Major test anxiety - scared it'll happen again Forum

[soitgoes23]

Hi all,

This will probably be redundant, given that it's a common problem, but I need to gain some perspective, as I'm currently experiencing something like the "bargaining" stage (i.e. of 5 stages of grief) following my disastrous LSAT experience yesterday.

I felt my first section was going fine, but in the middle of the section, I started to blank and promptly began panicking. I ended up guessing on 4-5 questions, and on the second section, I felt so out of it that I didn't finish. On the third section, I basically just gave up. I ended up cancelling my score. Given my mediocre 3.6 uGPA, I really need 170+ to feel optimistic about my chances at scholarships/my schools of interest.

Now, I have to make sure such anxiety doesn't consume me during my the September administration. I often have "normal" test anxiety, but I don't think I've felt it to such a degree. Maybe I was underprepared? My PT conditions probably didn't parallel those of the actual test environment very well. But lately, I've also be experiencing what I can best be described as a kind of dread(?) underlying my anxiety, in which I feel like I don't deserve a good score. I see so many people working very hard to get good scores (not only on LSAT but some taking other important admissions exams) yet don't fare well. What makes me deserve a good score? Why do certain people have a greater aptitude towards these sorts of things than others?

I actually genuinely enjoy the types of thinking required on the LSAT, but sometimes, I tend to ruminate on things like the above during practices as well. I can't decide whether it's narcissistic or self-deprecating. Anyways, I probably didn't describe my situation all that well, but if you have any advice on test anxiety, building test-taking stamina, advice on my situation above, I'd appreciate it.

[jflaw]

Keep your chin up man, same thing happened to me (though to a lesser degree) last June and I did great in October. Assuming you were scoring in the 170's on your practice tests, if you weren't you should keep taking them until you are, you should just take a month or two off of studying. You'll start to realize doing below your expectations on the LSAT isn't the end of the world, a fear that most likely plagued you on test day. Then a month or month and a half before the October test start studying really hard again, you'd be amazed at how fast it will all come back to you. The most important thing you have to do is realize a lie lsat isn't the end of the world because it's that fear that stops you from getting a high score.

[Alive97]

It is very unfortunate you became shaken by a section during the first one. In my experience, becoming shaken, i.e. feeling like you've messed a section up, can poison the rest of the test. When I retook, my strategy was to reach a level of proficiency where time pressure/possibility of becoming shaken, in terms of ability to solve the questions, was close to nothing. It just won't be an ideal test if you become shaken at any point. Before yesterday's test and throughout, I kept telling myself to maintain control, tackle each section one by one, and NEVER lose control of my emotions or thoughts. It really was a conscious effort to preempt anxiety with resolve to maintain control, that's the only way I can explain it. With that achieved, my proficiency developed through practice just took over and the actual test-taking process felt robotic - and during the sections I forgot about any potential for anxiety.

[TLSDookie]

This doesn't sound like an issue that is related to preparation. It sounds like you're becoming overly neurotic and introspective on test day, and allowing it to become the focus of your concentration, rather than the test itself. I'd step away from test preparation entirely until at least August, and look in to some degree of professional counseling or mindfulness class. I think it's worth the money to enroll in a class/individual session led by a professional experienced at teaching you to control destructive emotions/thoughts this summer, since it sounds like you're in fine shape in terms of actually being able to take the test (which is the same every time.)

[Alive97]

Yes actually that was the other thing, I tried to just chill and not care so much about the test before it started.

[soitgoes23]

Thanks, all - they're all great advice. I think there was some element of underpreparation in my case; I think it'd be useful for me to gain a higher level of proficiency (as Alive mentioned), so such things won't faze me. I think mindfulness training will also be important. Anyways, it's good to know that I have a community on the TLS forum. Thanks.

[Mack.Hambleton]

take low dose benzos with you to test, itll give you peace of mind and if you have to use it you can use it.

[zeglo]

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[PSPSPSPS]

This happened to me last June. I didnt cancel though. But anyway I took it again in October and killed it. Just keep studying and don't let your mind wander during the test. It happens

[Barack O'Drama]

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