How Do I Deal With Test Anxiety? Forum

[Rexdan]

Hey guys, long time lurker here.

I've been prepping since February with the LSAT Trainer and some of the Manhattan Bibles for the June LSAT (retake). Test anxiety is definitely something that I have to overcome if I'm to do well on the test. When I do random questions, and when not in a sequence of 24-27 questions in 35 minutes (just random questions and timing myself for each one), I tend to get most of them right. When I get to actually doing a practice test, it's almost as if the things that I've been doing to prep go out the window.

To give you an idea of what it feels like, I go in (either to my desk or the library) trying to think calmly, but as soon as I start the timer my heart beats faster and some questions that should take me ~45-50 seconds takes me 1:30 and so on and so forth. One of my friends suggested to drink a beer before doing one, but something tells me that having alcohol in my system probably isn't the best solution. What do you guys think I should do to help ease my anxiety? Any advice would be VERY appreciated!

[mornincounselor]

Post removed.

[Straw_Mandible]

The credited response is not to practice until you get it right but rather to practice until you cannot get it wrong.

Beautiful.

[retaking23]

+1 to post above.

Test anxiety is extremely real and it hurt me especially when I waited a cycle to retake/apply. My advice is to practice until you are able to consistently hit scores you are cool with even after (insert worst case scenario). Another tip is to realize that if a question seems difficult to you even after you've put in tons of practice (i.e., enough to hit 170s regularly), then it is not something that you should get caught up on come test day since this is probably a doozy for almost everyone else as well. Also, really try to maintain your speed come test day. For me, I was rushing and this led to tons of careless errors. Maintain a speed and if you find yourself ahead of schedule at checkpoints, SLOW DOWN. So, if you usually do first 15 LR in 15 minutes and you find yourself at the 12th minute mark on the actual test, be more alert and go a little slower because odds are the exam is not easier than usual, rather you are simply rushing.

GL.

[Rexdan]

These are all great responses. What kind of game plan should I set up for myself? I was thinking of continuing with the PTing (hopefully the anxiety will become so desensitized that it won't be a problem anymore) and doing blind review afterward.

Also, mornincounselor, your response gave me some hope and it even made me laugh. I felt like I was reading out of an LSAC introduction for their practice test books. Good stuff!

[d cooper]

You've only been prepping for two months. You'll become more comfortable working under test-day conditions as you do more PTs and become more confident in the process of solving the questions. Don't stress about it at this point.

[Rexdan]

You've only been prepping for two months. You'll become more comfortable working under test-day conditions as you do more PTs and become more confident in the process of solving the questions. Don't stress about it at this point.

I'm a little stressed because of how I performed on my first take of the test. When I was PTing for it, I was getting consistently closer to a 160, and this was solely on Powerscore prep (before I discovered TLS). Then when the day of the test came, I seriously under performed. I don't even want to post my score here; that's how bad it was. Granted, I was using only one source for studying and only started to get serious about studying...a few weeks before the exam, but a glimmer of hope began to flicker out on the horizon when I started to do some serious research after taking the test, learning that I was going about it all wrong.

Basically, I'm doing everything that I possibly can to not feel the way I did on the day of the test and to most definitely get closer to the 165-170 range, if not above the 170 range. If what you're saying is true of me, that I shouldn't be stressing this much before the exam, then I'll take take that into account. Thanks for replying

[emilsinclair9]

You've only been prepping for two months. You'll become more comfortable working under test-day conditions as you do more PTs and become more confident in the process of solving the questions. Don't stress about it at this point.

I'm a little stressed because of how I performed on my first take of the test. When I was PTing for it, I was getting consistently closer to a 160, and this was solely on Powerscore prep (before I discovered TLS). Then when the day of the test came, I seriously under performed. I don't even want to post my score here; that's how bad it was. Granted, I was using only one source for studying and only started to get serious about studying...a few weeks before the exam, but a glimmer of hope began to flicker out on the horizon when I started to do some serious research after taking the test, learning that I was going about it all wrong.

Basically, I'm doing everything that I possibly can to not feel the way I did on the day of the test and to most definitely get closer to the 165-170 range, if not above the 170 range. If what you're saying is true of me, that I shouldn't be stressing this much before the exam, then I'll take take that into account. Thanks for replying

Breathing is physiologically interrelated with anxiety. That said, do some cardio (at least 1-2x per week), and I would recommend meditating after each section for a minute. Doing so can allow you to relax more and can be viewed a bit like a mental reward of sorts between sections. Also, I don't mean cross-legged meditating, I mean just clearing your mind and thinking about things you enjoy or people you admire to motivate yourself for one minute after 35 minutes is up.

[Rexdan]

You've only been prepping for two months. You'll become more comfortable working under test-day conditions as you do more PTs and become more confident in the process of solving the questions. Don't stress about it at this point.

I'm a little stressed because of how I performed on my first take of the test. When I was PTing for it, I was getting consistently closer to a 160, and this was solely on Powerscore prep (before I discovered TLS). Then when the day of the test came, I seriously under performed. I don't even want to post my score here; that's how bad it was. Granted, I was using only one source for studying and only started to get serious about studying...a few weeks before the exam, but a glimmer of hope began to flicker out on the horizon when I started to do some serious research after taking the test, learning that I was going about it all wrong.

Basically, I'm doing everything that I possibly can to not feel the way I did on the day of the test and to most definitely get closer to the 165-170 range, if not above the 170 range. If what you're saying is true of me, that I shouldn't be stressing this much before the exam, then I'll take take that into account. Thanks for replying

Breathing is physiologically interrelated with anxiety. That said, do some cardio (at least 1-2x per week), and I would recommend meditating after each section for a minute. Doing so can allow you to relax more and can be viewed a bit like a mental reward of sorts between sections. Also, I don't mean cross-legged meditating, I mean just clearing your mind and thinking about things you enjoy or people you admire to motivate yourself for one minute after 35 minutes is up.

Funny enough, I actually reactivated my gym membership two weeks ago and have been going every other day since then (changed my diet as well). I do admit that I need to incorporate more cardio into my workouts, though. I currently have upper body and lower body days where cardio only takes up ~10-15% of my workout routine. Hoping I can get that runner's high more frequently while still being able to keep what I gained. Now, in light of what you said, I have another reason to do more cardio!

So, here's what I got so far: try not to stress, test is still a way's away; just keep taking practice tests so that I can get into the habit (heh, Mike would be proud) of getting rid of wrong answer choices and do blind review afterward; and do more cardio to further help alleviate my test anxiety.

Should I be considering other things as well? Maybe the testing environment that I put myself in?

[foamborn]

I'm not sure if this would work, but have you tried perhaps taking full tests with, say, 38 minute sections? Then working your way down to 35? There's nothing that says you have to jump from practicing with no timer to doing the actual timing of the test. It might be helpful to go slowly. Perhaps you've tried this already. Good luck!

[Mack.Hambleton]

get some beta blockers prescribed and your heart rate will be steady and you won't have the physical anxiety response

[Rexdan]

I'm not sure if this would work, but have you tried perhaps taking full tests with, say, 38 minute sections? Then working your way down to 35? There's nothing that says you have to jump from practicing with no timer to doing the actual timing of the test. It might be helpful to go slowly. Perhaps you've tried this already. Good luck!

I actually haven't thought about doing that. The only thing that I've done in terms of answering questions in a timely manner was timing myself for each question that I do, but not under testing conditions (i.e. a few Weaken, Flaw, Strengthen, etc. out of the Cambridge Drill Book). Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely be implementing that the next time I take a PT