Conquer Test Anxiety

8 top tips to help you master your test, whatever it is!

Here are 8 tips to help you master the test:

1. Remember that practice makes perfect - Practice and practice again, especially with quantitative questions. Take advantage of the online practice versions by testing yourself multiple times. These practice tests identify your weaknesses, giving you a chance to work on them repeatedly.

2. Make your test appointments in advance - Structure your study schedule based on your test appointments. Schedule your appointments six to twelve weeks ahead and use that date as your study goal.

3. Read directions carefully - Understand how your test asks a question. The tests are designed to measure your writing ability and the quantitative questions are adapted based on your answer to the prior question.

4. Know the basics of essay writing - Practice making quick outlines and thesis statements within short timeframes (two to three minutes). Thesis statements give direction to your essays while outlines manage your flow and keep you from losing time wandering off-topic. Brush up on writing basics such as sentence structure and grammar, especially subject-verb agreement.

5. Manage mental fatigue - Practice sitting and writing for four hour intervals so you become familiar with what that timeframe feels like. Practice mixing-up questions from various topics and questions that range in difficulty. Memorize key formulas and jot them down on your test paper when you start. When mental fatigue sets in, refer to them.

6. Use your time wisely – Time management is critical. If you don’t know an answer, move on.

7. Take care of yourself - Exercise to manage stress, eat healthy foods and get a solid night’s sleep before the test.

8. Be confident – When writing your test, trust in the preparation you’ve invested. Writing with confidence goes a long way.

Marci Elliott is the Executive Director for the Asper MBA program at the University of Manitoba.

Asper-mba.ca