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The GED Test: Overcome Test Anxiety, Increase Your Score
By Leonard Williams
If the number one fear is public speaking, then the number two fear among students is probably test taking. GED students are no different than most students and adult learners who experience anxiety or tension at test time. And they have just as much at stake since passing the GED test is so critical to educational and career opportunities.
Test anxiety is normal. A healthy amount of test stress can be good. Stress launches adrenaline, a brain chemical that can make a test candidate more alert. But too much test stress inhibits clear thought, creates fatigue and reduces performance. Months of studying and practice for GED test, won’t help if you freeze or fall apart at the GED test site. So what’s the right balance between a healthy and productive amount of test stress and the kind of anxiety that overcomes test candidates?
Test Anxiety Strategies
Preparation:
Consider the two-part test required for a driver’s license. Most drivers are able to quickly memorize the rules of the road a day or two before the 20-minute test, and perform without problem once the testing officer is in the passenger seat. But what would happen to a driving candidate who never looked at the driver’s manual, or had never been on the road? Not only would this want-to-be motorist fail to perform, there’d be high anxiety in the driver’s seat.
Practice of the GED test is the best way to reduce test anxiety and perform well. A good practice of GED testing should include study and GED practice tests in all areas of the 7.5 hour test battery, along with marathon study sessions reflective of the actual test. A good practice of GED tests improves knowledge. You can’t cram for the GED test like a driving test. A good strategy is to take a practice GED test before you sit for the actual GED exams.
Practice GED tests teach test candidates how to use knowledge, provide testing experience and are excellent indicators for measuring skill strengths and weaknesses. Official GED practice testing also provide the best way to get familiar with the test structure, question and answer layout, and test timing and test expectations. Then, at test time, the test will be a known factor instead of an unknown factor. Test familiarity, along with knowledge ownership, helps candidates have confidence in their abilities and demonstrate their skills. These are prime strategies in reducing fear, overcoming test anxiety, and ensuring a solid test performance.
Time Management:
Many GED students express concerns about the timing of the test. Some may be slow test takers; some don’t have a feel for how to pace themselves through the test. Test problems easily distract others – they concentrate on a few problems and score well but find they’re soon out of time and can’t complete the whole test. Or, test candidates may rush through the test because of time concerns – while they finish test sections quickly they later learn their answers were incorrect. And there’s no score or reward for finishing first, or finishing fast.
Timing varies for each test, and the full battery includes science, social studies, reading and writing and the two-part math test. But on average, allow yourself about 1.1 5 minutes for each question during practice GED test-taking and problem-solving to develop or improve time management skills. This strategy will serve to reduce test anxiety about timing, and help candidates learn the art of pacing.
Mind & Body Prep:
While test candidates ensure that their abilities and time management skills are sharp, they’ll also want to explore mental and physical ways to reduce test stress and incorporate stress reducers into their GED study program. Good nutrition, exercise and healthy rest patterns are important, since the GED test is a scholarly thinking marathon. And knowing how to relax at test time is equally important; learn and practice relaxation techniques during long study sessions
Know the Cues:
Test anxiety doesn’t just happen. It happens on cue. And for many GED test candidates, anxiety is a habit. Just like the anxiety response is learned, it can be unlearned or shifted to a level where anxiety works for the test, instead of against it. Here are some typical test stress cues and strategies to manage them:
Feeling overwhelmed? Take it step by step. Read directions carefully. Skip questions that seem overwhelming and move through another part first. Then return.
Nervous and jittery? Test burnout halfway through? Avoid processed foods, fast foods, along with snacks and beverages with high-sugar content. Avoid caffeine.
Feeling tense? Stiff neck? Eyestrain? Change positions. Stretch. Breathe deeply. Rest your eyes. Clear your mind. Start afresh.
Blank? Frozen? Fearful? Relax. Skip the question and go on. You’re in control. You’re ready, and you’re doing your best. Take the test at your own pace, and the pacing you’ve learned and practiced will come back to you, along with the knowledge in your vault.
Test fatigue? Eat a healthy snack. Use relaxation techniques. Pause. Clear your mind. Give yourself positive reinforcement. Visualize the goal.
Just a little anxious? Expect it. Surrender to it. Even welcome it. Know that some anxiety can help you perform, provide energy, and increase thinking clarity. Acknowledge test stress as a further reminder of the importance of your goal. Make it work for you.
Additional Resources
SSometimes just talking to others about the test or test anxiety is helpful. Talk to other GED students at PassGED’s Message Forum.
The University of Western Ontario offers tips to reduce test anxiety. Tips…
Nemours Foundation has produced an online article about test stress, and offers an audio breathing exercise to learn to reduce test anxiety. Click for the article… and Breathe!
About the Author:Leonard Williams, an e-learning instructor with www.passGED.com, is also a curriculum specialist who focuses on research and development, implementation and assessment of best-practice learning solutions for adult learners and people with educational challenges. You can contact Leonard at: ContactUs. He invites feedback and questions from GED instructors and students.
