Navigating Test Anxiety: Insight from IMSA Staff

Have you ever found yourself sweating before a BC test? Or maybe shaking during a chemistry spec-check? Chances are that the challenging environment of IMSA has caused you some test anxiety, whether for a quiz or even finals. It turns out that this anxiety can cause long-term consequences on your health. To help navigate this, IMSA teachers Mr. Brummet and Ms. Schmidt have provided some helpful insight on causes and ways of reducing test anxiety.

What is Test Anxiety?

Test anxiety is a condition characterized by extreme feelings of stress before and during a test that cause unhealthy results and sometimes decreased performance on exams. Typically there is a combination of physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. These may include headaches, nausea, rapid heartbeat, panic attacks, fear, negative thoughts, and difficulty concentrating.

Causes

Causes of test anxiety range from perfectionism to poor test history. Mr. Brummet, who teaches Introduction to Proofs, Linear Algebra, and Multi-variable Calculus, predicts that test anxiety primarily stems from internal pressure but also from parents, peers, college, the perfect resume, and grade point average (GPA), even though IMSA does not calculate it. He stated that the classes he teaches have fewer tests than the mathematical investigations (MI) series, and their higher value causes increased stress among students.

On the other hand, Ms. Schmidt, who teaches Physics: Sound and Light and Physics: Calculus-based Mechanics, two somewhat test-heavy courses, stated that not all test anxiety is necessarily bad. In some cases, it drives students to be prepared and, therefore, can actually be good. When it’s too much, though, it interferes with concentration.

Before a Test

To manage test anxiety before a test and maximize performance, Mr. Brummet suggests that the methods vary by student. If you are worried about an exam, reach out to your teacher well in advance, and if you don’t, it becomes harder to be proactive. He mentioned that in his classes, he often recommends students to “look over the worksheets,” but adds that it goes beyond reviewing in-class work; students should strive to understand the point of what was asked on the worksheets to fully prepare. Look for overlap in questions and ask why? Mr. Brummet predicts that when students become worried about a test, it is because they don’t see these connections, so try to explain the ideas to yourself and “internalize” them.

Ms. Schmidt focused on some more physical methods to manage test anxiety before a test. She suggests that students should prepare as much as possible, take numerous breaks, and get a good nights sleep.

During a Test

If you’ve experienced test anxiety during a test, you know how distracting it can be. If you’re looking at the first question on a test and suddenly realizing that you “can’t do it,” Mr. Brummet recommends to skip problems that you don’t know off the bat “within reason” and not become intimidated by the problems. He says that skipping problems is a skill and it can be a struggle to know when to do it. He stresses the importance of time management and understanding that if you’ve done the work, you know enough to succeed. Mr. Brummet also explained that putting everything down (yes, even your phone) during a test and taking a water break can be helpful.

Ms. Schmidt advises that you stop and write down what you know, whether that is formulas or helpful insight for the questions. She stated, “Just because you don’t know the answer right away doesn’t mean you don’t know anything about the topic,” so you should focus on putting your thoughts down on paper and find comfort in the fact that you could find the solution and that there may be partial credit. 

IMSA has always been a “pressure-packed institution,” according to Mr. Brummet and students always want to do well and put pressure on themselves. Following these tips can help you manage the anxiety this pressure causes and help your test anxiety.

Good luck!