TEST ANXIETY QUIZ

Do you experience feelings of test anxiety? Read each of the following questions. If your answer to a question is “yes,” place a check mark in the box. If your answer is “no,” leave the box blank.

Mental

Do you have trouble focusing and find that your mind easily wanders while studying the material or during the test itself?
During the test, does every noise bother you—sounds from outside the classroom or sounds from other people?
Do you often “blank out” when you see the test?
Do you remember answers to questions only after the test is over?

Physical

Do you get the feeling of butterflies, nausea, or pain in your stomach?
Do you develop headaches before or during the test?
Do you feel like your heart is racing, that you have trouble breathing, or that your pulse is irregular?
Do you have difficulty sitting still, are you tense, or are you unable to get comfortable?

Emotional

Are you more sensitive and more likely to lose patience with a roommate or friend before the test?
Do you feel pressure to succeed from either yourself or from your family or friends?
Do you toss and turn the night before the test?
Do you fear the worst—that you will fail the class or flunk out of college because of the test?

Personal Habits

Do you often stay up late studying the night before a test?
Do you have a personal history of failure for taking certain types of tests (essay, math)?
Do you drink more than your usual amount of caffeine or forget to eat breakfast before a test?
Do you drink alcohol the night before to calm your jittery nerves?
Do you avoid studying until right before a test, choosing to do other activities that are less important because you don't want to think about it?

How many items did you check? To get your test anxiety reflection score, count your total, and then see what level of test anxiety you experience.

13–16 Severe: You may want to see if your college counseling center offers individual sessions to provide strategies for dealing with test anxiety. You have already paid for this service through your student fees, so if you have this level of anxiety, take advantage of help that is available for you.

9–12 Moderate: You may want to see if your counseling center will be offering a seminar on anxiety-prevention strategies. Such seminars are usually offered around midterms or just before final exams. Take the opportunity to do something valuable for yourself!

5–8 Mild: Be aware of what situations—certain types of classes or particular test formats—might cause anxiety and disrupt your academic success. If you discover a weakness, address it now before it is too late.

1–4 Slight: Almost everyone has some form of anxiety before tests, and it actually can be beneficial! In small doses, stress can improve your performance, so consider yourself lucky.