Test Anxiety - What is it?

Test anxiety is a feeling of fear, nervousness, and stress before a test or exam. It's normal to feel a little tension before an exam. In fact, most students experience it - and a little bit can even help you perform better. However, too much nervousness can prevent you from thinking clearly and can adversely affect your performance on the exam.

Test anxiety is actually a part of a wider phenomenon called performance anxiety. You might feel it when you participate in any event where your performance really matters and / or you are being evaluated by others - for example, when you go for an interview, audition for a school play, give a presentation, and so on.

To overcome the tension, you must first understand your anxiety, in terms of its type, causes, symptoms, and effects. Then you can choose the best coping mechanisms for your particular situation.