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Eat! Hydrate! Oxygenation, hydration and carbohydrates are the fuel that makes your brain work. Carbohydrates are transformed into glycogen which fuels the brain. Do you know your brain uses 50% of your body’s glycogen? Brainy needs even more when it’s stressed out and working hard on a test. Do not go into a test hungry. Eat breakfast in the morning. Grab a healthy snack before a test.
Don't go into a test hungry!
Write your fears away. Researchers at the University of Chicago recently discovered that students who are prone to test anxiety improved their test scores when they were allowed a few minutes before the test to write about their fears. Apparently, dumping anxieties onto a piece of binder paper frees up brainpower normally occupied by worries about the test. If you suffer from situational test anxiety, it’s worth a try. Arrive a few minutes early to the classroom. Write a paragraph addressing your fears about the test. Visualize the anxiety moving out of your brain, down your arm, to your hand, and on to the paper. Talk to your teacher. Test anxiety is fairly common, but if you feel it’s affecting your test performance, talk to your teacher or counselor about it. They can help. PRODUCT PREVIEW It’s perfectly normal to feel a little nervous before a test, but don’t be victim of your own nerves. Whether you suffer from anticipatory anxiety, situational anxiety, or both, there are many strategies to build confidence and chase away those butterflies. The first is to make sure you adequately prepare for a test. Put in the time and effort it takes to prepare. Don’t imagine failing – envision only success. Try to get a good sleep the night before and never go into a test hungry. You have mad test taking skills and strategies – use them! THE BIG PICTURE
THE 21st CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO STUDY SKILLS 211
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