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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 blog posts with Test Day Tips in the past.
However, blog reader Wei W. requested some tips on dealing with Test Day stress. The fact that she posted her comment at 3AM Eastern time 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 a blog post 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 (mp3), 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!
Helping Children Overcome Test Anxiety
Information about Test Anxiety
Test Anxiety
Test Anxiety, University of Buffalo
Test-Taking and Test Anxiety
Understanding and Overcoming Test Anxiety
How to Keep Calm During Tests (PDF)
Reducing Test Anxiety (PDF)
Test Anxiety (PDF)
Stress Reduction Tips (PDF) based on The Now Habit
3 comments:
Yay Steve! I think it's a mistake to ignore this area of test prep so I'm glad you are addressing it.
I 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.
Thank 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!
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