compare
yourself to peers, especially if doing so has a negative effect on your
confidence. Take your time, and don't book your exam until you're ready to take
it.
For many students, practice exams are a great way to shed some of the fears
that arise in the test center. Practice exams are best used near the end of
your exam preparation, and be sure to use them as an assessment of your current
knowledge, not as a method to try to memorize key concepts. As you near the end
of your studies, you should try to make the practice exams emulate the real
exam as much as possible. Set time limits on the practice exams you take. Most
practice exam software comes with a built-in timer; if yours doesn't, use a
clock or watch. Take the practice exam in a room free of distractions—no phone,
no T.V., no music, and no people. The goal here is to create an environment
that simulates the actual test center environment.
On the night before the exam, take the time to organize everything you'll need
for the next day. This can even include such things as laying out the clothes
you're going to wear, setting the table for breakfast in advance, and placing
your wallet/keys/lucky rabbit's foot next to your coffee mug. These may seem
like mundane things to prepare, but the better organized you are on the morning
of your exam, the less stress you'll have in the time leading up to your
booking at the test center.
Eat a light breakfast, even if you have no appetite. If your stomach is
actively upset, try mild foods like toast or crackers. Plain saltines are great
for settling a cranky stomach. Keep your caffeine and nicotine consumption to a
minimum; excessive stimulants aren't exactly conducive to reducing stress. Plan
to take a bottle of water with you to combat dry mouth, and possibly a few
crackers or some other light snack in a plastic baggie in case you need
something to quell your stomach butterflies.
Plan your arrival at the test center carefully. Obviously, you don't want to be
late for your exam, but arriving extremely early can be just as detrimental to
your stress level. Thirty minutes before your exam booking is probably enough
time to sit down, take some deep breaths, and assure yourself that you are
ready. You should also, although it may sound silly, visit the washroom before
you begin your exam.
Once you are in the exam room, scratch paper and bottle of water in hand, make
yourself as comfortable as possible. Take your time—the clock doesn't start
ticking until you start clicking. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Think
about how well prepared you are, and how your hard work is going to pay off
over the next hour or two (or four, if you're taking MS exam 70-240). Don't
think about how you wish you'd spent another two weeks studying. Regrets and
worrying at this point accomplish nothing, except to raise your stress level.
If, during the exam, you find yourself panicking because you've come across a
question on an unfamiliar topic, take your hand off of the mouse and relax.
Have a drink of water. Sit back, stretch out your arms, and shake the tension
out of your hands. Go back to the question and either answer it as best as you
can, or mark it for later
review. Remember that one question does not make or break an exam, but it can
break your confidence if you let it.
Passing certification exams takes two types of preparation: learning the
material, and creating the right mindset for taking the exam. By using the
above techniques along with a comprehensive study regime, you can make the test
center experience less terrifying, and actually improve your performance on
your exams.
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