Skip to the content
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Tests
    • ACT
    • SAT
    • ACT Aspire
    • WorkKeys
    • End of Course
    • TSIA2
  • Programs
    • MasteryPrep Curriculum
    • MasteryPrep Boot Camps
    • TruScore Testing & Analysis
    • Professional Development
    • The College Playbook
    • Blended Learning Solutions
    • Texas CCMR Headquarters
    • Summer Programs
    • Florida Concordant Camp
  • Partnerships
    • COE Summer Programs
    • COE Parent Portal
  • Blog
  • Customer Resources
    • MasteryPrep Ready Platform
    • TruScore Online + Study Hall
    • MasteryPrep Events FAQs
    • Ebooks
    • ACT Mastery Teacher Resources
Menu
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Tests
    • ACT
    • SAT
    • ACT Aspire
    • WorkKeys
    • End of Course
    • TSIA2
  • Programs
    • MasteryPrep Curriculum
    • MasteryPrep Boot Camps
    • TruScore Testing & Analysis
    • Professional Development
    • The College Playbook
    • Blended Learning Solutions
    • Texas CCMR Headquarters
    • Summer Programs
    • Florida Concordant Camp
  • Partnerships
    • COE Summer Programs
    • COE Parent Portal
  • Blog
  • Customer Resources
    • MasteryPrep Ready Platform
    • TruScore Online + Study Hall
    • MasteryPrep Events FAQs
    • Ebooks
    • ACT Mastery Teacher Resources
  • 855-922-8773

7 Ways to Reduce Test Anxiety on the ACT

  • February 8, 2018

Everyone knows that heart-sinking moment: you turn over the test, skim the first few questions, and draw a complete blank on how to solve a single problem. Test anxiety equally affects students of all academic capabilities and can strike at any time, even in the middle of a test that’s going relatively well. The ACT is especially stress-inducing because, for many students, it’s their ticket to college admissions and scholarships. With the state-mandated test day just around the corner, take some time now to review and practice basic strategies with your students to reduce test anxiety so that they can perform their best on the ACT.

1. Be prepared

This is one your students can already cross off the list! They’ve spent the last six weeks reviewing commonly missed content on the ACT, dispelling myths about the test, and practicing their pace on shortened versions of the ACT. They have already taken one giant step in minimizing anxiety because they know what to expect from the test.

2. Recognize it

Even just identifying the symptoms of test anxiety will help your students quickly react to it. Excessive sweating, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and strong emotions of fear, anger, or disappointment all indicate anxiety. Students can respond by practicing tips 3–5.

3. Do something

Action is the best response to anxiety. Maybe this means moving on to another problem or another passage (just remember to bubble in answers on the skipped questions). Maybe it’s popping a rubber band on the wrist. As long as it’s something physical, students can plow through mental blank-outs by taking action.

4. Deep breathing

This is good to practice ahead of time so that students don’t feel like they’re wasting more time during the test. Taking 3–5 slow, deep breaths (try counting up to four on each inhale and exhale) slows down the heart, clears the mind, and calms the anxious inner chatter.

5. Positive thoughts

Help your students create an easy mantra (“breathe and achieve,” “I can and I will,” “this is my time to shine”) they can repeat during the test, or show them how to redirect anxious thoughts into positive ones. Instead of, “I don’t know anything,” students can tell themselves, “I prepared for this and I can find the answer.” Instead of “I’m going to fail and never go to college,” they can say, “I will do my best and find a way.” Having their goal score in mind will also help them focus on just those questions that they need to answer.

6. Take care of yourself

It may be overused, but it’s true: eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercise all help the mind perform its best, which means less room for anxiety. At the very least, students should try to get seven or more hours of sleep the night before the test and eat something relatively nutritious in the morning (think more oatmeal and bananas, less doughnuts and toaster pastries). Even taking a few minutes before the test to stretch, do jumping jacks, pushups, or squats will get the blood and feel-good endorphins moving.

7. Treat yourself

Of course, achieving their goal score and qualifying for one of their dream schools is a huge reward for your students’ hard work. But it’s also good to have a more immediate celebration in the short-term. Consider hosting a pizza party or bringing in cake and soft drinks for the afternoon after the test or later in the week. Students can also dream up what would be a personal reward: going to the mall with friends, seeing the latest movie, or downloading a new game on their phone. This gives them something to look forward to after they’ve done all they can on the ACT.

What are some methods you’ve personally used or have taught your students to reduce test anxiety?

Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Leave a comment

Recent Posts
  • Kentucky School Sees ACT Composite Surge 2.5 Points
  • LA District Sees ACT Scores Improve
  • BRYC Improves ACT Scores, College Readiness for Under-Resourced Students
  • Experiencing a Test Score Freefall after the Pandemic? You’re Not Alone.
  • MasteryPrep Resources Enrich Baton Rouge School’s Mission
  • MasteryPrep Sponsors TRIO LASAP Alumni Reception
  • MasteryPrep Implemented into Texas District’s College, Career Readiness Resources
  • App State GEAR UP Preps More Than 15,000 Students
  • Piedmont High Prioritizes College and Career Readiness
  • Texas School District Invests in MasteryPrep Resources
mastery_prep_RGB_White_Stroke-200x49
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin

Tests:

  • ACT
  • SAT/PSAT
  • ACT Aspire
  • End of Course
  • WorkKeys
  • TSIA2
  • ACT
  • SAT/PSAT
  • ACT Aspire
  • End of Course
  • WorkKeys
  • TSIA2

Programs:

  • MasteryPrep Curriculum
  • Boot Camps
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing & Analysis
  • MasteryPrep Curriculum
  • Boot Camps
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing & Analysis

Contact:

EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 855-922-8773
FAX: 225-306-8211
Love our materials? Want to help make our materials even better? Send your comments, corrections, suggestions to [email protected]

View our Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2018 MasteryPrep. All Rights Reserved.

ACT® is the registered trademark of ACT Inc. ACT® Aspire™ is the registered trademark of ACT Aspire, LLC. WorkKeys® is the registered trademark of ACT Inc. Ring Publications LLC has no affiliation with, and is not approved or endorsed by, ACT Inc or ACT Aspire, LLC.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

View our Cookie Policy