I recently wrote a bit on preparing for Test Day in LSAT Test Center Problems | How To Prepare For The Worst, and I've written several other articles with Test Day Tips in the past.However, reader Wei W. requested some tips on dealing with Test Day stress. The fact that she posted her comment at 3AM Eastern indicates that she might already be losing sleep over this (or just that she lives in another part of the world).
Just in case it's the former, I've decided to grant Wei's wish and do an article on this. I'm not a psychologist, and I'd rather not join the oft-sketchy self-help industry or peddle CDs with the sound of waves crashing, so I've compiled several links on the topic of Test Day stress and anxiety.
The following resources are not LSAT-specific and contain some generic advice. However, since test anxiety is not an LSAT-specific issue, you may find some nuggets of wisdom within the following links.
I hope to feature some LSAT-specific advice about these issues on LSAT Blog in the near future, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear your tips on dealing with test-related stress and anxiety. Please share them!
The LSAT, Meditation, Concentration, and Focus
Test and performance anxiety
Information about Test Anxiety
Test anxiety / relaxation podcasts (mp3s)
Test Anxiety, University of Buffalo
Understanding and Overcoming Test Anxiety
How to Keep Calm During Tests (PDF)
Reducing Test Anxiety (PDF)
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Also see the free LSAT proctor mp3 for something that can reduce Test Day stress.
Photo by brymo
Yay Steve! I think it's a mistake to ignore this area of test prep so I'm glad you are addressing it.
ReplyDeleteI am seriously prone to test anxiety, especially on standardized tests, so this isn't coming from someone this comes to easily. I kind of had a minor panic attack the first time I took the test, so I've been there...and beat it. It's definitely, definitely beatable. Here is my laundry list of suggestions:
1. Study. More than you think you might "need" to. Really. Even if it takes a year longer to go to law school, it will be worth it. Being prepared and feeling like you have seen EVERYTHING in preptests will REALLY help. You'll feel like there is nothing they can throw at you that you haven't seen or done before. The first time I took the test, I didn't feel 100% ready, and this definitely made the anxiety TONS worse. While I realize that you can't be actually **100%** ready, you can give yourself a lot of time to really prepare and get techniques down cold. Do things to increase your confidence, like showing yourself --repeatedly-- that you can do well on preptests.
When you get to the final month of studying, make sure that you only take preptests when you are energetic and ready. You want to make sure that you don't hurt your confidence close to the test.
2. Know you can cancel. I don't know why, but this really helped me. I was able to repeat to myself: "If something really goes wrong, you can cancel, and it's going to be okay, and you can take it again." Because more than likely, you will start taking the test and get in the zone. Really.
3. Exercise. Yoga, running, whatever--do something that makes you sweat and takes your mind off of logic games. Also, do some breathing exercises (there are lots of free guided ones if you search on "meditation" under podcasts on iTunes). You will be able to apply those techniques while taking the test. I was able to do some breathing exercises while ignoring the 20 minutes of instruction at the beginning, and it was SO helpful.
I think a key thing is learning and realizing that you can control your anxiety and that the LSAT is so standardized that chances are, if you do so, you'll get exactly the score you were practicing at. And you'll get into law school.
And...if you are still having some issues, think about talking to a therapist. It's no big deal, and he/she might be able to help you figure out where this is coming from.
These are GREAT tips - thank you! I will link to your comment in this week's blog post so that EVERYONE sees them.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU!!!! This list of resources is amazingly thorough and very helpful! I shared this blog post with the rest of my LSAT prep class last night and they were very happy about it! (I am experiencing some anxiety). I live in California and I LOVE your blog!!!! Thank you and keep it up with the awesome content!
ReplyDeleteMake sure you really take this advice to heart and practice. I have serious test anxiety and the high amount of stress has manifested itself into physical problems (pulling pain from neck to shoulder down to the back) which definitely don't help when sitting for four hours...
ReplyDeleteI am an subscriber and avid reader of your blog. Thanks for all of your advice and help over the months! I guess just a little bit about myself -- I have a high GPA and got involved with a lot of extracurriculars but knowing that standardized test taking has never been my forte, I knew I had to study my butt off for the LSAT. I took a course in the summer of '06 and after deferring the Sept. exam, I took the LSAT that December...I received a 158. :P At that time, I knew I had to start law school the next year so I just applied to all my schools and sadly got waitlisted at Columbia (my absolute dream school), Penn, Georgetown, Berkeley, UCLA, and Cornell...I did, however, get into Hastings...
ReplyDeleteI did everything I could (sending in additional rec letters and update letters) to the schools I was waitlisted at but was only w/l further and/or rejected...I ended up enrolling at Hastings in Sept 2008 thinking that I could hopefully transfer but I ended up detesting my experience so much that I took a leave of absence after one semester and came back home to LA. I began interning at Legal Aid and talked to some lawyers and decided that perhaps I should give the LSAT another shot. I enrolled in a class last June and planned to take the Sept. test. I studied my butt off again and tried to implement different strategies. I really did have a deeper understanding of the logic. I took the Sept. test but wasn't thoroughly happy with my performance that I ended up canceling and studied again for the next two months and took the Dec. test but ended up getting another 158.
I'm not sure how to articulate what happens to me when I take the test but if anything, it's extreme test anxiety. During my preparation, I read a lot of stress-relieving articles and books. It's not that I don't understand the logic, but I feel like I'm naturally averse to this type of exam though I received straight A's in college. It's funny though -- logic games come easiest for me and when I took first took the exam, I missed 2 on logic games but more on logical reasoning. This time around, I missed 7 on logic games but did a lot better on logical reasoning.
I've had some time to think about what I want to do at this point and I signed up to take the LSAT again in June, for the very last time. I'm a really persistent person and don't want to give up on getting a high score and just wanted to get your take on it. It just kills me that this one score was in the middle of me and my acceptance to the schools I was waitlisted at.
If you have any thoughts or advice, I'm all ears. I really enjoy reading your LSAT advice posts and wanted to hear what you had to say. Thanks in advance, I look forward to hearing from you.
I'm glad to hear that you've been enjoying the blog!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your LSAT experiences, though. It sounds like you've had a difficult and frustrating time with it. Unfortunately, having not worked with you, it's difficult to say what is behind the anxiety that seems to be holding you back.
I just teach the LSAT - I'm not an expert on anxiety/stress. I've done what I can on the blog to offer resources on getting ready for Test Day, and I've linked to outside resources on anxiety/stress, but I don't have anything on anxiety/stress to offer beyond that.
I wish you the best of luck, and please let me know if there's anything I can do to help with your LSAT prep.
In my case, there is nothing that relaxes me more than to listen to music. Every day after a day's work, I go to my apartment and listen at least one hour of music.
ReplyDeleteSounds a bit redneck but me and my friend went to a shooting range before the LSAT; it was a great stress relief.
ReplyDelete(Never been to a shooting range until the LSAT)
Thanks for sharing such a great information.
ReplyDeleteHow To Overcome Stress and Depression
How To Overcome Stress and Depression
How To Overcome Stress and Depression
How To Overcome Stress and Depression
Thank you for sharing this post. Please check out my recent article on How to Overcome Stress & Depressionat Mental Strength Professionals Website.
ReplyDeleteRegulars exercise always helps to stay healthy and stress free. For me the best stress reliver is organic supplements for stress and exercise.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI have read your article and found it very interesting. Thanks for the write-up
Walk, watching movies and listening songs helps a lot to get relief from stress. Another remedy is supplements for stress. Try this, it gives you relief.
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