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Symptoms of Test Anxiety

Test anxiety can appear in many ways. Some students feel it on the very first day of class. Other students begin showing symptoms of test anxiety when it’s time to start studying for a test. Others do not get nervous until the night before the test or the morning of an exam day. And some students experience symptoms only while they are actually taking a test.

Symptoms of test anxiety can include:

butterflies in the stomach, queasiness, nausea
mild to severe headaches
an increased heart rate
hyperventilation, which is breathing unusually deeply or rapidly because of anxiety
shaking, sweating, or muscle cramps
“going blank” during the exam and being unable to remember the information.

Test anxiety can block the success of any college student, no matter how intelligent, motivated, and prepared that student is. Therefore, it is important to seek help from your college’s counseling service or another professional if you think that you have severe test anxiety. If you are not sure where to go for help, ask your adviser or counselor, but seek help promptly! If your symptoms are so severe that you become physically ill, you should also consult your physician or campus health center.